Ohio Northern University works to maintain its high quality.
Quality matters and cost matters. Ohio Northern University President Dr. Daniel DiBiasio told Lima Rotarians that those two points led the university on a 15 month long initiative that will save the campus more than $4 million. "We are proud of our quality at ONU. At the same time there remains abundant challenges that colleges and universities face like stagnant family wages, stock market changes, rising healthcare costs, demographic declines that impact enrollment, just to name a few. The net result is a gap between revenues and expenses that challenge our ability to sustain quality and stay affordable." DiBiasio says they didn't want to raise tuition or uniformly cut all budgets. Instead, they strategically cut expenses through selected and targeted efforts. The result is that ONU is laying off 16 faculty and staff members and discontinuing 10 academic programs as part of its Foundation for Our Future Project. FFP has two goals: "To sustain and enhance the university's excellence, quality, value and reputation, and at the same time, strengthen the university's financial condition for the future."
More than 3,000 students are currently enrolled at Ohio Northern University.
Also at Monday's meeting, Elizabeth Brown-Ellis presented the Lima Rotary Foundation's quarterly grants:
- Children’s Developmental Center: $1,680 to add music therapy services to students’ treatment plans
- Boy Scouts Black Swamp Area Council: $2,680 to fund eight camperships for Lima area youth
- Star-Spangled Spectacular: $500 sponsorship for the July 4 event
Joy Reichenbach became a Paul Harris Fellow, Scott Shafer was awarded awarded Paul Harris +2 status, and Rich Rudolph was awarded Paul Harris +3.
We also passed the bucket for the Celina Rotary Club's Tornado Relief Fund and raised $633.
President Paul called for volunteers to help pass out food and clean the warehouse at West Ohio Food Bank on Friday from 1-4. Contact Ben Swartz at 419-231-6567 if you'd like to help.
