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YSU to get $9.4M for capital projects if Kasich approves state panel’s report
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
Youngstown State University would receive about $9.4 million for capital projects if recommendations from a state higher-education commission are approved by the governor.
The largest project, $2.5 million, is for renovations to Melnick Hall.
Ron Cole, YSU spokesman, said the university is pleased with the process used to develop the proposal that was submitted to the governor and is hopeful that the requests will be funded.
“We worked hard to make sure our requests were in line with the commission’s guiding principles for the use of capital funds for higher education,” he said in an email. “In particular, we focused much of our request — including elevator, building [exterior renovations] and roof repairs — on projects that deal with maintaining current buildings rather than building new.”
The recommendations were made by a seven-member funding commission appointed by Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University.
Members are university and community-college presidents and leaders of the state’s higher-education associations.
Gov. John Kasich appointed Gee to lead the effort. Kasich asked higher-education leaders to think differently about the task of allocating the state’s limited resources.
Kasich must decide what’s included in the capital budget.
Previously, higher-education institutions received funding based on a formula that included the age of the institution’s facilities, enrollment and the amount of infrastructure it maintains.
“The old formula ensured that there was a fair and predictable distribution of funds, but it was also viewed as being less responsive to the needs of the state,” the report said. “The new collaborative process is equally fair and respectful.”
But it’s also more flexible, accommodating and “presented a more strategic vision for the state of Ohio’s investment,” it says.
The new formula focuses on public-private partnerships, work-force development, interdisciplinary approaches and long-term maintenance.
All of the recommendation allocations for YSU fall into the long-term maintenance category, and that comprises the majority of recommended funding in the report at about $208 million.
“Specifically, the commission recommends maintenance projects that are focused on either modernizing student learning environments or reducing the ongoing operations costs of our campuses,” it says.
In its capital plan, YSU said that Melnick Hall’s renovation “is a key first step to free space elsewhere on campus that will allow YSU to better serve and expand its growing Health and Human Services and Medical Science programs.”
It says that the demand for medical professionals grows through the state and country. “Additional space is needed to serve the increased enrollments and, in particular, to create simulation and other medical-science laboratories for new programs in the growing fields of respiratory care, nurse practitioner, dental hygiene and others,” YSU’s plan says.
To free space, the university proposes moving WYSU, now in Cushwa Hall where the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services is located.
“YSU proposes moving the radio station to Melnick Hall, a building on campus that is significantly under-utilized at this time,” the plan says. “This will free significant space in Cushwa Hall and allow for the expansions in Health and Human Services/Medical Science programs. ...”
The renovations are needed to relocate WYSU to Melnick.
Besides Melnick, other recommendations for YSU include $2 million for roof renovations and $1.5 million for exterior building repairs.
Other recommendations include $950,000 for roof replacements for Eastern Gateway Community College; $855,000 for heating, ventilation and air-conditioner replacements at Kent State University’s Trumbull campus; and $485,000 for science-lab expansion at Kent’s Salem campus.
Northeast Ohio Medical University also was recommended for funding.
Ann Koon, EGCC spokeswoman, said the recommendation is in line with what the college thought it would receive. The roof to be replaced is on the Jefferson County Campus on a structure built in 1968.