BGSU trustees focus on student success and experience at February meeting

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – During their first meeting of 2024, the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees recognized the University's continued success in attracting and retaining students, as well as the importance of research and creative activities, and took action to ensure BGSU remains relevant for future learners.

Celebrating dedication to student experience

At the Feb. 23 meeting, trustees praised the efforts of the learning community for its collective work and support in welcoming more than 4,000 guests, including nearly 1,600 prospective students from 28 states, to campus for the 29th annual BGSU Presidents Day Open House.

As one of the largest and most comprehensive college visit days in Ohio, the BGSU Presidents Day Open House is offered when classes are in session, allowing prospective students to customize their visit with various activities and informational sessions. This year's open house was one of the highest attended in recent years, up 23% in prospective student visitors compared to 2023.

“Bowling Green State University was pleased to welcome so many future Falcons and their families to campus for our Presidents Day Open House, reflecting the continued momentum around our enrollment,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. “It is a great opportunity for our future students to experience our learning community and we look forward to welcoming them back to Bowling Green as BGSU students in the fall.”

During the open house, prospective students and their families discovered firsthand why BGSU is the No. 1 university in Ohio for student experience through visits with current students, faculty and staff members during guided tours of academic departments, research labs and other key areas.

The highly attended 2024 Presidents Day Open House underscored the University's ongoing investment in student engagement and success initiatives, as BGSU sees continued enrollment growth and record-high retention rates for spring semester.

Supporting teaching and research activities

The board voted to name Dr. Matthew Partin a distinguished teaching professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

As a faculty member at the University since 1998, Partin's research specializes in marine and aquatic science. He also serves as coordinator for the BGSU Marine Laboratory, which provides one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunities, and advises more than 100 students annually in research and other activities. Additionally, Partin also has supervised multiple honors projects in the last two decades.

Partin earned his bachelor's degree in biology, master's degree in curriculum and teaching and doctorate degree in leadership studies all from BGSU.

"BGSU is grateful for its world-class faculty who provide students a quality education through comprehensive academic programs and experiences," said Dr. Joe B. Whitehead Jr., provost and senior vice president at BGSU. "With his teaching and research activities, Dr. Partin has demonstrated a commitment to supporting student success and outcomes through innovative instructional methods and an ability to empower learners in the classroom and in the lab. He is just one example of the many dedicated BGSU faculty members who redefine student success each and every day."

The board of trustees also appointed Dr. Laura Regassa as vice president of research at BGSU and professor with tenure in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Following a competitive national search and input from the learning community, Regassa is set to join BGSU in May, replacing Dr. Ali Eskandarian as interim vice president of research. Currently, Regassa serves as associate vice president for research at Georgia Southern University.

With an extensive background in extramurally funded research and scholarship as a principal investigator and administrator, Regassa will work to elevate the University's extensive research enterprises. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a High Research Activity University, BGSU has a special obligation to focus its research, scholarship and creative activities to drive economic and cultural vitality in the region and beyond.

Regassa holds a doctoral degree in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Marquette University.

Falcon Tuition Guarantee

Keeping education accessible through the Falcon Tuition Guarantee, the board set room and meal plan rates for the 2024-25 academic year, ensuring BGSU remains an outstanding value for students and their families.

Under the Falcon Tuition Guarantee, all new, first-time undergraduate students are guaranteed the same tuition, room, board and fee rate for four consecutive years at the University, reducing debt and promoting on-time graduation.

For the incoming fall class, trustees approved a 3% adjustment in rates for its three-tiered housing system, which ranges from basic to deluxe residence hall rooms. Meanwhile, the rate for the University's Bronze Meal Plan, which the state uses for comparison purposes, will increase by 3.5% or an average $4.30 per week.

BGSU continues to remain one of the most affordable universities for room and board rate expenses as compared to Ohio’s 13 public universities.

Action items of the board

The board of trustees approved design services for renovations to Kohl Hall, which was completed in 1938 and serves as one of the University's primary residence halls.

Proposed future renovations to Kohl Hall include updating the building's interior, adding additional residence rooms and modernizing restrooms. The residence hall will also receive air conditioning and is set to temporarily close starting in summer 2024 for the upgrade.

Additionally, trustees voted to approve planning and construction work estimates for improvements to the Technology Building, which is slated to include an expanded footprint and upgrades to the structure's heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical and water supply systems to support the University's bolstered academic offerings in engineering.

The reimagined BGSU engineering program supports Ohio's workforce needs in the growing advanced manufacturing sector, offering a unique blend of science and application that employers say is needed in the current and future industry landscape.