Athletics complex approved

The University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees met Tuesday, Nov. 17, to discuss a range of topics including the financial support of the Jefferson Avenue Sports Complex construction and reviews of enrollment and research at UC.

The football team would utilize the complex as a practice field, but members of the board were urged to understand that the entire university, including other teams and organizations, has access to the complex.

“I am in strong support of this project,” said Gregory Williams, university president. “It’s an important step for the university and I am impressed by the funding from private sources. It will, in fact, be a community asset.”

The board voted the motion into action along with a new rule increasing the signature authority of the president from $1 million to $5 million.

Signature authority allows certain individuals to sign off on fiscal agreements for certain departments.

The $5 million limitation sits in the middle of Ohio public institutions, with the Ohio State University providing no limitation to its president, said Monica Rimai senior vice president of finances.

It was also noted that all gifts received by the university must first be
assessed by outside experts as valuable and marketable before they are accepted.

The Student Academic Affairs Committee presented issues including the re-organization of the College of Engineering and Applied Science, from which the School of Advanced Structures derives. Due to the addition of the school, a handful of programs will be relocated to other colleges including the facilities and hospitality degree and sports management. The appropriate faculty will follow.

The Office of Research presented its updates to the board including financial strides and achievements. The university and its affiliates experienced an increase in funding of $24,835,829 from last year to this year. UC alone increased its funding by $23,740,799.

“It’s pretty good considering this is a time when federal funding is going down and we still did well,” said Sandra Degen, vice president for research.

The enrollment report for the current fall quarter shows that the university is up 7 percent, or 2,595 students, from last year. Since 2003, enrollment has increased 17 percent with an 8 percent retention rate. Distance and evening learning remain a large part of the enrollment.

“We are up 9 percent in applications from last fall quarter for next year’s incoming freshmen,” said Caroline Miller, senior associate vice president for enrollment. “I just got a text message this morning saying that 784 applications came in over the weekend.”

The university recently signed a contract with 28 counties in Indiana agreeing to reciprocity for those students to attend UC paying in-state tuition.

The attraction for most applicants can be related to the success of the football team, which is why board members created a sense of urgency to support the construction of the proposed sports complex.

“It will sit right on the edge of campus as the new visible presentation of the university,” said Mike Thomas, athletic director. “We’ve raised at least $6 million already.”