The Ohio University Board of Trustees will learn about the university’s ongoing efforts to integrate and engage with artificial intelligence (AI) through the curriculum and in the classroom, and will also hear from faculty and students in the athletic administration program about the current state of the industry and the experiential learning opportunities available during meetings Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 on the Athens campus.
In addition, the board will receive an enrollment update from Candace J. Boeninger, vice president of enrollment management, highlighting the preliminary headcount for spring 2026, as well as updated retention rates for the Athens and regional campuses. She will also provide a brief real-time preview of Fall 2026 enrollment ahead of the May 1 National Candidate response deadline and provide insight into the various topics shaping the enrollment landscape in Ohio and nationally.
The board will also hear from Director of Athletics Slade Larscheid, who will provide an update on Ohio University Intercollegiate Athletics, including key personnel updates, upcoming football opponents and efforts to increase the visibility of Ohio Athletics. He will also provide an overview of the “Stand Up for Ohio Football” donation campaign and its role in supporting the continued growth and success of OHIO’s football program.
The committee meetings will begin at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 16, in Walter Hall 104 and end around 3:30 p.m. Committee meetings will resume on Friday, April 17, beginning at 9:30 a.m., with the main board meeting starting around noon. The full schedule and agenda for the April meetings, as well as links to livestreams for both days, are available online at ohio.edu/trustees.
Additional agenda items for the April meetings of the Supervisory Board are expected to include:
Integrating AI into the classroom
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, April 16, 104 Walter Hall
Executive Vice President and Provost Don Leo; Paul Benedict, associate professor of instruction in management and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship; Melinda Rhodes-DiSalvo, executive director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment; and Paul Shovlin, assistant professor of English, will present on OHIO’s AI readiness, differentiators in AI for teaching and learning, key institutional risks in AI adoption, and a proposed initiative and associated investments. They will also highlight AI faculty cluster recruitments.
The board will hear how OHIO is preparing students for an AI-driven future through curriculum embedded in general education, higher-level courses, and credentialing opportunities, as well as the impact of faculty and staff development through the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, which focuses on teaching excellence. The presenters will also highlight the university’s decentralized approach to AI adoption, which has fostered innovation across disciplines and earned national recognition, and share how OHIO’s strategy prioritizes “human first AI,” strengthening critical thinking, adaptability and ethical AI use that aligns with the institution’s dynamic strategy.
Finally, the presentation will outline plans to expand the AI Fellows program with additional faculty and student leaders and how the university plans to deepen industry partnerships to create new experiential learning opportunities.
In honor of OHIO’s world-renowned sports administration program
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, April 16, 104 Walter Hall
The board will listen to EVPP Leo; Jim Strode, associate professor in the College of Business; and Lamar Reams, chairman of Sports Administration, on Ohio University’s Sports Administration program. They will provide a brief historical overview of the program, which is widely recognized as the first of its kind in the world, and highlight its long-standing leadership and impact in the field of sport management education.
They will also include an update on the current state of the program, including the makeup of the student population and the strong emphasis on practical, experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for careers in the sports industry. Current first-year MBA-MSA students will also present to the board and share insights into the real-world experiences they gained through the program.
Promoting research education through doctorates
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, April 16, 104 Walter Hall
Leo will join David Koonce, dean of the Graduate College, in a presentation on doctoral degree production at Ohio University. The presentation will highlight the critical role that doctoral programs play in advancing the university’s research mission, scholarly reputation and public impact, as well as their importance in Carnegie’s R1 classification. The discussion will also highlight OHIO’s doctoral achievements within national trends.
The board will also note two current initiatives that demonstrate OHIO’s shift from descriptive analysis to proactive support, including Doctoral Milestone Tracking, which provides consistent insight into key points of doctoral progress while maintaining faculty authority over academic decisions, and the Konneker Grant-supported Dissertation Writing Support Program, which provides sustained, community-based support to doctoral writers, as well as master’s and Honors Tutorial College students completing theses.
Capital projects
Resources, Facilities and Affordability Committee, 9:35 a.m., Friday, April 17, Walter Hall 104
Jon Cozad, senior advisor for design and construction, will share facility project highlights with the board, including:
Start of construction (projects over $500,000):
- Grosvenor Hall Refurbishment Phase I
- OUC Bennett Hall Storm improvements
- OUL Brasee Hall Nursing Renovations Phase III
- OUZ HVAC and energy efficiency improvements Phase II
- Upgrades of West Green chilled water installations
Continuing construction progress (projects over $500,000):
- Construction of a new hangar at Bush Airport
- Expansion of chilled water installation 3
- Renewal of facilities of the College of Fine Arts
- Convocation Center Electrical, HVAC and fire system improvements
- Heritage Translational Research Center
- Residential Construction Phase II New Construction – McDavis Hall
- Marching 110 Practice Field
- Old switchgear for heating systems
Substantial completion (projects over $500,000):
- Bentley Hall and Bentley Annex HVAC and controls
- Renovation of Bush Airport’s Zero hangar
- Copeland Hall HVAC and controls
