Faculty hear reports on tuition increases, campus contruction
Ohio Wesleyan’s faculty met on Monday to discuss tuition increases, campus construction and the incoming class of 2012.
David Robbins, provost and interim president, announced that the total cost of attending OWU will be raised to $41,970 next year.
This is a 5.5 percent increase in tuition and a 3 percent increase for both room and board. In addition, the technology fee will be raised another $40.
Last spring, the Board of Trustees increased the total cost of attending OWU to $39,960. They said that raise helped to balance the school’s budget.
However, that budget, as well as the tuition increase, were approved prior to the announcement of former President Mark Huddleston’s departure from OWU. The presidential search that followed his exit last June was therefore not taken into account when the budget was accepted. However, Robbins said the original budget was on track without taking into consideration the cost of the search.
Robbins said the university plans to beautify OWU’s campus by replacing the memorial gate on Sandusky St. leading to Slocum Hall.
The renovation was made possible by a gift from the class of 1959.
The school plans to construct a plaza in front of Slocum Hall using other funding. The plaza will honor the men and women who have donated at least $1 million to the university.
Other works will be finished as the funds became available, Robbins said.
For example, he said he is hoping to repair and replace the south wall of Selby Stadium when the school can afford to do so.
Margaret Drugovich, vice president for strategic communications and university enrollment, said OWU’s number of applicants is increasing, despite the rise in tuition. The number of American applicants is up 14 percent while the number of international student applications is up 16 percent. Drugovich also said the number of cancelled applications is decreasing.
Drugovich said the number of deposits that have already been received is higher than it has been in years. Admitted students have until May 1 to put down a deposit to hold their spot in OWU’s class of 2012.
Referencing the new class, Drugovich announced that Slice of College Life, OWU’s program to welcome admitted students to campus, will be held April 13 and 14.
Other topics discussed in the meeting include:
- Homecoming weekend will be Oct. 10-12. It will coincide with President Rockwell “Rock” Jones’ inauguration.
- OWU’s Phi Beta Kappa honor society will be celebrating its centennial this year. The celebration will be March 5 with speaker John Churchill in Gray Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
- A memorial was read by Dennis Radabaugh for the late William D. Stull, a former Ohio Wesleyan professor of Zoology who passed away last May. He was 95.
- OWU received a wire totaling $3 million last week from the Manchester estate. This brought the Ida Austin Manchester endowment to $7 million.
FROM: Volume 146, Issue 16: February 21, 2008
