New budget helps keep education affordable, invests in high priority initiatives

At today’s Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees approved a budget for fiscal 2015-16 that provides funding for several new initiatives designed to position The University of Akron as Ohio’s Polytechnic University and provide a sustainable financial framework for growth.

“The budget contains a $10.4 million commitment to fund new strategic initiatives that will strengthen the university’s polytechnic identity in the sciences, the arts, and the professions,” said President Scott Scarborough. “We are committed to keeping the cost of higher education affordable while strengthening academic programs and student support services that will help our students remain career-focused in a technology-infused, experiential learning environment.”

The budget planning process that has taken place over the last several months included leadership from academic and non-academic units across the campus and involved dozens of formal or informal meetings with representatives from University Council and its Budget and Finance Committee, Faculty Senate, the AAUP and other constituent groups.

Among those initiatives funded in the new $484 million budget:

• A Success Coach for Every Student: Building on the success of coaching, mentorship and advising methods used in UA programs targeting underprepared students, the university will fund a new program that ensures a “success coach” for every entering freshman in the fall of 2015. That coach will work closely with academic advisors and stay connected to the student through graduation. Each success coach will follow their assigned students throughout their college career to help students with time management, exam preparation, financial planning, career planning and other drivers of success—all in collaboration with academic advisors and others. The new success-coaching program is targeted to launch August 1.
• No Increase in Tuition, Housing and Meal Costs for Undergraduates: The new budget assumes no increase in the sticker price for undergraduate tuition and no increase in student housing and meal plan rates.
• No Charge for Some Additional Credit Hours: Students will not be charged tuition for taking additional credit hours beyond 13 credit hours per semester up to 18 credit hours per semester. This change allows students to take 2 more credit hours per semester without additional tuition charges.
• Core Courses Available for $50 per Credit Hour: Enrollment has begun for six general education courses being offered at about one-half the cost of comparable community college courses. Courses being offered this fall include English Composition I, Earth Science, Intro to Sociology, Basic Statistics, Principles of Microeconomics and Exploring Music: Bach to Rock. So far, students have registered for more than 530 credit hours at the new GenEd Core discounted rates. GenEd Core site.
• New College and Center Leadership Appointed:
  • Lakeesha K. Ransom, Ph.D., was named the new Dean of the Honors College, bringing 20 years of leadership experience in educational, governmental, non-profit and corporate entities. Dr. Ransom comes to UA from the University of Toledo, where she was the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer and Founding Dean of the Jesup Scott Honors College. She is highly experienced in developing innovative learning initiatives and problem-solving strategies, along with entrepreneurship programs. More about Dr. Ransom.
  • Mario R. Garzia, Ph.D., was named of the Executive Director of the Center for Data Sciences and Information Technology, and Executive in Residence at UA. The new center will be interdisciplinary, bringing together faculty across colleges--from statistics, business technology, graphic design, computer science, engineering and others—to ease the process of matching employers with UA students who are skilled in big data, predictive analytics and other emerging fields. Dr. Garzia, a former Microsoft partner (who drove the development of the Microsoft Data Sciences discipline and built the data mining effort for Bing) is a UA alumnus. More about Dr. Garzia.
  • Jeff Hoffman was named Executive in Residence and Founding Director of the Center for Experiential Learning, Entrepreneurship and Civic Engagement, which will significantly expand opportunities for students across campus to experience service learning, co-ops, internships and other opportunities for civic and entrepreneurial engagement. The center will connect students with industry leaders and alumni mentors. Hoffman is an acclaimed business leader, author and successful entrepreneur and innovator in the fields of Internet, e-commerce and entertainment. He co-founded Priceline.com and has founded and grown a series of successful startup companies. More about Mr. Hoffman.
• Nathan J. Mortimer, CPA, was named Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer after serving in an interim capacity over the last several months. Mortimer joined UA in 2003 as chief audit executive, leading the internal auditor’s office.
• Jim Weber was named Chief of Police and Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety. Chief Weber joined the university in 1990, rising from officer to sergeant to captain to assistant chief in 2011. He is a graduate of UA, the Police Executive Leadership College and the FBI National Academy.
• Dr. Chand Midha was appointed Interim Dean of The Graduate School and Interim Vice Provost for Research. He will continue in his current roles as well.
• Dr. Rex Ramsier was appointed Senior Vice Provost and will continue with current responsibilities.
• Graduate Tuition to Reflect Instructional Costs: In some cases, graduate tuition prices will remain flat—most notably in professional programs in business, law and health professions. In other graduate programs in the sciences and engineering, tuition and fees will increase. “These programs have higher instructional costs that must be recouped to maintain academic quality,” explained President Scarborough. “However, the cost of these programs is clearly reflected in their value—their graduates have the highest job placement rates, excellent career potential, and the opportunity to earn significant dollars during their university careers through internships and co-ops.”
• Faculty Tenure and Promotion: Thirty-three faculty members were promoted, awarded tenure or both. See the list.
• New Board Officers Named: Current Board Chair Richard W. Pogue was recognized and honored for his service on the Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor to the UA Board in 2003. New officers were named, including new Board Chair Jonathan T. Pavloff, and Vice Chairs Jennifer E. Blickle and Roland H. Bauer. Paul A. Herold was appointed Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and Ted A. Mallo was appointed Assistant Secretary. More about the Board officers.