Ohio Northern University Faculty
2011 - 2012
Minutes of the January 24 Meeting
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President DiBiasio called the meeting to order at 11:02 AM.
Invocation was offered by Paul Nutter.
Minutes from November 22, 2011 were approved with the following correction:
a. Under section VII.h., President DiBiasio will bring a recommendation for a
tuition increase to the Board at the February meeting. The proposed budget will
not be brought before the Board until the May meeting.
Unfinished Business: None.
Questions for the President:
President DiBiasio highlighted a few items before opening the floor to questions.
a. The search for a Vice President of Financial Affairs is moving closer to the
finish line. Three candidates visited campus last week. President DiBiasio
thanked those who provided feedback. He hopes to reach a successful conclusion
to that search within the next couple of weeks.
b. The February Board meeting is next week. President DiBiasio will be bringing
forward a proposal for a 4.2% tuition increase across the entire university. This
increase will apply to both tuition and room and board.
c. John Bishop is the new chairman of the Board. John has emphasized that he
would like to get to know the faculty. He will be on campus a day before the
Board meeting (Thursday). There will be opportunities for him to meet with
faculty and deans on that day.
d. President DiBiasio will be meeting with the Sustainable Program and
Financial-Based Review Committee next Wednesday to hear their
recommendations. He will consider the recommendations and deliberate with
three groups: the Deans, the Vice Presidents and the Board. After meeting with
those groups, he will bring forward recommendations to the University. President
DiBiasio hopes to have the aforementioned deliberations and initial planning
stages completed by the end of February.
e. Our second semester enrollment is currently 3174, which is greater than 95% of
our fall semester enrollment.
f. Sarah Waters noted that the tuition increase is difficult to sell to prospective
students and parents. She asked if the university would be doing anything to
make ONU more financially enticing, such as increasing scholarships. President
DiBiasio responded that the University will be looking at financial aid packages
to try and make ONU as affordable as possible. He noted that the financial aid
packages are very important.
g. Andy Roecker asked if there was any action regarding the Vice President for
Academic Affairs position yet. President DiBiasio said the position was very
close to being filled.
Report from University Council: No report.
Ohio Northern University Faculty
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VIII.
2011 - 2012
Reports from Constitutional Committees:
a. Budget and Appropriations: Ron Beaschler announced that the committee met last
week and will be meeting on Thursdays throughout the semester. The committee
is currently going over “what if” situations based upon potential tuition and
faculty salary increases.
b. Academic Affairs: No report.
c. Student Affairs: No report.
d. Personnel: Kay Zekany announced that the committee has reviewed all sabbatical
applications and made recommendations. She noted that all six applications were
from the College of Arts and Sciences. She pointed out that the committee would
like more applications and encouraged others from across the university to apply.
Reports from Operational Committees:
a. Athletic Events: Tom Simmons announced that the women’s basketball team has
home games Wednesday night and Saturday of this week. He also announced that
the wrestling team beat Davidson on their home turf.
b. Cultural Events: Nils Riess announced that the committee will soon meet with
Laurie Bell and the new managing director of the Freed Center for the Performing
Arts, Jerica Humphrey.
c. International Affairs: Julie Hurtig announced that 16 new international students
arrived to campus in January. She noted that this was a big increase from past
winter arrivals, and attributed the increase to the semester conversion. She also
announced that applications for Hanyang fellowships are due in February. She
noted that these fellowships provide an affordable way for students to visit South
Korea.
d. Religious Affairs: Rory Stauber indicated that there are two openings on the
chaplain student staff. They have received five applications and will be
conducting interviews next week. He also announced that there are three Habitat
for Humanity trips scheduled over spring break. A large number of students are
planning on participating. The Mexico trip was cancelled but will possibly be
replaced by a trip to Louisiana or Kentucky.
e. Information Technology: Scott Walthour noted his appreciation for the warm
welcome as the new interim director of Information Technology. He noted that
the IT staff members are very competent and dedicated. He announced they are
currently submitting a capital IT budget request to the administration, exploring
options for increasing Internet bandwidth and examining options for a new
learning management system. New competition for the transport of ONU’s
Internet connectivity promises to drive prices down while increasing capacity. He
also said changes to ONU’s WebCT learning management system (LMS) are
imminent as vendor support of that platform ends in January 2013. Several faculty
Ohio Northern University Faculty
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2011 - 2012
expressed the desire to transition to a new LMS before the beginning of the new
academic year, rather than in the middle of one.
Other Reports: None.
New Business: None.
Announcements:
a. Tammy Bash asked the faculty to please check their electronic course rosters.
The rosters are used to correct the census and they would like to avoid counting
students that are not present.
b. President DiBiasio announced that he spoke with the Findlay Rotary Club
recently and there were many ONU alumni present. One of the alumnus
mentioned that he has not been able to find a song about polar bears. President
DiBiasio said to let him know if anyone did come across such a song so we can
pass along the information to the Findlay Rotary Club.
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 AM.
Submitted by,
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Leslie A. Riley
Secretary