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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: The AD hire
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Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 8/27/2019 8:07 AM
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Agree.
OUcats82
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Posted: 8/27/2019 10:57 AM
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rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
[QUOTE=Uncle Wes]

To me,the Practice Facility is more critical then improvements to
student side of Peden.
Far more useful, too.
TWT
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Posted: 8/27/2019 9:03 PM
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rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
Ping Center was built with a special student assessment and there is talk of relocating the ice rink and swimming pool there. Could another assessment for the Ping Center work and throw in a new student side for Peden at the same time? That may be the best way to get it done.
I had heard about moving the ice rink next to Ping.
The rationale was to save on energy costs.

I know they had talked about a new aquatic center.
But I thought they were looking at a couple of possible locations.

Haven't heard anything about either project for a while.

As I've posted before,if the ice rink project goes ahead,
it should be possible to convert Bird Arena to a Practice Facility
for basketball and volleyball.

Since you've already got the building,it would be a lot cheaper then
starting from scratch.

To me,the Practice Facility is more critical then improvements to
student side of Peden.
Agree on the priorities. The plan though on Bird Arena and the aquatic center a few years back was to build them adjacent to the Ping Center. This way it frees up prime academic space close to campus. The practice facility I believe is just waiting for a lead donor (corporate or individual) to be identified. That one could pick up university funds if it doubles as a visitor center. I'd like the idea of a second weight room and nutrition center also in the project. It wouldn't be a lot more when the current weight room cost only 1 million to build. I doubt we try to build it on a total shoestring as we didn't do it with the IPF or academic center.

Quote:expand_more
The CMP also recommends that OU relocate the Bird ice arena and OU’s indoor pool facilities, currently near Baker University Center, to a spot adjacent to Ping Center. According to the CMP: “Due to the long-term cost of addressing deferred maintenance at Bird Arena and the Aquatic Center, replacement of these facilities is recommended,” the plan reads. “Replacement of these facilities with new construction adjacent to Ping Center allows the centrally located site to be redeveloped as an academic building in the long term.”

https://www.athensnews.com/news/campus/ou-plan-calls-for-...
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 8/27/2019 10:19 PM
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Problem is the Convo , specifically the back of the Convo is in the 100 year flood stage and building there is prohibitive a practice facility adjacent to the Convo would be very difficult to swing. The new flood plains were drafted several years ago.
rpbobcat
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Posted: 8/28/2019 6:27 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Problem is the Convo , specifically the back of the Convo is in the 100 year flood stage and building there is prohibitive a practice facility adjacent to the Convo would be very difficult to swing. The new flood plains were drafted several years ago.
This was discussed on another thread a while back.

Building in a 100 year flood zone is really tough.

I don't know if Ohio has regulations that are more restrictive then FEMA's,New Jersey does,but just following FEMA's are tough.

You'd have to build the building a minimum of 1 foot above the 100 year flood
elevation.

Depending on restrictions on placement of fill in a Flood Plain,you'd either have to build the building on stilts,or compensate for the fill volume by creating what's called a "net fill compensation area" of equal volume to the fill.

Then,because you're increasing impervious coverage,you'd need an extensive
drainage system to assure no impact downstream of the project site.

And just to throw a bit more cold water on the location.
Based on soil conditions,you have to put any building on piles.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 8/30/2019 12:01 PM
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rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
. . . As I've posted before,if the ice rink project goes ahead,
it should be possible to convert Bird Arena to a Practice Facility
for basketball and volleyball.

Since you've already got the building,it would be a lot cheaper then
starting from scratch.
. . .
I agree, but unfortunately that's not the American way. Why re-purpose a structurally sound building when you can "tear down what you got, and put up a parking lot." (Some of you old farts will recognize that quote.) We've seen several examples of that in Athens recently with the raising of Old Morton Hall and some of the destructive activity at Ridges. And, don't mention the public school buildings under the wreaking ball as we speak. In Europe, which certainly isn't my model for many things, none of these buildings would have been torn down. They would have been remodeled, renovated and reused.
Last Edited: 8/30/2019 12:03:36 PM by OhioCatFan
CatsUp
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Posted: 8/30/2019 12:16 PM
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I hear ya OCF. Sometimes we “don’t know what we’ve got ‘til it’s gone”. ; )
rpbobcat
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Posted: 8/30/2019 12:26 PM
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CatsUp wrote:expand_more
I hear ya OCF. Sometimes we “don’t know what we’ve got ‘til it’s gone”. ; )
What I found amazing was O.U.'s demolition of the old T.B. Building at the back of The Ridges.

No sooner had they finished,they started talking about how knocking it down may have been a mistake.
TWT
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Posted: 8/30/2019 8:29 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
. . . As I've posted before,if the ice rink project goes ahead,
it should be possible to convert Bird Arena to a Practice Facility
for basketball and volleyball.

Since you've already got the building,it would be a lot cheaper then
starting from scratch.
. . .
I agree, but unfortunately that's not the American way. Why re-purpose a structurally sound building when you can "tear down what you got, and put up a parking lot." (Some of you old farts will recognize that quote.) We've seen several examples of that in Athens recently with the raising of Old Morton Hall and some of the destructive activity at Ridges. And, don't mention the public school buildings under the wreaking ball as we speak. In Europe, which certainly isn't my model for many things, none of these buildings would have been torn down. They would have been remodeled, renovated and reused.
Agree with you on Bird Arena but more from a utilitarian angle. The location of Bird in the middle of campus is a big factor in the level of support for the club hockey team. Plus its right across from the student center. There could be value in expanding Bird to become an entertainment complex with an arcade and restaurant. The swimming pool was built in 1984 and doesn't have a lot of historical value. I imagine it would get more student use attached to Ping as it has locker rooms and workout rooms heavily frequented.
Last Edited: 8/30/2019 8:30:03 PM by TWT
giacomo
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Posted: 8/31/2019 5:14 PM
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Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
TWT
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Posted: 9/1/2019 9:57 AM
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giacomo wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/1/2019 3:57 PM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
And Ohio is dropping in number of freshmen, with budget cuts, seems like lower donations and dropping in the rankings. Need to turn all that around before I feel real good about the future.
TWT
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Posted: 9/1/2019 9:57 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
And Ohio is dropping in number of freshmen, with budget cuts, seems like lower donations and dropping in the rankings. Need to turn all that around before I feel real good about the future.
First realize that from 2015 to 2017 the Freshman class exceeded targets in those years. Going from years of excessive freshman back to a normal yield isn't a true enrollment drop or a steady year by year decline to be alarmed with. Secondly the drop in the USNWR has more to do with more private colleges that are now in the national rankings than anything else. As to the donations, the school isn't running a campaign. The 600 million dollar endowment for a mid sized university is like having a 1.8 billion endowment at a Big Ten university. Students are now receiving merit aid in the form of reduced tuition based on ACT score. The university has as much money to attract students as what it could possibly need but they don't control supply and demand. I wouldn't say I'm ecstatic about the future as if OU joined the Big Ten or something but the foundation is in place for future decades on a level it never was before.
TWT
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Posted: 9/1/2019 10:08 PM
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Miami is the one with the unsustainable stats on its freshman class, state support under 10% and rankings (a big deal for attracting their students) dropping like a rock. Tuition prices that are absurd for a public school. Ohio's freshman class stats are more sustainable over the longer haul. Its cost model is more sustainable.
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Posted: 9/2/2019 10:11 AM
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Another big check in the mail this morning ($22 million) to support a new arts education center building...

Quote:expand_more
“Dr. Patton’s generosity is truly overwhelming and humbling. Her gifts have transformed, and will continue to transform, arts and education at Ohio University,” OU President M. Duane Nellis said in the release. “The Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education will be a jewel on our Arts Education Green, which will be on the east end of North Green and will encompass buildings that house music and dance, arts and education, and the new Patton Center. This vibrant green will serve as an entry point for campus and as a magnet for excellent students, faculty, and staff to embrace and experience the arts.”

Approximately 50 percent of Dr. Patton’s $64 million commitment will support the design, construction and furnishing of the new Patton Center, the release said, and approximately $27 million will support the Patton College of Education’s facilities. In addition, $5 million will be used to support the ongoing maintenance of both of these facilities.

https://www.athensnews.com/news/campus/ou-alumna-violet-p...
Alan Swank
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Posted: 9/2/2019 10:37 AM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
Another big check in the mail this morning ($22 million) to support a new arts education center building...

“Dr. Patton’s generosity is truly overwhelming and humbling. Her gifts have transformed, and will continue to transform, arts and education at Ohio University,” OU President M. Duane Nellis said in the release. “The Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education will be a jewel on our Arts Education Green, which will be on the east end of North Green and will encompass buildings that house music and dance, arts and education, and the new Patton Center. This vibrant green will serve as an entry point for campus and as a magnet for excellent students, faculty, and staff to embrace and experience the arts.”

Approximately 50 percent of Dr. Patton’s $64 million commitment will support the design, construction and furnishing of the new Patton Center, the release said, and approximately $27 million will support the Patton College of Education’s facilities. In addition, $5 million will be used to support the ongoing maintenance of both of these facilities.

https://www.athensnews.com/news/campus/ou-alumna-violet-p...
Fantastic news. Hopefully public schools in the area can benefit from this committment to increased and improved arts education.
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Posted: 9/2/2019 10:52 AM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Fantastic news. Hopefully public schools in the area can benefit from this committment to increased and improved arts education.
Alan, and others sharing his views, might be interested in checking out www.teachrock.org and Little Steven's commitment to supporting arts education.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/2/2019 3:51 PM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
And Ohio is dropping in number of freshmen, with budget cuts, seems like lower donations and dropping in the rankings. Need to turn all that around before I feel real good about the future.
First realize that from 2015 to 2017 the Freshman class exceeded targets in those years. Going from years of excessive freshman back to a normal yield isn't a true enrollment drop or a steady year by year decline to be alarmed with. Secondly the drop in the USNWR has more to do with more private colleges that are now in the national rankings than anything else. As to the donations, the school isn't running a campaign. The 600 million dollar endowment for a mid sized university is like having a 1.8 billion endowment at a Big Ten university. Students are now receiving merit aid in the form of reduced tuition based on ACT score. The university has as much money to attract students as what it could possibly need but they don't control supply and demand. I wouldn't say I'm ecstatic about the future as if OU joined the Big Ten or something but the foundation is in place for future decades on a level it never was before.
I appreciate the insights. Didn’t know most of that, but $12 million dollars budget cut or whatever it was is not good. As far as ratings go, we are a heck of a lot closer now to Kent State than we are Miami. All I hear on here is about all the deferred maintenance the campus needs and based on my infrequent visits, I’d have to sort of agree. The problem with our endowment amount is that it is not not really expanding much to my eye and many smaller schools have much larger ones. What is the quality of the incoming students and what are we doing about retention and graduation rates? All that factors into ratings and I’m not seeing improvements there. I may be missing something here.
Last Edited: 9/2/2019 3:55:01 PM by colobobcat66
Alan Swank
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Posted: 9/2/2019 4:15 PM
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bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Fantastic news. Hopefully public schools in the area can benefit from this committment to increased and improved arts education.
Alan, and others sharing his views, might be interested in checking out http://www.teachrock.org and Little Steven's commitment to supporting arts education.
Wow! What a great program. Thanks squared. Speaking of school arts program, check out this four year arts program including the top four year guiltar program in the state at a school just outside of Lexington.

https://www.fcps.net/Page/11456
David E Brightbill
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Posted: 9/2/2019 7:17 PM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
And Ohio is dropping in number of freshmen, with budget cuts, seems like lower donations and dropping in the rankings. Need to turn all that around before I feel real good about the future.
First realize that from 2015 to 2017 the Freshman class exceeded targets in those years. Going from years of excessive freshman back to a normal yield isn't a true enrollment drop or a steady year by year decline to be alarmed with. Secondly the drop in the USNWR has more to do with more private colleges that are now in the national rankings than anything else. As to the donations, the school isn't running a campaign. The 600 million dollar endowment for a mid sized university is like having a 1.8 billion endowment at a Big Ten university. Students are now receiving merit aid in the form of reduced tuition based on ACT score. The university has as much money to attract students as what it could possibly need but they don't control supply and demand. I wouldn't say I'm ecstatic about the future as if OU joined the Big Ten or something but the foundation is in place for future decades on a level it never was before.
I appreciate the insights. Didn’t know most of that, but $12 million dollars budget cut or whatever it was is not good. As far as ratings go, we are a heck of a lot closer now to Kent State than we are Miami. All I hear on here is about all the deferred maintenance the campus needs and based on my infrequent visits, I’d have to sort of agree. The problem with our endowment amount is that it is not not really expanding much to my eye and many smaller schools have much larger ones. What is the quality of the incoming students and what are we doing about retention and graduation rates? All that factors into ratings and I’m not seeing improvements there. I may be missing something here.
The century bond was created a few years ago to help address significant deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance projects are done each year using these internal revolving loan funds. McCraken was renovated using funds part of the Patten donation. Ellis Hall was just completely renovated. A replacement for Clippinger is under construction. Lindsey hall had significant work done a few years ago. Four new residence halls were built to replace high maintenance South Green dorms. New chiller systems have been completed recently. Jefferson was just totally renovated. I know I am missing some and there is still much to be done. As far as the endowment the last campaign raise around 1/2 Billion dollars.
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Posted: 9/3/2019 10:26 AM
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David E Brightbill wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
And Ohio is dropping in number of freshmen, with budget cuts, seems like lower donations and dropping in the rankings. Need to turn all that around before I feel real good about the future.
First realize that from 2015 to 2017 the Freshman class exceeded targets in those years. Going from years of excessive freshman back to a normal yield isn't a true enrollment drop or a steady year by year decline to be alarmed with. Secondly the drop in the USNWR has more to do with more private colleges that are now in the national rankings than anything else. As to the donations, the school isn't running a campaign. The 600 million dollar endowment for a mid sized university is like having a 1.8 billion endowment at a Big Ten university. Students are now receiving merit aid in the form of reduced tuition based on ACT score. The university has as much money to attract students as what it could possibly need but they don't control supply and demand. I wouldn't say I'm ecstatic about the future as if OU joined the Big Ten or something but the foundation is in place for future decades on a level it never was before.
I appreciate the insights. Didn’t know most of that, but $12 million dollars budget cut or whatever it was is not good. As far as ratings go, we are a heck of a lot closer now to Kent State than we are Miami. All I hear on here is about all the deferred maintenance the campus needs and based on my infrequent visits, I’d have to sort of agree. The problem with our endowment amount is that it is not not really expanding much to my eye and many smaller schools have much larger ones. What is the quality of the incoming students and what are we doing about retention and graduation rates? All that factors into ratings and I’m not seeing improvements there. I may be missing something here.
The century bond was created a few years ago to help address significant deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance projects are done each year using these internal revolving loan funds. McCraken was renovated using funds part of the Patten donation. Ellis Hall was just completely renovated. A replacement for Clippinger is under construction. Lindsey hall had significant work done a few years ago. Four new residence halls were built to replace high maintenance South Green dorms. New chiller systems have been completed recently. Jefferson was just totally renovated. I know I am missing some and there is still much to be done. As far as the endowment the last campaign raise around 1/2 Billion dollars.

Good stuff. Only issue I have is the endowment thing. Endowment is no where near what it needs to be IMHO, and until it’s in the bank you can’t spend it and you can’t bank it. I’m just saying that a school like Colorado College here in the springs has 2000 students and an endowment larger ($765,000,000)than ours. They can do a lot more with those factors than we can.
Last Edited: 9/3/2019 10:29:46 AM by colobobcat66
Alan Swank
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Posted: 9/3/2019 10:38 AM
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"Generally, a policy of continued deferred maintenance may result in higher costs, asset failure, and in some cases, health and safety implications."

When did deferred maintenance become an acceptable thing?
TWT
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Posted: 9/4/2019 8:45 AM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
"Generally, a policy of continued deferred maintenance may result in higher costs, asset failure, and in some cases, health and safety implications."

When did deferred maintenance become an acceptable thing?
Ohio State has talked about it as a concept as far back as 2002. They have the most square footage to keep up to date. John Kasich made it a priority as governor of Ohio in 2011 and set up a commission led by president McDavis. This led ultimately to the creation of the century bond at Ohio University for deferred maintenance. McDavis said the idea was to be able to "pay as you go" with everything on a maintenance schedule instead of racking up debt.

https://news.osu.edu/deferred-maintenance-a-growing-probl... /

https://budget.ohio.gov/Budget/capital/doc/fy-15-16/OHEFC...

Quote:expand_more
Ohio University has proposed an innovative debt management strategy designed to create an estimated $1.4 billion for deferred maintenance projects during the next century without taking on additional debt.

The funding model is designed to proactively manage debt and reduce the cost of deferred maintenance projects, while improving the health and safety of the Athens and regional campuses, increasing reliability to researchers, and ensuring OHIO remains competitive at attracting and recruiting the next generation of faculty, staff and students.

“The objective here is to attack our deferred maintenance backlog, and rather than seeing it grow from $87 a square foot to $100 a square foot, our goal is to reduce it from $87 a square foot to $57 a square foot in the next six to nine years,” said Vice President for Finance and Administration Stephen Golding. “Having a 210-year-old history with a number of buildings that were built in the early to mid-20th century puts us in a situation where we have facilities that are in need of renovation and restoration, and this plan will allow us to do that.”

https://www.ohio.edu/compass/stories/14-15/10/century_bon...
TWT
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Posted: 9/4/2019 8:51 AM
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FWIW, fundraising also exceeded its target this year so giving is not exactly slumping.

Quote:expand_more
Ohio University’s Division of University Advancement secured $29.53 million in new gifts and commitments during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019, exceeding its $20 million goal. More than 15,000 donors made gifts to the University last fiscal year—including 8,638 alumni and 573 OHIO employees.

Two highlights of the fiscal year were the University’s first Giving Tuesday campaign and its first-ever OHIO Giving Day. The success of Giving Tuesday (Nov. 27) secured nearly $20,000: more than $15,000 for the Baker Center Food Pantry and over $4,000 for other funds. Building on that momentum, OHIO Giving Day saw 1,535 donors contribute $443,534 in 24 hours on April 18.

https://ohiotoday.org/news/2019/08/23/private-giving-fisc... /
TWT
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Posted: 9/4/2019 9:07 AM
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colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
Unless somebody writes a big check to cover the cost, I wouldn't be spending any more money right now. Higher ed is the next bubble to break.
To that point OU is in the midst of upgrading its STEM core right now with projects for physical sciences, engineering and med school underway. They should be finished up in the next 3 years or so. Otherwise campus buildings are now on a replacement schedule to reduce deferred maintenance backlog. For this reason you won't see the school go through another period like 1975-1990 where it built almost nothing as they have century bonds now place to pay for it. Those buildings that are check dependent (new college of business building) are deprioritized to those which are not (aquatic center). The pool was built in 1984 so it will turn 50 in 2034. It can wait another 10 years. A big check though automatically moves a building to the front of the line.
And Ohio is dropping in number of freshmen, with budget cuts, seems like lower donations and dropping in the rankings. Need to turn all that around before I feel real good about the future.
First realize that from 2015 to 2017 the Freshman class exceeded targets in those years. Going from years of excessive freshman back to a normal yield isn't a true enrollment drop or a steady year by year decline to be alarmed with. Secondly the drop in the USNWR has more to do with more private colleges that are now in the national rankings than anything else. As to the donations, the school isn't running a campaign. The 600 million dollar endowment for a mid sized university is like having a 1.8 billion endowment at a Big Ten university. Students are now receiving merit aid in the form of reduced tuition based on ACT score. The university has as much money to attract students as what it could possibly need but they don't control supply and demand. I wouldn't say I'm ecstatic about the future as if OU joined the Big Ten or something but the foundation is in place for future decades on a level it never was before.
I appreciate the insights. Didn’t know most of that, but $12 million dollars budget cut or whatever it was is not good. As far as ratings go, we are a heck of a lot closer now to Kent State than we are Miami. All I hear on here is about all the deferred maintenance the campus needs and based on my infrequent visits, I’d have to sort of agree. The problem with our endowment amount is that it is not not really expanding much to my eye and many smaller schools have much larger ones. What is the quality of the incoming students and what are we doing about retention and graduation rates? All that factors into ratings and I’m not seeing improvements there. I may be missing something here.
The century bond was created a few years ago to help address significant deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance projects are done each year using these internal revolving loan funds. McCraken was renovated using funds part of the Patten donation. Ellis Hall was just completely renovated. A replacement for Clippinger is under construction. Lindsey hall had significant work done a few years ago. Four new residence halls were built to replace high maintenance South Green dorms. New chiller systems have been completed recently. Jefferson was just totally renovated. I know I am missing some and there is still much to be done. As far as the endowment the last campaign raise around 1/2 Billion dollars.

Good stuff. Only issue I have is the endowment thing. Endowment is no where near what it needs to be IMHO, and until it’s in the bank you can’t spend it and you can’t bank it. I’m just saying that a school like Colorado College here in the springs has 2000 students and an endowment larger ($765,000,000)than ours. They can do a lot more with those factors than we can.
Colorado College then has plenty of money to cover merit aid at its $55,470 per year tuition rate. The Washington Monthly only has Colorado College ranked #108 in the country as a liberal arts college. My point here is not that Colorado College isn't an excellent school but there are limits to how money can affect reputation. These days OU is pulling 20 million out of its endowment every year for merit aid and academic support. Its a sufficient amount to cover the merit aid program. The pricing is better than OSU and Miami but OU is losing out on the prestige factor against a Big Ten school and a Public Ivy. From this angle I don't know if more money could help Ohio in the published rankings.
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