BGSU trustees approve new degree offerings, honor faculty research and celebrate continued momentum during February meeting

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – At their first meeting of 2025, the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees celebrated the University's continued momentum as the No. 1 public university in Ohio for the student experience, approved new degree programs to support student success and honored faculty for their commitment to creating student learning opportunities, as well as research and creative activities.

Continued momentum with prospective students
During the Feb. 21 meeting, the board recognized the collective efforts of the learning community in welcoming thousands of prospective students and their families to campus for the annual BGSU Presidents Day Open House, which serves as one of the largest and most comprehensive college visit days in Ohio.

A record-breaking 2,200 prospective students from 26 states registered for this year's open house, which was held on a day with classes in session, allowing high schoolers to immerse themselves in active classrooms and research labs, individually meet with current students and faculty members and experience the University's state-of-the-art facilities and vibrant campus life in one of America's safest college towns.

“There is incredible momentum at Bowling Green State University, and we are grateful more and more students want to join our learning community,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. “From top-ranked academic programs to campus facilities, undergraduate research opportunities with leading faculty and partnerships with global leaders across industries, our students get all the benefits, opportunities and value of a comprehensive public university, with an individualized, intentional and connected experience more typical of a private college. Our faculty and staff are unwavering in their commitment to our student experience, which continues to be recognized among the best in the nation.”

The strong attendance at the Feb. 17 open house comes after BGSU welcomed its largest and highest-achieving freshman classes in University history over the past two years, respectively, emphasizing continued student interest in colleges and universities like Bowling Green that prioritize their success through innovative academic programs and comprehensive support networks.

College of Engineering and Innovation
To better align the University's in-demand academic offerings and strategic goals, the BGSU Board of Trustees voted to rename the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering to the College of Engineering and Innovation.

The renamed college comprises the School of Aviation, School of Engineering and School of the Built Environment and nearly two dozen degree programs that prepare graduates to meet Ohio’s workforce needs in aviation, engineering, architecture and construction management.

Dr. Wael Mokhtar, dean of the college, said the name change resulted from a multi-year process of reimagining degree programs, establishing new schools and investing in infrastructure to further position BGSU as a leader in providing industry-relevant programs.

“The College of Engineering and Innovation embodies our strategic vision, programmatic focus and future trajectory as we strive to provide a top-tier educational experience,” Mokhtar said. “This renaming represents the culmination of evolving to meet the needs of both students and industry and underscores our ongoing dedication to innovation. We are steadfast in our mission to deliver an education of value that effectively prepares students for meaningful careers.”

The college's name change precedes the opening of the Technology Engineering Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will blend classroom and hands-on learning to further elevate the University’s innovative degrees in robotics engineering, electronic and computer engineering and mechanical and manufacturing engineering that build upon its longstanding, ABET-accredited offerings in applied engineering.

New degrees support student success
Trustees approved the creation of two new bachelor's degree programs in general studies and world languages and cultures.

With an estimated 1.4 million Ohioans having some college credit, the board authorized a streamlined path for students who want to return to college to earn a bachelor's degree with the new Bachelor of General Studies.

Developed for students who hold an associate degree or have earned a minimum of 60 college credit hours, the bachelor's degree program can be completed either in-person or online, with comprehensive advising to ensure coursework is aligned with desired career goals.

The board also supported the University's offering of a Bachelor of Arts in World Languages and Cultures, which allows students to complete a standard set of core courses before specializing in one of six language areas, including French, German, Russian and Spanish.

Students in the world languages and cultures program will also complete a capstone course to prepare them for applying language skills in the workforce.

The board's approval of the new degree comes as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts sustained job growth in careers like interpreting and translating, which require proficiency in foreign languages.

Faculty honored for scholarly activities
Honoring the research and creative activities of BGSU faculty, the board of trustees voted to name Dr. Louisa Ha as distinguished research professor and Dr. Michael Kimaid as distinguished teaching professor for their distinctive contributions to the learning community and support of student success and outcomes.

"BGSU is fortunate to have world-class faculty who contribute to deeper understanding in important research and teaching areas while also prioritizing student learning experiences and opportunities," said Dr. Glenn Davis, interim provost and senior vice president and vice president for student engagement and success at BGSU. "Through their teaching and scholarly work, Drs. Ha and Kimaid have positioned BGSU as a comprehensive, high-research university that supports student success and outcomes. Together, they exemplify our learning community's core academic, student-focused mission."

Dr. Louisa Ha
A professor in the School of Media and Communication, Ha's research interests include audience behavior, racial and international conflicts, online media and global communication, media technologies, media management, online advertising, influencer marketing and research methods. Through her extensive research, she has published and contributed to countless books, articles, essays, chapters, scholarly journals and reviews. Ha has also presented at multiple conferences across the globe.

Ha founded the Global Social Media Influencer Research Lab at BGSU, which recently led a first-of-its-kind study into the motivations and ethical standards of digital content creators. She is also the founding editor-in-chief of Online Media and Global Communication.

Teaching at the University since 1994, Ha was named a professor of research excellence in 2021 and previously received the BGSU President’s Award for Collaborative Research and Creative Work.

She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication, a master's degree in communication philosophy and a doctorate in mass media.

Dr. Michael Kimaid
Teaching in the Department of Natural and Social Sciences at BGSU Firelands, Kimaid leverages an interdisciplinary educational approach in history, geography and classical studies that empowers students to connect classroom knowledge to real-world experiences. He also teaches graduate-level courses on the Bowling Green campus, where he has advocated for expanding the online master's program in history for educators while growing the University's teaching reputation in the region and beyond.

As part of his dedication to teaching and research, Kimaid has presented at multiple history-based seminars nationwide and routinely collaborates with museums to advance their educational mission and outreach, including the Milan Historical Museum, where he has been a board member since 2013.

Kimaid joined the BGSU faculty in 2003 and has won the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award twice at the Huron campus.

He holds a bachelor's, master's and doctorate degree in history.

Trustees also appointed Drs. Shernavaz Vakil and Ravi Krovi as full professors with tenure in the College of Education of Human Development and Schmidthorst College of Business, respectively.

Krovi was recently selected as the next provost and senior vice president at BGSU following a competitive national search and input from the learning community. He currently serves as provost and senior vice president at Weber State University in Utah and is set to start at BGSU later this spring. Throughout his career, Krovi has successfully leveraged external partnerships with a variety of organizations to develop new programs, faculty positions and student success initiatives.

He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, a master's degree in mathematical sciences and a doctorate in management information systems and decision sciences.

Falcon Tuition Guarantee keeps education accessible
Trustees locked in room and board rates for all new, incoming students for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year under The Falcon Tuition Guarantee.

For the class of 2029, the board approved an average 2.65% adjustment in rates for its four-tiered housing system, which ranges from basic to premium residence hall rooms. The rate for the University's Bronze Meal Plan, which the state uses for comparison purposes, will increase by 3.5% or an average of $4.56 per week.

BGSU remains one of the most affordable universities for room and board expenses among Ohio’s public institutions.

Action items of the board
The board of trustees also approved upgrades for Founders Hall and the Fine Arts Center as part of the ongoing Campus Master Plan 2024.

Originally constructed in 1955 and home to the BGSU Honors College, Founders Hall is set to undergo the first of five improvement phases later this spring, which will include investigation of plumbing infrastructure, HVAC modifications and limited improvements to interior suites. The work will also address stormwater infiltration in the residence hall, with all phase one improvements set to be finished this fall with minimal disruption to students.

Built in 1948 with additions in 1960 and 1990, the BGSU Fine Arts Center will receive replacements to selected sections of its roof that have surpassed their usefulness and warranties. Repair work on the two-story building is set to begin this spring with completion in fall 2025.