Trustees give approval to new vice president

President Sweet estimates the moves will save about $100,000.
By RON COLE
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- John Habat, who came to Youngstown State University when Dr. David Sweet became president two years ago, will be promoted to vice president.
Sweet's special assistant since July 2000, Habat will be vice president for administration and YSU's third-highest ranking officer, behind Sweet and Provost Tony Atwater.
YSU trustees' internal affairs committee agreed Thursday to waive the university's policy that requires a national job search for top administrators and voted 6-1 to appoint Habat to the new post.
Trustee H.S. Wang voted against the action. He said he likes Habat and thinks he's a capable administrator, but he said a national search would make the position stronger.
Trustee Chander Kohli said a search isn't necessary. "We have a man who we think is top class," Kohli said. "We know he is a man who can perform."
Longtime ties
Habat's ties to Sweet go back more than 20 years. The two worked together when Sweet was urban affairs dean at Cleveland State University. Habat was executive assistant to then-Cleveland mayor George V. Voinovich and was a vice president for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.
Habat, 47, of Shaker Heights, has a law degree from Cleveland State and a master's degree in European history from Ohio University.
"I look forward to continuing to make a contribution," said Habat, whose current salary is $120,000.
The appointment is part of a reorganization sparked in part by the June 30 retirement of Dr. G.L. Mears, executive vice president.
Habat will oversee many of the areas under Mears' supervision, including human resources, labor relations, policy, planning and government relations.
Included in reorganization
The reorganization also calls for Dr. George McCloud, dean of YSU's College of Fine and Performing Arts, to take on the additional duties of special assistant to the president for development and public relations.
McCloud will oversee areas that are under Habat's supervision, including development, marketing, communications, events management and WYSU-FM radio station. He will continue to serve as dean.
Thomas Maraffa, chairman of YSU's geography department, also will become Sweet's special assistant, assisting with projects in the president's office.
And Donna Esterly, executive director of computing and information systems, will become interim chief technology officer. In the new post, Esterly will oversee network, computer, media and academic services.
The appointments are effective July 1, and salaries for all four are yet to be set, said Walt Ulbricht, YSU executive director of marketing and communications.
Ulbricht said Sweet estimates the appointments, along with the retirements of Mears and Dr. Harold Yiannaki, executive director of external affairs, will save YSU about $100,000. Mears' annual salary is $120,459, while Yiannaki made $86,160.
YSU's two other vice presidents -- Terry Ondreyka (finance) and Dr. Cyndy Anderson (student affairs) -- will remain in their positions.
Budget approved
Meanwhile, the trustees' finance committee approved a $111 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2003, a 5-percent, or $5.6 million, increase from 2002.
The budget includes a $3 million cut in anticipated state funding as well as an 8.9-percent tuition increase beginning in August.
Annual full-time tuition will be $4,996, 11th-lowest among Ohio's 13 public universities, Ondreyka said.
The spending plan reflects a continuing trend that calls on students to fund an increasing share of the budget, Ondreyka said.
In fiscal year 2003, funds from student tuition and fees will amount to $55.6 million or 54 percent of YSU's general fund. State funding amounts to $46.9 million or 46 percent.
It's the first time in at least six years that the majority of the general fund will come out of students' pockets. In 1998, state monies funded 55 percent of the budget, and 46 percent came from students.
"We are one of the best values in Ohio, but there still is a real burden on students," Ondreyka said.