Board of Trustees meeting discusses McDavis stepping down, approves Comprehensive Master Plan

The Board of Trustees met Friday after President Roderick McDavis announced he will be stepping down from the presidential position at the end of his contract June 30, 2017.“We are so proud of our president,” Chair Trustee Sandra J. Anderson said.McDavis said during the media conference that he would not simply be retiring, he would be open to volunteering and fundraising for the university.Although the end of McDavis’ tenure does not take place until the end of his contract, 29 Park Place has housed its last president. The Board confirmed that 29 Park Place will no longer serve as presidential housing; however, the house will be preserved.Friday’s meeting was the last meeting for trustee Sandra J. Anderson and student trustee Sharmaine Wilcox.Anderson was appointed by Ted Strickland when he was governor and she served nine years on Ohio University’s Board of Trustees.“What a quick nine years it has been,” Anderson said in regards to her last meeting.Anderson said she will still involve herself with the university, just not as a trustee. In her statement, Anderson expressed her appreciation of the board and president.The board voted in favor of the Comprehensive Master Plan, which sets the goals for campus improvements for the next ten years.The Presidential Report, given by McDavis, highlighted the recent endeavors by Ohio University.McDavis started the report by noting the mission statement of Ohio University is still to be the nation’s most transformative learning community. The report praised OHIO for Ohio, a plan to extend the reach of Ohio University.“There is much more to come about this in future months,” McDavis said after discussing the addition of new campuses in Dublin and Cleveland.McDavis was also awarded the Dublin’s Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award for his efforts in the construction of Ohio University’s Dublin campus.He went on to discuss other happenings on campus. There are now two finalists for vice president of student affairs: Ricardo D. Hall of the University of Miami and Jason B. Pina of Bridgewater State University. Ohio University placed 14th on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Top 30 College and University List of the largest green power users.Austin Linfante contributed to this report.