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The ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Board of Trustees received an update regarding the fundamental resources and support services that OHIO provides to first-year students; they also received the annual Facilities Maintenance, Operations and Sustainability update during meetings on Monday, Aug. 21 on the Athens campus.

The Board also received an update from President Lori Stewart Gonzalez and learned more about her recent engagements with numerous student leaders, faculty, staff, alumni and community members during her first six weeks as OHIO’s 23^rd president.

Highlights from the Board of Trustees’ August meeting included:

OHIO’s First-Year Student Experience

Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Elizabeth Sayrs and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Lyn Redington presented an overview of the first-year experience, from Bobcat Student Orientation to the end of students’ first semester, highlighting Bobcat Student Orientation, Move-in and Welcome Week, graduation planning and advising and how learning communities can be transformational. They, along with several students, discussed how Move-in and Welcome Week focus on engaging students socially and academically during their first week on campus through events like Baker Bash, the First-Year Student Convocation, the Involvement Fair and more, and how the week is aimed at helping create a sense of belonging for students at OHIO.

Interim Vice Provost for Student Success Carey Busch discussed how the OHIO Guarantee Plus helps students with their graduation planning, providing professional advising and faculty mentorship, not just in their first-year but throughout their college career.

The Board also heard about the fundamental touch points that are provided to OHIO’s first-year students in support of their academic and personal journey. Sayrs and Redington spoke about student engagement and showcased the interdisciplinary work that takes place across campus to help ensure the best experiences for students. Learning communities are just one way for students to engage on campus. Through learning communities, students create a learning-based peer network and community with other students and share a welcoming space where they can have classroom discussions, take campus and community field trips and participate in group study sessions, as well as other fun events around campus and Athens.

Facilities Maintenance, Operations, and Sustainability annual update

The Board received an update from Vice President of Finance and Administration (VPFA) and CFO and Treasurer Mark Heil, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Safety Troy Bonte and Associate Vice President for Design and Construction Jon Cozad regarding OHIO’s ongoing facilities management, operations and sustainability efforts. During the presentation, the group provid