Bowling Green State University’s efforts to find millions of dollars in savings will take another step
forward when a series of forums are presented next week.
Each forum will focus on a section of the Opportunity Assessment Report developed by the consultant
Accenture. Those recommendations unveiled in December showed possible savings for the university of up
to $85 million over five years.
The university has now taken those recommendations and formed committees based on the report’s six
sections.
The goal of the project as stated in the university’s announcement of the forums is "developing a
new, more efficient organizational design aimed at achieving large-scale cost reductions without
jeopardizing the core mission."
The forums will offer a brief overview of each committee’s focus and announce the membership, appointed
by President Mary Ellen Mazey, of each panel.
Each forum will be available as a live video stream, as well as later viewing at:
http://www.bgsu.edu/provost/bgsu-opportunity-assessment.html
The schedule for the forums, all in the student union, is:
• Research and Advancement, Monday at noon, room 316. Issues addressed include: Improving the collection
management and analyzing of alumni data; streamlining grants management; and consolidating University
Advancement’s information technology and finance functions into the Division of Finance and
Administration.
• Educational Platform, Wednesday, 1 p.m., room 314. Issues addressed include: Strengthening "high
growth" programs and developing more online course offerings.
• Organization, Employees and Benefits, Thursday, 11:30 a.m., room 314. Issues addressed include:
Reviewing general education requirements, possibly reducing number of offerings and establishing minimum
course sizes; reducing the number of supervisors; adjusting tuition waivers for family of employees; and
reorganizing administrative and business operations.
• Student Services, Thursday, 1 p.m., room 314. Issues addressed include: Centralizing student services;
promoting collaboration for internships and job placement; and better meeting the needs of
nontraditional students.
• Core Administration, Friday, 11:30 a.m., room 316. Issues addressed include: Studying computer labs,
possibly closing some, and requiring students to have laptops; and studying various administrative
functions including data collection, payments and reimbursements.
• Auxiliary Operations and Facilities, Friday, 1 p.m., room 316. Issues addressed include: Studying
future of the bookstore; cutting electricity cost including seeking lower rates from city; centralizing
conference and event management; managing the university’s fleet by instituting vehicle sharing,
reducing rentals and consolidating shuttle routes; centralizing facilities management; promoting energy
saving through standardized course schedule, reducing operations during periods when students are not on
campus; and launching energy saving awareness campaign.