For the Record… INCLUDEPICTURE "../../WINDOWS/Profiles/Default/Desktop/YSU_logo.jpg" \* MERGEFORMATINET 

September/October 2005

For the Record..., published by the Office of Marketing and Communications, is distributed after the regular quarterly meetings of the YSU Board of Trustees as a way to keep the campus community informed of the board’s latest actions, deliberations and discussions. Comments and suggestions may be sent to Ron Cole, manager of news and information services, at 330-941-3285 or racole.01@ysu.edu.

The YSU Board of Trustees approved an early retirement plan, agreed to a contract expected to save the university millions of dollars in energy costs and discussed plans for the construction of a new building for the Williamson College of Business Administration during meetings in September and October.
Here’s a summary of the board’s actions and discussions at the Oct. 4 full board meeting, as well as committee meetings on Sept 8. and 23.

Board of Trustees, Oct. 4
H.S. Wang, chair
John L. Pogue, vice chair

The board met in Tod Hall:
	President David C. Sweet updated the board on several items. He said that YSU’s fall enrollment of 12,812 is down about 2.2 percent from the previous fall semester, but he also said that enrollment at Kent State, Cleveland State and Akron decreased even more. The number of minority students at YSU, on the other hand, increased by 9.1 percent this fall semester. Minority students now make up 15 percent of the student population. The president also reported a 13 percent increase in new students from the Cleveland “outer ring” area and a 23 percent jump in new students from Western Pennsylvania. 
	On other topics, Sweet recognized Robert K. Herbert as the university’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs; said that 9,100 students visited the new Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center during the first week of operations; reported that YSU received a $4.1 million congressional earmark to improve campus infrastructure and to further develop its material engineering program; reported that the Commercial Intertech Foundation has donated $100,000 to the Rich Center for Autism on campus; and reported that the university has 36 new faculty this semester. “They bring many ideas and perspectives to the campus,” he said.
	Provost Herbert said YSU has much to celebrate academically. “Academic excellence is present across this campus, and I don’t think we can say or emphasize that enough,” he said. In his report, the provost also said that he has named three individuals to coordinate the university’s self-study for the North Central Association accreditation: Bege Bowers, associate provost; Jan Elias, professor of human ecology; and Sharon Stringer, professor of psychology.
The board:
Approved a resolution congratulating students and faculty for their accomplishments at MathFest, the annual joint meeting of the Mathematical Association of America and Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honorary society. Five undergraduate students – David Gohlke, David Martin, Maria Salcedo, Joseph Kolenick and Nicole Casacchia – won awards for their presentations, the most ever by a single institution. The students’ faculty advisors are Angela Spalsbury and George Yates. The competition was in Albuquerque, N.M. “We’re proud of these students,” Yates said during committee meetings. “Our faculty and staff are first rate; our students are first-rate; and the academic programs we have are first-rate,” Provost Robert K. Herbert said.
Voted on a resolution to accept 1,830 gifts from university donors totaling $179,372 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005.
Approved a resolution of appreciation for Gary Sexton and the staff of WYSU-FM 88.5. Sexton, WYSU director, completed a 50-mile ultra-marathon in Michigan on Sept. 17 as part of an effort to raise money to purchase a digital transmitter for the station. Sexton placed ninth in the race and third in his age category and raised nearly $36,000 to date. He presented board members with Power Run Campaign water bottles. “You have all been provided a water bottle for those of you who will be pursuing a 50-mile run in the future,” Sweet joked to board members.
Voted on a resolution to approve interfund transfers. 
Approved a resolution to modify the annual operating budget. Jeff Taylor, budget director, said in committee meetings that the resolution allows for the $3.5 million in balances at the end of fiscal year 2005 to be carried over into the fiscal year 2006 operating budget. The $3.5 million will be distributed in various ways, including $1 million for an early retirement incentive plan, $648,147 for course fee accounts, $514,259 for research incentive accounts and $502,882 for reserves.
Authorized the purchase of 16 properties – nine across from Stambaugh Stadium and seven in Smoky Hollow.
Voted on a resolution authorizing the university to pursue reasonable options to develop the Smoky Hollow neighborhood into a viable urban community consistent with the YSU Centennial Master Plan. In committee meetings, General Counsel Holly Jacobs reviewed the history of the Smoky Hollow development plan, which calls for housing, retail outlets, parks and employment opportunities. In 2003, Jacobs said, the board authorized the university administration to continue to acquire property in the Hollow and has received two briefings since then on the status of the development. She said the university is examining methods for acquiring, surveying, platting and transferring property for redevelopment and evaluating the potential opportunities and risks involved.
Trustee Scott Schulick reported that the board’s Audit Subcommittee had met and reviewed several items, including a preliminary charter for the subcommittee.
Trustee Schulick reported that the board’s Investment Subcommittee also had met, and, among other things, heard a report from the YSU Foundation.
Ratified faculty and staff appointments for April 1 through June 30.
Agreed to amend YSU’s Alternative Retirement Plan to include classified employees. The state requires that public universities maintain an ARP, which is an alternative to state retirement plans such as STRS and OPERS. Previously, the plan was only open to faculty and non-classified employees. The Ohio General Assembly amended the law to also include classified employees.
Approved an early retirement incentive program for all YSU employees who participate in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. The ERIP calls for the purchase of up to two years of retirement service credit. In all, an estimated 185 employees are eligible, including 131 classified employees and 54 APAS/PA exempt. Of the 185, an estimated 132 are eligible to retire as of March 2006. The estimated overall cost, at the end fiscal year 2008, is $9.91 million ($6.51 million for ACE employees and $3.4 for APAS/PA exempt). The overall savings, at the end of fiscal year 2008, is $7.84 million ($5.96 million for ACE employees and $1.88 for APAS/PA exempt). The cost of the plan minus the savings leaves a funding need of $2.07 million ($9.91 million in costs minus $7.84 million in savings). The university has earmarked $1 million for the plan in the fiscal year 2006 modified general fund budget, so the net funding need drops to $1.07 million. By fiscal year 2009, the ERIP will result in a permanent $3.6 million base savings in the university’s general operating budget, a nearly 10 percent reduction in the university’s annual wage and fringe benefit cost for classified, APAS and PA exempt employees.
Set the following meeting dates of the board: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14; 3 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2006; and 3 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2006.

Finance and Facilities Committee, Sept. 23
      William J. Bresnahan, chair
Scott R. Schulick, vice chair
Eileen Greaf, executive director of finance, reviewed the budget-to-actual figures for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005. She also reported that the unaudited Senate Bill 6 composite ratio for YSU dropped in fiscal year 2005 to 3.3. SB 6 provides a formalized structure for monitoring the financial health of state colleges and universities. The numbers include a composite score ranging from 0 to 5. A score of 1.75 could place an institution on fiscal watch status by the state. While YSU’s SB 6 composite number increased from 3.5 to 4.0 between 2001 and 2004, it dropped to 3.3 in fiscal year 2005, Greaf noted. “Obviously, this is a concern,” Trustee Cagigas said. Greaf said the drop in the SB 6 composite number is expected and manageable and due in part to a cycle of expenses that the university faced in fiscal year 2005. “We are in a down part of the cycle,” which may continue for another year or so and then bounce back, Trustee Bresnahan said. 
Bresnahan reported that the audit subcommittee had met and received a report from the university’s auditor, reviewed timelines for future audits and reviewed a proposed charter for the audit subcommittee.
Scott Schulick reported that the investment subcommittee had met, and he reminded board members that they needed to file their annual financial disclosure statements. Trustee Cagigas said representatives of the YSU Foundation had met with the committee and talked about university funds managed by the Foundation.
The committee approved a resolution to contract with Johnson Controls Inc., which will implement up to $12 million in state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements across campus. Johnson Controls guarantees the improvements will generate at least $15 million in energy savings over the next decade. If the savings fall short, Johnson Controls will pay the difference.
YSU will borrow money to finance the improvements and repay the loan with the guaranteed energy savings, said John Hyden, YSU executive director of facilities. That means the university does not need to use state capital or university general funds to finance the project, he said. “I’m very excited about this project,” Hyden said. “Not only is it exciting, but it’s necessary. We have to take this step to stay current and affordable.” 
Hyden said the campus faces several infrastructure challenges, including aging mechanical equipment, the capacity of its cooling system, increasing electric, gas and steam rates and increasing risks of equipment failures. “Some of these failures could actually put us out of business, could close the campus,” he said.
Ed Garchar, a YSU graduate and part-time instructor who works for Johnson Controls, told the committee that if the university does nothing to improve its infrastructure, its energy costs will increase to about $5 million a year by 2015. With the proposed improvement, Johnson Controls guarantees the costs will be only $3.9 million a year by 2015, “less than what you’re spending today,” he said. Garchar said the project will include implementing higher efficiency equipment, new control and operational systems, high-efficiency motors on fans, and new lighting, including bulbs, ballasts and fixtures. “This project will touch every single building on campus in some way, shape or form,” he said.
Hyden said a committee, including an independent energy consultant, reviewed three proposals to do the infrastructure work and recommended Johnson Controls.
Habat said the university will issue a request for proposals to find the “most efficient, economical vehicle” to finance the project over 10 years. 
(NOTE: The full board conducted a special meeting on Sept. 23 and approved the energy conservation project.)
Provost Herbert and Betty Jo Licata, dean of the Williamson College of Business Administration, updated the committee on plans for a new building for the college. Herbert called the current building – Williamson Hall – on Lincoln Avenue “obsolete” for a  nationally-accredited business school. A new building also will help provide linkages to downtown Youngstown and will alleviate a space shortage on campus, he said.
Licata provided an overview of preliminary work to date on a new building, including student and faculty focus groups and a program study. She said nine representatives of the college visited five universities in the Philadelphia area in August that have new business school buildings, including Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University. Licata said business schools at many other universities have new or expanded buildings and YSU must improve its facilities to remain competitive. A new building could include an auditorium, financial trading center, video sales lab, conference center, business library, student lounge and a café. “A new building will be a real advantage for us in the recruitment of students and faculty,” she said.
Trustee Bresnahan encouraged his colleagues on the board to visit Williamson Hall. “This is not a facility that inspires anything,” he said. “It is not a recruiting tool…Nobody comes here because of this facility.”
President Sweet said the construction of a new business school building will be a key part of the university’s centennial fund-raising campaign. Over the next several months, the university will be evaluating the interest of potential benefactors for such a project, followed by a feasibility study on financing the project, selection of architects and the start of construction.
Internal Affairs Committee, Sept. 23 
John L. Pogue, chair
Donald Cagigas, vice chair
Jimmy Myers, director of equal opportunity and diversity, reported that minority staffing levels at the university are about the same this year as last. “I guess that’s good news and bad news,” he said. “The good news is that (minority staffing level) hasn’t gone down. The bad news is that it hasn’t gone up.” Myers said he is working with Provost Herbert to explore a “more encompassing and comprehensive approach to improving diversity” in employee ranks. President Sweet said he has asked Myers and Herbert to develop a report on what some of those approaches may be.
	Myers also reported that a committee searching for a new coordinator of diversity initiatives has identified five finalists. He said he hopes a selection can be made in the next three weeks. 
	Sweet noted that minority student enrollment increased 9.1 percent this fall semester. Minority students now make up 15.3 percent of the student population, up from 13.7 percent last year.
Committee members received a report showing that the university made nearly $112,048 in purchases from minority businesses in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005, about 1.6 percent of total university purchases. For the entire fiscal year, purchases from minority businesses totaled $1.3 million or 5.1 percent of total university purchases, the report showed.
The committee received the minutes of the June 7 University Diversity Council meeting.
Ron Strollo, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, updated the committee on the university’s volleyball, soccer, cross country, golf, softball and tennis teams. He also said the football team is 3-0 for the first time since 2001 going into its game with the University of Pittsburgh on Sept. 24 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. He said Pitt is the “highest profile team that this program has ever competed against.” But he said that the following week’s home game against Illinois State is more important because it is the first Gateway Conference game of the season. “That will be a critical game,” he said. Strollo also said an announcement should be made soon about YSU’s plan to play Ohio State University in Columbus.
	Strollo also reported that YSU’s NCAA certification process is underway and that a self-study is due in the spring. “I feel good with the path we’re headed down,” he said. He also said he is hopeful that state legislation that will again allow tailgating at YSU home games will be passed by the end of this calendar year. 
The committee went into executive session with YSU General Counsel Holly Jacobs to discuss pending litigation.
After the executive session, Student Trustee Paul Walker encouraged trustees and administrators to join university union members and other employees in giving blood at the campus blood drive. “I think I gave blood during the strike,” Trustee Pogue joked.

External Relations Committee, Sept. 8Larry D. DeJane, chairDianne Bitonte Miladore, vice chair
George McCloud, special assistant to the president for university advancement, updated the committee on ongoing preparations for the university’s centennial capital fund-raising campaign. He told the committee that YSU’s contract with InfoCision to help build the base of donors to the Annual Fund helped increase the number of first-time donors by 800. “We’re extremely pleased,” he said. He also reported that YSU has chosen Campbell & Co. as the university’s counsel for the fund-raising campaign. “Our efforts will focus on helping the university put together a campaign that is coherent, cohesive and compelling in order to achieve maximum results,” said Ken Johnson, vice president and regional manager at Campbell & Co., a fundraising consulting firm headquartered in Chicago. Johnson said his company will help YSU assemble an effective, influential volunteer organization for the campaign, cultivate the best 100 or so donor prospects and study YSU’s internal capacity to run a campaign and simultaneously continue other fund-raising efforts.
Paul McFadden, chief development officer, presented the fourth quarter report for the Office of Development, which shows that $91,207 in gifts was received from 559 donors. Annual Fund increased 61 percent in dollars and 67 percent in the number of donors.
Shannon Tirone, director of alumni relations, said YSU’s alumni office is working with alumni associations at other colleges and universities to help alumni victims of Hurricane Katrina. “We have not forgotten our alums down there,” she said. Tirone also updated the board on plans to conduct a tailgate party on the Gateway Clipper boats in Pittsburgh prior to the YSU vs. University of Pittsburgh football game at Heinz Field on Sept. 24.
McCloud reported that the university wants to enhance YSU’s homecoming events as the university moves towards its centennial year in 2008, including expansion of the parade route.
Walt Ulbricht, executive director of marketing and communications, distributed copies of YSU’s new undergraduate view book and also new copies of the Fast Facts brochure. Ulbricht also updated the committee on advertising efforts, including a campaign in the Mahoning Valley that included more than 650 radio spots and a new “Cross the Line” campaign that encourages Pennsylvania students to attend YSU through a new Web site. Ulbricht also said the university magazine has successfully moved from two to three editions annually. New billboards promoting the university’s new general studies degree program have been placed. He also distributed copies of President Sweet’s “open letter” to Vindicator columnist Bertram DeSouza. 
Bob Tupaj, YSU Web manager, updated the board on the Luminus Portal project, which will customize the university’s Web site for each individual user. “This is a very important initiative,” he said.
Gary Sexton, director of WYSU-FM, said the radio station has experienced “exceptional growth” in ratings, especially on the weekends. The station has a 15 percent growth in local audience since 2003, he said, adding that WYSU-FM was selected the area’s favorite radio station by readers of Metro Monthly magazine. 
	Sexton also updated the committee on the Power Run campaign to raise money for a new digital transmitter for the station. Sexton will run a 50-mile ultra-marathon in Michigan to raise funds. “Above and beyond the call of duty has taken on a new meaning” with Sexton’s commitment to this campaign, McCloud said.
The committee received notes from meetings of the Centennial Celebration Committee. “We’ll be getting you even more information as this unfolds,” McCloud said.
McCloud noted that Tony Lariccia, a long-time YSU supporter, has pledged $100,000 to commission a statue of Howard Jones, YSU’s first president.

Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Sept. 8
Millicent S. Counts, chair
Sudershan K. Garg, vice chair

Tom Maraffa, special assistant to the president, and Cynthia Anderson, vice president for student affairs, updated committee members on enrollment. Maraffa said headcount enrollment was 12,873 as of Sept. 7, compared to 13,054 the same day last year (a 1.4 percent decrease). Full-time equivalent enrollment was 10,454, down 0.85 percent from 10,544 last year. Maraffa noted that the university’s budget is based on an FTE enrollment of 10,414. 
		Anderson said that about 1,000 students applied and were accepted to YSU this fall semester but did not register for classes. She said each of those students will be contacted to determine why they did not enroll. She also reported that university housing is at 95.6 percent capacity and that the University Courtyard Apartments are full.
The committee received the fourth quarter report for grants and sponsored programs. The report showed a 24 percent increase in the number of submitted grant proposals and a 131 percent increase in the number of requested dollars. The report also showed that the total amount of grants received by the university dropped from $6.55 million in fiscal year 2004 to $4.1 million in fiscal year 2005.
Committee members also received written reports on accreditation activity on campus and on the status of new academic programs.
Under new business, Maraffa announced that YSU will offer free tuition for the fall semester for any student displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Maraffa said about 200,000 college and university students in the Gulf Coast region have been displaced by the hurricane. Maraffa said students displaced by the storm will be admitted to YSU on a transient basis. “Our doors are open and we’re prepared to help any student,” he said. Trustee Wang asked if the university should put a limit on the number of hurricane-effected students it will enroll for free. Sweet responded, “We think we are able to handle any demand that occurs.”