Tressel comes face to face with the reality that’s YSU

There must be times when Youngstown State University President James P. Tressel, recalling the 32 movers and shakers in the Mahoning Valley who played a significant role in his getting the job, thinks to himself, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” Why would he think that? Because after 100 days as the university’s chief executive, Tressel has come face to face with the reality that is Youngstown State.

The open access, urban institution’s enrollment is on a downward trend, and there’s pressure on the new president and his administrative team to reverse course.

It would be a challenge under any circumstances, but it’s especially difficult these days given that there are 300 fewer students enrolled compared with a year ago, state funding for higher education continues to be cut, and the potential for labor unrest on campus looms large.

The two largest unions, the YSU-Ohio Education Association, which represents the faculty, and the Association of Classified Employees, which represents secretaries and other staff, have yet to sign a new contract. In the last three-year labor pact, union employees agreed to a wage freeze for the first and second years, and a 2 percent increase in the third.

They aren’t in a concessionary mood, and the university isn’t in a position to give. The goodwill that Tressel has enjoyed from the leaders of the unions doesn’t necessarily reflect the posture of the rank-and-file, which means that any agreement reached at the negotiating table could face stiff opposition when it’s presented to the membership.

Tressel is aware that the layoffs enacted last spring are only the tip of the iceberg and that it will be a challenge to avoid another round in the foreseeable future.

“It’s the No. 1 thing you want to avoid,” the president said in an interview with The Vindicator marking his first 100 days in office.

As if to signal that the pain will be borne by all segments of the university, Tressel isn’t intending to fill two vice-president positions — at least through the remainder of the year.

Interim provost

But he has made an important hiring decision with the appointment of Dr. Martin Abraham as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. Abraham is the dean of the YSU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. He created the department and is credited with putting it on the national and international map.

Tressel’s tapping of Abraham is a clear sign that he intends for YSU be a leader in research and development in the burgeoning field of additive manufacturing and in high technology. YSU’s STEM is closely aligned with America Makes, formerly the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute and the No. 1 globally ranked Youngstown Business Incubator.

This relationship could become an important marketing tool as the university seeks to increase its enrollment by expanding its geographic reach.

As for community support to stop the bleeding of full-time students, Tressel should be able to count on the union leadership that endorsed him and the 32 political, business and community leaders who signed the letter to the trustees urging them to appoint him president.