Sunday, July 22, 2001
SWEET'S FIRST YEAR
At a glance
Highlights of Dr. David Sweet's first year as Youngstown State University president:
January 2000: Sweet, dean of Cleveland State University's urban affairs college, named YSU president in a unanimous vote by trustees.
March 2000: Sweet sets three priorities: Boosting enrollment, increasing campus diversity and developing community partnerships.
July 2000: Sweet takes office and names Gil Peterson, head of YSU's Public Service Institute, an interim vice president. Less than three months later, Peterson resigns in a dispute with Sweet.
September 2000: Sweet asks state Auditor Jim Petro to conduct a performance review of YSU, the first of its kind for a public university in Ohio. A task force of local community leaders will oversee the review.
October 2000: In his first State of the University address, Sweet says reversing YSU's chronic enrollment declines is key to the institution's future.
December 2000: Provost James Scanlon announces he is leaving for a job in Missouri. Sweet launches a search for a replacement. He also announces creation of a new position -- vice president for financial affairs -- to oversee YSU's budget.
January 2001: Jim Tressel, YSU's popular and successful football coach and athletic director, is named head coach at The Ohio State University; Sweet names Jon Heacock Tressel's successor.
February 2001: Sweet sets an enrollment target -- a 5 percent increase by the fall semester -- and replaces the heads of financial aid, recruitment and registration.
March 2001: YSU trustees pass a tuition plan that slightly decreases fees for freshmen and associate degree students in the fall; they're forced to amend the plan three months later when the university receives less state funding than expected.
April 2001: Sweet leads a two-day summit aimed at improving labor-management relations on campus.
May 2001: Petro releases the audit that includes nearly 200 recommendations and commendations. Meanwhile, an ever-tightening budget forces a hiring freeze.
June 2001: Sweet names Dr. Tony Atwater YSU's first black provost. He also appoints Terry Ondreyka vice president for financial affairs.
July 2001: Sweet names Ron Strollo, 31, executive director of intercollegiate athletics. Strollo played on YSU's national championship football teamof 1991.
Source: Vindicator files