For the Record? March 2006 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 early retirement incentive plan, coordination of benefits, a new joint-use agreement for the Chevrolet Center in downtown Youngstown and the reorganization of the Beeghly College of Education were among many topics addressed by the YSU Board of Trustees in its quarterly board meetings in February and March. The board also heard reports on a new branding campaign for the university (?Your Success is Our Story?), progress of the university?s NCAA re-certification effort, successful alumni events in California and significant increases in the university?s Annual Fund. In addition, the board approved four honorary degrees and a resolution of appreciation for Student Trustee Paul L. Walker, whose term expires. Here?s a summary of the board?s actions and discussions at the March 17 full board meeting, as well as committee meetings on February 28 and March 2. Board of Trustees, March 17 H.S. Wang, chair John L. Pogue, vice chair The board met in Tod Hall: ? President David C. Sweet wished everyone a happy St. Patrick?s Day and March Madness. He noted that the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?s basketball team, which is in the Horizon League, won its first game in the NCAA tournament. Each game played by UW-Milwaukee generates about $1 million for the Horizon League over a five-year period. YSU also is a member of the Horizon League. The president also reported that students will be returning from spring break on Monday. Over the break, a pipe broke in Moser Hall. ?It was really a mess,? President Sweet said. But, Sweet complimented Dean Cynthia Hirtzel and her staff, as well as John Hyden, Vince Sacco and their staff, for their quick response. ?As a result?damage has been minimized,? he said. The president noted many achievements and other activities on campus, including the recent discovery of a new galaxy by two YSU astronomy professors as part of a national team, two engineering students who placed first at a regional competition at Purdue University, plans for a new bronze sculpture on campus honoring YSU?s first president Howard W. Jones, the $7.5 million rehabilitation of six bridges over Madison Avenue Expressway on the northern perimeter of campus, continuing plans for a new building for the Williamson College of Business Administration and a new full-dome video projection system in the Ward Beecher Planetarium. President Sweet also reported that on February 23 he released his response to the Labor-Management Review Panel?s Report and that several significant personnel changes have been made to start fresh with new faces and leadership in labor-management relations on campus. Since February 23, the administration has engaged in productive conversations with individuals and groups on campus on how to improve communications. The president said he also is scheduling a meeting with the leadership of the four campus unions to establish the Labor Management Council that was recommended by the Labor-Management Review Panel. He also reported that contract talks with the YSU Fraternal Order of Police have been scheduled for next week and that negotiations with the Association of Professional and Administrative Staff are set to begin in early April. He also reported on several state issues, including the Taxpayers Bill of Rights/Tax Expenditure Limitation initiative that will appear on the November 2006 ballot. The initiative, which limits annual increases in state and local government spending, ?could have dramatic consequences for higher education,? he said. If the TABOR/TEL were in effect in 2003, funding for Ohio public higher education would have been $408 million less than it was, the president said. ?This is an issue that will result in a lot of attention,? he added. The president also reported that spring enrollment dropped by 64 full-time equivalent students and was about 50 FTE below the target for the fiscal year 2006 budget. As a result, administrative divisions have cut budgets by a total of $1.5 million for the remainder of the fiscal year, he said. Division heads also are developing fiscal year 2007 budget scenarios. Efforts continue to maximize enrollment for fall 2006, including a new scholarships plan and a new branding campaign called ?Your Success is Our Story.? President Sweet concluded his remarks by showing a new television message that is part of a new advertising campaign in the Mahoning Valley, Cleveland and western Pennsylvania media markets. ? Bob Herbert, provost and vice president for academic affairs, updated the board on several items. He said YSU?s effort for renewal of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission will formally kick off at 2:30 p.m. March 24 in the Ohio Room of Kilcawley Center. He said HLC will send a team of reviewers to the campus February 18 to 20, 2008. ?There?s a tremendous amount of work to undertake,? said Herbert, who noted that Associate Provost Bege Bowers and Professors Jan Elias and Sharon Stringer are leading the re-accreditation effort. Herbert reported that the field of 85 applicants for the director of the Center for International Studies and Programs has been narrowed to seven semi-finalists. Finalists will visit the campus in early April, he said. He also reported that the new doctorate degree in pharmacy at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine is accepting students. Fifteen YSU students will be admitted in fall 2007, he said. The board: ? Approved revisions to the university?s intellectual property rights policy. In committee discussions, Peter Kasvinsky, dean of graduate studies and research, said some of the revisions are only editorial in nature, but the revisions also designate the president and dean of graduate studies and research as authorized institutional officials with the right to approve licensing and royalty agreements. Board members also received a 30-page ?Handbook on Ownership of Intellectual Property.? Trustee Garg asked if this policy is similar to that at other universities. Kasvinsky said it was. President Sweet said the revisions are part of an ongoing process to update policies at the university. ? Authorized the conferral of an honorary degree on J. Douglas Faires, professor of mathematics and statistics. In committee discussions, Provost Herbert said the honorary degree is among the highest honors that the university bestows. ?And it is a particular point of pride when the honoree is one of our own,? he said. Herbert said Faires is believed to be the only YSU faculty member ever to receive YSU Distinguished Professor Awards in all four areas ? teaching, scholarship, public service and university service. President Sweet said Faires is ?a symbol of the kind of faculty that we have across campus.? ? Authorized the conferral of an honorary degree on James Hall, a YSU graduate and retiring superintendent of the South Range Local School District. Hall also has served as superintendent of schools in Lordstown and Lowellville. In committee discussions, Herbert said Hall deserves the degree ?in recognition of his long career in education and his service to the children in the region.? ? Authorized the conferral of an honorary degree on Eleanor Beecher Flad, a life-long resident and noted philanthropist in the Mahoning Valley. Flad has made major donations to the Butler Institute of American, the YSU Foundation, the Youngstown Symphony Society and YSU, including contributions to the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the Ward Beecher Planetarium. ? Authorized the conferral of an honorary degree on Issa M. Al-Own, whose son attends YSU and will graduate in May. Al-Own is the undersecretary-minister of oil in Kuwait. ? Accepted 2,780 gifts to the university totaling $544,743.41 for the second quarter of fiscal year 2006. ? Approved a resolution to rename the Albert J. Shipka Speakers Series to the Dr. Thomas and Albert Shipka Speakers Series. In committee discussions, Chief Development Officer Paul McFadden said a $400,000 endowment fund provides about $20,000 annually for the speaker series, which was created in 1993. Albert J. Shipka was a major union leader in the Mahoning Valley from the 1930s until his death in 1975. His son, Tom, has been on the YSU faculty since 1969 and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies since 1986. ? Authorized the purchase of a parcel of property at 326 W. Scott St., across Fifth Avenue from Stambaugh Stadium for $21,000. ? Trustee Scott Schulick gave a brief report on meetings of the Audit and Investment Subcommittees. ? Ratified faculty and staff appointments for the second quarter of fiscal year 2006. ? Trustee Pogue reported that the board?s Trusteeship Committee has nominated the following slate of officers for 2006-07: John Pogue, chair; Larry DeJane, vice chair; Franklin S. Bennett Jr., secretary. Trustee Pogue said the board will vote on the nominations at its quarterly meeting in June. ? Approved a resolution of appreciation for Student Trustee Paul L. Walker, whose two-year term on the board expires. Trustee Pogue said Walker had cut short a vacation in Florida to attend the meeting, ?which may not speak well to his judgment, but certainly speaks well to his commitment to YSU.? ? Approved the following meeting dates: 3 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2006; 3 p.m. Friday, September 29, 2006; 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2006. ? Adjourned. Finance and Facilities Committee, March 2 William J. Bresnahan, chair Scott R. Schulick, vice chair ? Donna Esterly, interim technology chief, updated the committee on the university?s Information Technology Master Plan. ?We have done a tremendous amount of work this past year,? she said. In addition to progress on implementing new Banner administrative software, the university equipped 13 classrooms in DeBartolo Hall and two in Beeghly Center with multi-media equipment. She said Jason Rakers was recently hired as the new director of network services, replacing Tom Doctor, who retired in February 2005. She said the Banner project has involved hundreds of people throughout campus. The finance and advancement module have been implemented. ?We continue to learn something new everyday,? Esterly said about the Banner system. She said the early retirement incentive plan will impact her division and that she is proposing bringing in permanent replacements now to go through the Banner training before current employees retire under the ERIP. Trustee Counts asked if there are people who can be hired who already have Banner training. Esterly said Banner is used widely in higher education, but it may be difficult acquiring people already trained in Banner. ? Bob McGovern, president of the YSU Student Government Association, read a report to the committee regarding ways that SGA believes the university can save money and help reduce future tuition increases. Among the suggestions: discontinuing validation stickers on YSU IDs and eliminating and/or severely reducing the on-campus circulation of the YSUpdate. He also said SGA is looking into possible savings by closing down the university for a week during the December holiday break and by replacing direct deposit payroll slips with online notification. Trustees Wang and Schulick commended McGovern for the report. President Sweet said McGovern?s report ?sets the tone?to solicit ideas from across the campus? about ways to save money. ? Eileen Greaf, executive director of financial services, reviewed the university?s fiscal year 2006 second quarter comparisons of budget to actual for the general operating fund. Schulick thanked Jeff Taylor, director of budget planning and resource analysis, for his work. Taylor is leaving YSU for a position at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. President Sweet noted that YSU?s men?s basketball coach, Jerry Slocum, previously was at Gannon. ?We stole the basketball coach from them, and they stole our budget director,? President Sweet joked. ?I told Ron (Strollo) that I was the player to be named later,? Taylor responded. ? Trustee Pogue gave a short report on the meeting of the board?s Audit Subcommittee. ? Trustee Cagigas gave a short report on the meeting of the board?s Investment Subcommittee. ? Greg Morgione, YSU associate general counsel, reported on a joint use agreement between YSU and the city of Youngstown regarding the Chevrolet Centre. In 2005, the state included $2 million in state capital funds for the construction of the Chevrolet Centre in downtown Youngstown, Morgione said. Those funds had to go through the Ohio Board of Regents and YSU. The appropriation, therefore, requires that a joint use agreement for the facility be entered into between the city and YSU and approved by the Ohio Board of Regents. The 20- year agreement allows YSU to use the Chevrolet Centre, along with two hospitality suites and parking, six times a year for events such as graduations, concerts and sporting events. Trustee Wang asked if the agreement requires YSU to use the facility six times a year. Morgione said no, that it is the university?s option. President Sweet said the university will develop a plan on the use of the center. Trustee Cagigas asked how this arrangement originated and if YSU sought this. Sweet said no, that these agreements are standard procedure for this type of facility funding. ? Hunter Morrison updated the committee on the Campus Master Plan, including early ?conceptual renderings? of the new business college building, road improvements in and around campus and progress in the development of Smoky Hollow with Wick Neighbors Inc. Internal Affairs Committee, March 2 John L. Pogue, chair Donald Cagigas, vice chair ? Jeff Taylor, director of budget planning and resource analysis, reported on the impact of new coordination of benefits plans now in place at the university. The new plans call for coordination of benefits for classified, faculty and professional/administrative employees who have working spouses with access to employer-provided health insurance. Taylor reported that there are 701 classified, faculty and professional/administrative employees with a spouse on their YSU-provided health insurance. Of the 701 employees, 277 have a working spouse with access to his/her employer-provided health insurance. Of those 277, 187 of their spouses have enrolled under their employers? health insurance plan for primary coverage, for an annual projected savings for YSU of $445,000. Ninety of the working spouses will maintain YSU as primary coverage and, under the new rules, will pay a $100 monthly premium to YSU, for an annual projected savings for YSU of $108,000. President Sweet noted that the university had initially projected saving $330,000 under the new rules. ?You can see that the projections we are now making are above those levels, and we hope that trend continues,? he said. ? Taylor also updated committee members on the early retirement incentive plan for university employees. Taylor presented a chart showing projected cost savings as a result of the ERIP. Seventy-seven employees have enrolled in the plan as of January 31. For those 77, the university projects total savings of $2.85 million through fiscal year 2008 and total costs of $2.38 million. If all 185 eligible employees enroll in the ERIP, savings are projected at $7.83 million and costs at $7.17 million through fiscal year 2008. By fiscal year 2009, there would be a permanent base budget savings of $3.6 million if all 185 employees enroll. President Sweet said the university?s internal auditors, Packer-Thomas, will monitor the actual savings of the plan as it is implemented and report to the board. Trustee Schulick asked how the savings are determined. Taylor said the retiree?s salary and fringe benefits are calculated against the salary and fringe benefits of the retiree?s replacement. The assumption is that all positions will be filled. If all positions are not filled, there will be an additional savings, he said. Schulick said that if a retirees? position becomes open, it is possible for another current employee to fill that position, and the savings would not be as great. He asked Taylor if those scenarios were calculated in the savings. Taylor said no. The projections are calculated on the assumption that employees replacing the retirees will come from outside the university and start on the minimal level of the wage scale. ?Looks like a good start,? Trustee Pogue said. Steve Lucivjansky, manager of labor relations, reported that employees have until March 1, 2008, to retire under the ERIP. Employees must give six months notice. He also said that the number of employees who have enrolled in the ERIP is now up to 80. In a usual year, 10 or fewer employees retire from YSU, he said. Computer services and facilities have the greatest number of employees who have enrolled in the ERIP so far, he added. Trustee Garg asked why computer services? numbers would be so high. Lucivjansky said, ?They?ve just been here a long time, and they?re just ready to retire.? Trustee Schulick asked how the retirements in computer services will impact the implementation of the Banner administrative computer system. Sweet said those concerns will be addressed later in the meeting by Donna Esterly, interim chief technology officer. ? Jimmy Myers, director of equal opportunity and diversity, presented a chart comparing staffing levels by race and gender in December 2005 and 2004. The report showed little significant change in the number of minority employees. He said the university is still investigating ways to change hiring processes on campus in order to increase diversity among faculty and staff. Myers said his office is specifically looking into ways to improve the recruitment of faculty who may have ?trailing spouses,? professional husbands and wives whose careers may be impacted by moving to Youngstown. He said YSU is working with others in the area to develop a network of human resources professionals who can help such spouses locate jobs in the area. ?If we can mitigate the number of people who are in the position of not being able to accept a position because of this, I think it will be a benefit not only for the university but for the community as a whole,? Myers said. Trustee Counts questioned the efforts of the university to attract minority faculty. President Sweet said the university has had success in increasing minority student enrollment. ?Now we have to continue to focus on increasing our diversity within the faculty and staff ranks,? he said. Provost Herbert reported on some successes in recruiting minority faculty. ?I think over a few years, we can really begin to change the face of our faculty on campus,? he said. Trustee Wang said the early retirement incentive plan will create a large turnover of employees and should present many opportunities to hire minority employees. Later, Trustee Garg asked how many husband and wife faculty YSU has. Myers said he is not sure. President Sweet said he thought there were three or four husband and wife faculty on campus. Trustee Wang said higher-caliber professionals are difficult to attract to this area, so it is good to provide some sort of spousal support. ? Myers presented a report showing that 13.7 percent of YSU?s eligible expenditures in the first two quarters of fiscal year 2006 went to minority business enterprises. The university?s goal is 15 percent. ? He also reported on various other diversity-related issues, including the formation of a new Diversity Consortium, a new diversity magazine and African-American History Month activities. ? Elaine Jacobs, associate director of intercollegiate athletics, reported that YSU?s self-study for NCAA certification is nearly complete. The 92-page draft report is available on the athletics Web site. The report must be submitted to the NCAA by May 15. The only recommendation in the report was to try to educate as many people as possible about NCAA rules and regulations. Jacobs noted that the only violation of NCAA rules that YSU has ever had involved a member of the Board of Trustees. She reviewed with the board a brochure called ?A Quick Guide to NCAA Rules for Boosters, Staff and Friends of Penguins Athletics.? The brochure defines who is a YSU ?booster,? what is a ?prospect,? and other rules. If a board member or anyone has any question about an NCAA rule, Jacobs advised that they should call her ?to make sure we?re doing it within the expectations of the NCAA.? President Sweet thanked Jacobs and others involved in the NCAA self-study. ? Ron Strollo, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, reviewed winter sports. The YSU indoor track and field, men?s and women?s teams placed second in the Horizon League meet. The swimming and diving programs are rebuilding and showing signs of improvement, he said. The men?s basketball team doubled its number of wins this year and was much more competitive than last season. He said all home games were televised this year. The women?s basketball team finished 8-19. He said the women?s team lost five seniors from last year and was led mostly by freshmen, so the team should be much more competitive next year. He also provided a preview of spring sports, including baseball, softball, tennis, golf and spring football. External Relations Committee, February 28 Larry D. DeJane, chair Dianne Bitonte Miladore, vice chair ? The committee adopted guidelines for major gifts to the university. In committee discussions, McFadden said the guidelines are a preparatory step for the university?s capital fund-raising campaign. The guidelines list designated gift opportunities from $100,000 to more than $1.5 million. Trustee Wang noted that the guidelines call for at least $1.5 million for an endowed chair. He said YSU is low in the number of endowed chairs and that endowed chairs are important to attracting top quality faculty, yet he said he believes the $1.5 million gift level is too high. He suggested moving it to the $1 million level. McFadden, however, noted that even the $1.5 million does not cover the cost of an endowed chair position. He also noted that there is a $500,000 level for faculty professorship positions. ? President Sweet reported on what he called ?a very productive? series of alumni events in California in January, particularly in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. He noted that 1,500 YSU graduates live in California. He specifically noted meetings he had with Jack and Jane Scott, Anu Sukla and Carmen and Gail Policy. ?These meetings give our alums a chance to reflect on their experiences at YSU, and all of them fondly remember their alma mater,? he said. George McCloud, special assistant to the president for university advancement, said the California gatherings are an excellent collaboration between the university?s alumni and development staffs. Chief Development Officer Paul McFadden said it is important to continue building relationships with alumni in California. ?This is all part of the preparations (for the centennial capital campaign), and we will be picking other geographic areas where we have a substantial cluster of alumni,? McFadden said. ? McFadden presented the development office?s report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2006. The report shows that $441,559.41 in gifts was received from 1,303 donors in the three-month period. The report also shows significant increases in the Annual Fund. For the first two quarters of fiscal year 2006, the Annual Fund has collected $404,634, a 33 percent increase from the same period last fiscal year. The number of donors has increased 39 percent in that period. McFadden said there is no better gauge of how alumni view the university than the Annual Fund. ?Our alumni and friends think very highly of YSU,? he said. He said about 6 percent of YSU?s alumni give to the university, which he said is average for urban public universities, but he said he would like to increase that to 7 percent and then to 15 percent by the end of the capital fund-raising campaign. McFadden also said that students in the university?s annual Phon-a-thon campaign are making phone calls this year from the press box at Stambaugh Stadium. ? McFadden said his office is in the third year of preparing for the Centennial Campaign. A needs assessment and feasibility study have been completed, and the university is now in the ?silent? and ?leadership acquisition? phases of the campaign. The university already has received ?leadership gifts of historic proportions,? McFadden said. ? The board received a list of alumni events scheduled for the spring, including Youngstown Day in Florida in March, an event in the Atlanta area in April and a similar event in Arizona in May. ? Pam Palumbo, associate director of events management, announced that John and Denise DeBartolo York will be honored at YSU?s annual Friend of the University event April 21 in the Butler Institute of American Art. ? The board heard an update of marketing and communications activities on campus. McCloud said March is an important part of the year in terms of students making decisions to attend YSU in the fall. Walt Ulbricht, executive director of marketing and communications, said YSU is launching a new branding campaign ? Your Success is Our Story. The campaign is based on a spring 2005 image survey of prospective students and parents. The survey showed that people rate YSU?s faculty and academic programs highly, but ratings for the quality of students and the image of the city of Youngstown are low. The ?Your Success is Our Story? campaign will include television messages in March in the Mahoning Valley, Western Pennsylvania and the Cleveland area. Ulbricht said the first television ad will feature Lori MacDonald, a YSU student and recipient of the prestigious national Goldwater scholarship. President Sweet said the university also wants to get out the message that improvements are being made in downtown Youngstown. Trustee Pogue said that since YSU is an open access institution, shouldn?t the messages that go out have the broadest appeal possible and be targeted at students who are ?on the fence? and considering coming to YSU? McCloud said the concept of access is important, but YSU must also demonstrate that access leads to accomplishment. Ulbricht reported that the summer issue of the university magazine has been eliminated due to budget constraints. In its place, the university has produced YSU News, a newsletter similar to the YSUpdate that will be printed on campus and mailed to alumni from around the nation. McCloud noted that YSU News is being funded by the YSU Foundation, whose president is Reid Schmutz. McCloud also said that next fiscal year the university will produce two magazines and two editions of YSU News. It is important, he said, for the university to sustain regular contact with alumni. Ulbricht also reported that a new YSU homepage was launched. The revised homepage is in response to comments that the former homepage was too cluttered and difficult to navigate. ? Gary Sexton, director of WYSU-FM, reported on several items. He said the station is in the midst of a study funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to identify ways for the station to improve service to listeners and the community. The study will culminate in a strategic plan. He also reported that WYSU is offering pod casts of some of its programs, as well as the weekly YSU News Briefs. He said pod casting ?is all of the rage these days.? McCloud said: ?Listening habits are changing. Technology is changing. We need to change with it.? Sexton also reported that ratings for WYSU are up significantly. The total number of different individuals who listen to WYSU during a week has increased from 22,800 in fall 2000 to 34,100 in fall 2005, a 50 percent jump. ? McCloud presented the new logo for the university?s centennial celebration. The logo, designed by YSU Media and Academic Computing, was the result of a campuswide competition. McCloud said the centennial celebration will kick off at homecoming in 2007 and will run through spring commencement in 2008. Several centennial events are in the planning stages, McCloud said. ? McCloud also reported on changes to the board of directors of PBS Channel 45/49. He said the board, which is chaired on a rotating basis by the presidents of YSU, University of Akron and Kent State University, has expanded in the last several years. The board is now discussing a change to its bylaws that would allow board members other than the university presidents to serve as chair. Academic and Student Affairs Committee, February 28 Millicent S. Counts, chair Sudershan K. Garg, vice chair ? Cyndy Anderson, vice president for student affairs, and Tom Maraffa, special assistant to the president, updated the committee on enrollment and new enrollment initiatives for fall semester 2006. Maraffa said spring headcount enrollment is down by 181 students or 1.5 percent, while full-time equivalent enrollment is down by 64 students or 0.66 percent. Spring enrollment this year as a percentage of fall enrollment is about the same as past years, he said. ?We?re right about where the trend has been,? he said. As for fall 2006 enrollment, Maraffa said the number of graduating students from high schools in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties is expected to increase by 400 this year. About 18 percent of graduates in those three counties usually end up enrolling at YSU, which translates into an additional 72 students for next fall, he said. He also said, however, that since spring enrollment is down by 181 students, that will impact the number of returning students in the fall. Maraffa also reviewed scholarship enhancements that the university has instituted to increase enrollment, including a new ?Red and White? scholarship aimed at students with mid-level ACT scores. Anderson said the Office of Admissions is undertaking several initiatives to increase fall 2006 enrollment, including the first ?Red, White and YOU Day? on President?s Day, where prospective students and parents visited campus for tours and other informative sessions. She also said that YSU will this year purchase the names of students taking tests at all five ACT test sessions. Universities purchase the names from ACT to help in recruitment, she said. In addition, Anderson reported that the number of applications for fall semester 2006 is up 1.3 percent from the same period last year. ? Phil Ginnetti, dean of the Beeghly College of Education, reported on the college?s reorganization. Prior to 1995, the college was divided into six departments. In 1995, it was reorganized into three departments. As a result, however, the Department of Teacher Education grew into a ?mega department? in terms of programs, faculty and students, Ginnetti said. The department, as a result, has had five chairpersons in the last 10 years. The reorganization calls for special education to be moved from teacher education to the Department of Counseling. As a result, teacher education will still be a large department, ?but a lot more manageable,? Ginnetti said. He also said there will be no cost savings. ?We kept all of the employees,? he said. ?We just moved them around? to improve efficiency. President Sweet complimented Ginnetti for the plan. ? Larry Johnson, dean of the Youngstown Early College, updated the committee on the program. He said the school currently enrolls 112 students. The attendance rate for the 2004- 05 school year was 94.6 percent. During the 2004-05 school year and the fall semester of 2005, 50 YEC students were enrolled in 175 semester hours of YSU classes. Those students scored a 2.5 grade point average on the college courses. Johnson said the school has developed several partnerships, including the YSU Center for Student Progress and the YSU Math Assistance Center. He also said that beginning next year, all students living in the boundaries of the city of Youngstown ? whether enrolled in public, private or charter schools - will be eligible to apply to YEC. Currently, only current Youngstown City School District students are eligible. He also said the school has scheduled 10 parent meetings in March to help recruit students. ?We?ve been a little more aggressive this year with publicity,? he said, noting that the school also has billboards, newspaper and radio advertising. Trustee Cagigas asked why some students who were enrolled in the school the first year did not return for the second year. Johnson said the school will start to track that trend more closely. He said some students left because of academics, others because of behavior concerns and some because they moved out of the school district. Trustee Schulick asked that if a charter or private school student enrolls in YEC, does that student become a student of the Youngstown City School District. Johnson said yes. Marilyn Ward, assistant to the provost for academic budget, reviewed for committee members enrollment numbers for the school. Trustee Wang said that Trustee Counts, who was not at the committee meeting, had expressed to him some concerns about marketing efforts for the school. Johnson said the school has started radio and billboard advertising in coordination with the YSU Office of Marketing and Communications. ?That partnership is in place and will grow,? he said. Provost Herbert said the YSU Center for Student Progress and Office of Admissions is committed to assisting YEC with interviews of prospective students this year. Trustee Garg asked about the enrollment limits for the school. Johnson said the school is designed to enroll 100 students in each class, grades nine through 12, for a total of 400 students. In each of the first two years of the school, 80 applications were received. This year, applications are already up to 100, and the school hopes to receive 150 to 200 in all, Johnson said. ?It seems like we?re on track for that,? he said. Trustee Wang asked how the budget deficit facing the Youngstown City School District impacts YEC. Johnson said he is not sure, but he said the school is seeking private grants to help students with books. President Sweet said he has met with Superintendent Wendy Webb twice in six weeks and that she is committed to continuing the YEC. ? Bege Bowers, associate provost, reviewed the annual Performance Report for Ohio?s Colleges and Universities 2005. She said YSU?s retention exceeds the state average and that YSU students continue to do well on licensing exams, particularly in the paramedic state exam. ?Most of the areas that measure quality, we are doing well,? she said. The report also shows that YSU has low tuition, low per pupil expenditures and a high percentage of students receiving financial aid. Trustee Schulick asked about a section of the report showing that an decreasing percentage of first-year courses are taught by full-time faculty at YSU. Bowers said that for many years, YSU led the state in terms of full-time faculty teaching first-year courses, but that has changed. ?It?s something we have been looking at,? she said. She said next year YSU hopes to have as many of its full-time faculty in the classroom and teaching as possible. ?It?s an acute concern,? Provost Herbert said. ?Where we need our faculty is in the classroom. It is the first of our missions.? ? Provost Herbert also reported on several academic initiatives with institutions in Asia. YSU has signed a faculty exchange agreement with Lunghwa University of Science & Technology in Taiwan. One YSU faculty member is currently in Taiwan as part of the exchange. Discussions are ongoing for student exchanges with the school. Discussions also are ongoing for YSU to possibly offer a master?s of business administration program at the university in Taiwan. In addition to the Taiwan agreement, YSU in January hosted a delegation from Hangzhou Normal University in China. Preliminary discussions are underway for possible shared research activities and faculty visits, the provost said. And, Herbert reported that Ikram Khawaja, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has signed a cooperative agreement with Fatima Jinnah Women University in Pakistan that will allow faculty and student visits. He also said that Mustansir Mir, head of the YSU Center for Islamic Studies, will spend some time at Fatima Jinnah next year during a sabbatical. ? The committee received the second quarter report on grants and sponsored programs. The report shows a 50 percent drop in the number of submitted proposals, a 66 percent decrease in the number of requested dollars, and a 25 percent drop in the amount of grants received. Trustee Garg asked why the numbers are down. Kasvinsky said YSU has experienced several years of constant increases in grants. ?These things go up and down,? he said. Herbert said it?s not unusual for a university to experience a slight decline after so many years of increases. Trustee Wang said that he saw in a newspaper that Ohio State University receives about $500 million annually in grants and that Case Western Reserve University gets about $250 million. Kasvinsky said YSU is not a research university on the level of those two schools, but it is important to continue to encourage faculty to do research and seek grants. Trustee Bitonte Miladore asked what accountability measures there are in place for faculty who are on reassigned time and not in the classroom. Herbert said reassigned time is reviewed on the departmental level, but he said he has asked the deans to increasingly oversee that accountability. Maraffa said that the faculty contract requires that faculty provide a report of their activities during a sabbatical. The contract requires that a faculty member cannot leave the university within two years after a sabbatical. ?There are some checks and balances in place,? he said. ? The committee received a report on accreditation activity on campus, including an update on the Higher Learning Commission. ? Provost Herbert reported that two new graduate programs are being developed: doctorate of physical therapy and master of arts in art. Nancy Landgraff, associate professor of physical therapy, said the doctorate is becoming the entry level degree for physical therapy. With the new doctorate, YSU will eliminate the master?s program in physical therapy. By 2020, all physical therapy programs nationwide are expected to move to doctorate degrees. The YSU program will be aimed at training practicing physical therapists, not researchers, she said. The three-year program will enroll 20 students a year, for a total enrollment of 60 students, she added. ? The committee received a list of 13 faculty who were awarded tenure for the 2006-07 academic year. Committee members also reviewed the list of 12 faculty who have been granted sabbaticals (two semesters) and faculty improvement leaves (one semester) for the 2006-07 academic year. In addition, they received a list of 18 faculty who were granted research professorships for 2006-07 and an updated list of department chairpersons who were appointed or re-appointed.