By Debbie Rogers
At Thursday’s meeting, the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees approved a 1.15% increase – or $25.50 per credit hour – in undergraduate instructional and general fees for in-state students, for this fall.
The Falcon Tuition Guarantee remains in effect, meaning that incoming students will have an annual increase of 1.15% to in-state, undergraduate instructional and general fees. This equates to a total 4.6% increase over the four-year guarantee plan.
Sheri Stoll, chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration, gave a detailed presentation on the state outlook and BGSU’s financial future.
Ohio is one of the few states that has a biennial budget, which is currently being worked on by the state legislature. Gov. Mike DeWine recommended a 3% increase to higher education for 2024 and 2025, but the Senate and House are still debating.
Stoll assumed a 2.9% increase in the state share of instruction.
Budget and raises
There is a collective bargaining agreement with the faculty that calls for a 2.5% pool. It’s made up of a 1% across-the-board raise and a 1.5% merit pool.
“We are doing the best we can,” said President Rodney Rogers. “We understand the inflationary pressure that our employees have felt at the university, and we worked hard to do the very best we can.”
There is a 2.5% pool for classified and administrative staff.
History of state support
Stoll pointed out that state support has dramatically decreased in recent years.
In 2010, the state share of instruction was $95.2 million. It dropped every year from 2011-15, when it was $66.9 million.
Since then, the state share of instruction has increased; it was $71.1 million in 2016 and $87 million in 2023. It is expected to be $89.6 million in 2024 and $90.9 million in 2025.
Things could be very different if the state funding had continued like 2010 numbers, Stoll said.
“What if the state had decided to just do a 2% increase each year, since 2010? This coming fall, we would be expecting in total $116 million in (state share of instruction),” she said. “What if the state had only done 1% each year? We would still be looking at about $109.4 million, or almost $18.5 million more than we’re expecting this fall.
“It’s difficult not to think of the things that we could be doing if we had some of those additional resources,” Stoll said.
Total revenue for BGSU is expected to be $447.6 million in 2024, compared to $433.8 million in 2023.
Tuition and fees are expected to generate $219.6 million in 2024, compared to $214.7 million in 2023.
Out of Ohio’s 14 four-year public universities, BGSU is the fifth least-expensive university for total cost in the state.
Enrollment trends
Over the last 10 years, BGSU enrollment has fluctuated, with 14,023 students expected to be enrolled this fall, Stoll said. The fall 2022 headcount was 13,873.
“Enrollment drives everything we do at the university,” she said.
The enrollment high was fall 2019 with 15,104.
“We had phenomenal momentum going,” Stoll said. “And then the pandemic hit.”
The fall headcount was 14,992 in 2020 and 14,468 in 2021.
“This is an amazing accomplishment,” Stoll said of this fall’s expected headcount.
There’s going to have to be strategy and planning to keep the momentum, she said.
“The pool of 18-year-olds in Ohio is shrinking,” Stoll said. “Enrollment growth is going to remain critical. It’s going to be a challenge.
“We’ve got to continue to offer the right programs and the right degrees that are in demand,” she said. “We’re going to have to figure out some ways to gain some market share.”
Summer and e-campus offerings may be a way to grow, Stoll said.
Students must immediately feel welcome on campus, and must be retained, she added.
Also at the meeting, the trustees:
• Heard thousands of young people have been on campus this summer, for orientation, Buckeye Girls State and camps.
• Heard that the campus will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of BGSU bands during homecoming this fall.
• Set meeting dates in fiscal year 2025 for Sept. 26-27, Dec. 5-6, Feb. 20-21, May 1-2 and June 26-27.
