Administrative and classified staff at Bowling Green State University will see no wage increases but
there is some money available for faculty promotion, tenure and stipend increases in the 2009-2010
budget approved by trustees Friday afternoon.
Students will face no tuition increases for third consecutive year.
The budget totals $283.6 million in education and general funds on the main campus and another $14.8
million for the Firelands campus.
Sheri Stoll, vice president for finance and administration, cautioned trustees that changes could be
necessary, depending on the final outcome of the 2009-2011 state budget being debated in Columbus. State
law requires the budget to be in place by July 1.
“We are where we need to be given what we know at this point in time,” Stoll said during a morning
educational session about the budget.
She said it became apparent in late April and early May that the university would have to develop a
“worst case scenario” regarding the 2009-2010 budget. That means making more than $10 million in
reductions on top of the $4.5 million that was cut to balance the 2008-2009 budget.
As of Friday, BGSU is looking at a five percent decline in enrollment when the fall term starts in late
August. Stoll said if enrollment exceeds expectations or if the State Share of Instruction payment is
larger than expected, a one percent pool for faculty increases and for unfunded positions in the College
of Arts and Sciences will be established.
Trustees also approved spending $4.51 million on four special projects: $2.9 million for enrollment
management and related student support; $935,000 for marketing and communications initiatives; $500,000
for distance education and $175,000 for revision of the general education curriculum.
Stoll said the funds will come from savings that have been set aside and from furloughs.
“I hope you did not hear doom and gloom,” Stoll said. “I hope what you heard was very careful planning.
We have put elements in the budget for BGSU’s future success,” she said, noting the group effort that
went into the budget.
The board also:
• Approved an honorary Doctor of Science in Public Health for Ned Baker. A 1950 BGSU graduate, Baker has
spent his career working public health and public health education.
• Restructured the fee schedule for part-time tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, general fees
and non-resident surcharges to create an equal credit hour rate for each additional part-time credit
hour up to the full-time 12 credit hour limit. There are also rates for teacher cohort groups (graduate
level), distance programs and the Community College of the Air Force program. It was noted that 56 BGSU
degrees are now available for active Air Force personnel to complete their undergraduate degrees via
distance learning.
• Approved a $20 per year increase for student parking permits and a $20 increase to $100 as a graduation
fee.
• Approved a $5 per semester opt-out Green Fee for students. A “Student Green Fee Group” will be
responsible for deciding on green energy projects. The group would be made up of students, a faculty
member and a BGSU staff member. Former Student Trustee Daniel Jacoby of Bowling Green presented the
proposal to the board.
• Learned a special meeting will be needed in August. Among the agenda topics will be authorization of a
large bond issue to cover the costs of the Stroh Center, residence hall projects and various
infrastructure improvements, many of which are already under way.
• Approved creation of a Department of Construction Management within the College of Technology.
• Approved transfer of intellectual property to Johnston’s At-Bat-Stats Consulting LLC. The program was
developed by William Johnston while he was a graduate student at BGSU. The product is believed to have
application to major league baseball teams in their evaluations of personnel.