BOT Meeting | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
On Friday, Sept. 15, the Wright State Board of Trustees held its first meeting of the 2023-2024 school year.
Report from President Edwards
To begin the meeting, University President Dr. Sue Edwards recapped the first few weeks of school. She detailed Operation Move-In, Catherine Hernandez Hogan and the Latino community’s accomplishments on campus, the various camps and activities held over the summer to promote STEM student enrollment, the dedication of the Veteran Memorial, Lake Campus’s new mascot and WSU’s high enrollment rates.
“Campus is alive. It is vibrant,” President Edwards exclaimed.
Financial changes
Trustee Beth Ferris spoke about the importance of fiscal discipline for this upcoming school year. Ferris shared that the emphasis put upon fiscal discipline in the past must continue.
The board passed a resolution stating that in order for the university to conduct business, purchases between $250,000 and $500,000 with committee approval or even above $500,000 with committee approval may be granted.
Old business discussed
At a previous meeting, there was an authorization for administration to explore potentially developing commercial property on Colonel Glenn Highway as well as bringing in new supplemental amenities to students.
Due to a change in the Ohio legislature making it easier for the university to develop the property, the board had to vote on the matter again. The board approved the new language.
New business
Greg Sample, executive vice president and chief operating officer, shared with the board an opportunity to utilize medicaid reimbursement to bring additional money to the region.
“Through [a partnership with local healthcare organizations], [colleges] can leverage and receive supplemental medicaid reimbursement that comes back to benefit the community at large,” Sample told the board.
Additionally, Burhan Kawosa, associate vice president of financial operations, brought a motion to the board to put a financial hold on any student that owes money to the university. This hold would potentially prevent the student from personally obtaining their transcript, receiving their diploma and registering for courses. The university would give the transcript to any potential employers if the student has authorized the transcript to be sent, but the university would simultaneously have a conversation with the student about their balances. The board will evaluate any changes to the university policy at the next meeting.
The next public session of the Board of Trustees is on Dec. 15 at 9 a.m.
