BGSU Board of Trustees approves fee waivers to aid students

In a continued effort to make education affordable and accessible, the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees approved two special fee waivers to aid students at its May meeting. The Board of Trustees also affirmed the University’s commitment to academic excellence by awarding promotion and tenure to 43 faculty members and welcomed national trustee George N. Miller Jr.

Most BGSU graduate degrees will be significantly less costly for out-of-state students who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from any Ohio college or university. These students are now eligible for a reduced non-resident surcharge at BGSU. The board approved a new $1-per-credit-hour fee for fiscal year 2021. The current fee is $332 per credit hour.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine asked all public universities in the state to consider such waivers in an effort to help retain talent in the state.

“As a public university for the public good, BGSU has an obligation to attract, retain and educate tomorrow’s leaders who are essential to Ohio’s economic vitality,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “We’re pleased to do our part in making a BGSU graduate degree more accessible and affordable for our Ohioans.”

In recognition that BGSU courses will continue to be delivered fully online this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board also approved a 50 percent reduction in the University’s general fee for summer courses. The Bowling Green campus general fee supports student services and activities as well as related debt, technology infrastructure and facility costs. Some but not all of these services will be curtailed in an online learning environment.

“We recognize the financial challenges this global pandemic has created for our students and their families,” Rogers said. “This adjustment in fees prioritizes a fair and equitable approach.” 

The 50 percent fee reduction would remain in effect if the University is unable to return to an in-person, residential learning environment for the fall semester as planned.

The trustees recognized and celebrated the achievements of 43 faculty members with the awarding of promotion and tenure. Nine faculty were promoted to full professor, 13 received tenure and were promoted to associate professor, and others were promoted to teaching professor and associate teaching professor.

“We’re pleased to provide our faculty with opportunities to advance their careers,” said Dr. Joe Whitehead Jr., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Great faculty make great universities. Their teaching, research and creative activities serve our students and our communities, creating public good.”

Faculty promoted to full professor:

• David Bixler, Music Performance Studies
• Dr. Stephannie Gearhart, English
• Dr. Amanda Koba, School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies
• Dr. Matthew Kutz, School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies
• Dr. Lan Li, School of Teaching and Learning
• Trinka Messenheimer, School of Counseling and Special Education
• Dr. Melissa Miller, Political Science
• Dr. Beth Sanders, Human Services
• Dr. Daniel Wiegmann, Biological Sciences

Tenure and promotion to associate professor:

• Dr. Angela Ahlgren, Theatre and Film
• Dr. Clare Barratt, Psychology
• Dr. Barbara Bergstrom, School of Art
• Dr. John Boman, Sociology
• Dr. Daniel Bommarito, English
• Dr. Andrea Cripps, School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies
• Dr. Robert Dyer, Computer Science
• Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald, Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Dr. Yuning Fu, School of Earth, Environment, and Society
• Dr. Kevin McCluney, Biological Sciences
• Dr. Thomas Mowen, Sociology
• Dr. Jason Whitfield, Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Dr. Yan Wu, Computer Science

Promoted to tenure:

• Dr. Sharath Sasidharan, Accounting and Management Information Systems

Promotion to associate professor:

• Steve Boone, Theatre and Film

Promotion to QRF Teaching Professor

• Dr. Emily Anzicek, School of Media and Communication
• Marcelle Dupay, School of Art
• Irina Franke, Mathematics and Statistics
• Dr. Allison Goedde, School of Teaching and Learning
• Donna Greenwald, Marketing
• Lucinda Hunter, English
• Maggie Leonard, Visual Communication and Technology Education
• Tracy McGinley, Natural and Social Sciences/Criminal Justice
• Dr. Shelley Waltonen Moore, Visual Communication and Technology Education
• Dr. Daniel Pavuk, Biological Sciences
• Dr. Geoffrey Stephenson, Theatre and Film
• Mearl Sutton, Marketing
• Elizabeth Zemanski, English

Promotion to QRF Associate Teaching Professor

• Karen Black, Applied Sciences/Visual Communication Technology
• Laura Lachmiller, Accounting and Management Information Systems
• David Saltzman, Music Performance Studies
• Cynthia Spitler, Human Services
• Gregory Walterhouse, Political Science
• Dr. Jennifer Wolter, World Languages and Cultures

The board also approved the appointment of Chicago health care business leader George N. Miller Jr. as a BGSU national trustee. He will replace Bruce Nyberg on the board.

Miller, president and CEO of The Loretto Hospital, a nonprofit safety-net hospital on the west side of Chicago, is a BGSU alumnus with an undergraduate degree in business administration. A longtime supporter of the University, he was a 2018 inductee into BGSU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

“Trustee Miller brings a wealth of experience and expertise in health care to the board,” Rogers said. “We look forward to his leadership as we work to build and expand our academic programs in these high-demand areas.”

The board honored outgoing National Trustee Bruce Nyberg, and Leah Fishman, graduate student trustee. Trustee and alumna Betty Montgomery was elected as the new chair of the Board of Trustees. Trustee and alumnus David O’Brien was elected vice chair.

This afternoon, BGSU will share information and announcements regarding its plans to address the budget shortfall due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Media Contact:

Alex Solis
Deputy Chief of Staff and University Spokesperson
asolis@bgsu.edu