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The ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Board of Trustees approved the establishment of two new schools – the School of Aeronautics and the School of Engineering – within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering during the Board’s regular quarterly meeting held June 25, 2025, on the Kent Campus.

Currently, the College of Aeronautics and Engineering operates without dependent academic units, meaning that all of its activities have been under the direct supervision of the Office of the Dean, which has become an unsustainable mode of operation. Enrollment in the college has grown 55% from fall 2018 to fall 2024. During this same time period, the number of students enrolled in engineering majors has increased 59% and the number of students enrolled in aeronautics majors has increased 49%. In fall 2024, the College of Aeronautics and Engineering served more than 1,400 students and increased the enrollment of its incoming class 134% since 2017.

Given its exceptional growth of programs, student enrollments, faculty research, creation of the Center for Advanced Air Mobility and other relevant activities, establishing two dependent academic schools better positions the college to leverage its unique programs and opportunities to lead in in-demand fields of growing importance to the institution, region, state and nation.

With the Board’s approval, the new School of Aeronautics and the new School of Engineering will be established effective July 1, 2025.

Board Approved Taxiway Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project at ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Airport

The Board approved a project to address the necessary rehabilitation and reconstruction of the taxiway pavement at the ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Airport in Stow, Ohio. The ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Airport has been serving the community since 1917. The last time the taxiway was rehabilitated was in 1999. It is currently in disrepair and needs to be rehabilitated to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design and safety standards. Sections of the runway require a complete reconstruction.

The total project cost is budgeted at $6 million. The university will utilize $4,523,147 in FAA grants and $1,476,853 in local improvement funds to support this critical taxiway project. The design, bidding and construction of this project will follow all state laws and regulations.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2026 to minimize the impact on the university’s flight program within its College of Aeronautics and Engineering. The airport runway will be open during most of the taxiway reconstruction duration, with limited closures during tie-in activities.

Board Approves Naming Actions Recognizing Herb Page and Paula Treckel, Ph.D.

The Board approved naming the university’s men’s golf program as the Herb Page Men’s Golf Program and naming the women’s golf program as the Dr. Paula Treckel Women’s Golf Program in recognition of the vision, leadership and legacy of generosity of Herb Page and Paula Treckel, Ph.D. Page earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1974 and a Master of Arts in Health and Physical Education in 1976 from ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½, and Treckel earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies in 1973 from ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½.

Page distinguished himself as a student-athlete during the course of his education at ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½, earning multiple honors across three team sports. He became ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½â€™s head golf coach in 1977 and served as the university’s director of golf for 41 years until his retirement in 2019. During his tenure, the men’s golf team earned 17 NCAA Championship appearances with four top 10 finishes, 28 NCAA regional appearances and 90 team tournament titles. In 1998, Page was pivotal in launching the women’s golf program at ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½, a highly decorated program that earned 21 consecutive conference titles under his leadership.

Treckel had an impactful career in higher education, teaching at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Minnesota before joining the history faculty at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania in 1981. At Allegheny College, she was honored in 1996 with the Julian Ross Award for Excellence in Teaching and served with distinction until her retirement in 2014.

Page and Treckel were instrumental in shaping the championship legacy of the ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ golf programs through their vision of creating the $2.2 million, state-of-the-art Ferrara and Page Golf Training and Learning Center and spearheading the $3 million full endowment of scholarships for the men’s golf program – a milestone achievement for the program and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Through their dedicated personal philanthropy and advocacy, Page and Treckel have impacted their alma mater through their support of many programs across the university, including the Herb Page and Paula Treckel Golf Scholarship, Dr. Karl F. Treckel Endowed Economics Scholarship, Eleanore L. Treckel Endowed Nursing Scholarship, KSU Rango Invitational and ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Museum.

The Board also heard an additional naming action that has been approved by the university president, who has the Board’s delegated authority to approve philanthropic naming opportunities with a total value or cost under $100,000. The president approved the naming of the Women’s Auxiliary at Trumbull Memorial Hospital Inc. Conference Room, recognizing a gift of $50,000 from the Women’s Auxiliary at Trumbull Memorial Hospital Inc. Over the years, the auxiliary has donated more than $4 million to the hospital and organizations in the community and has awarded about $300,000 in scholarships to further the education of hospital employees in the nursing field.

Board Endorses Transformation 2028 Plan for Non-Degree Granting Colleges Within Academic Affairs

The Board endorsed the second phase of the Transformation 2028 initiative, which reimagines the overall structure of non-degree granting colleges. Previously at its March 2025 meeting, the Board endorsed the Division of Academic Affairs’ plan for reimagining the structure of the degree-granting colleges, the first phase of Transformation 2028. The goals of the initiative are to strengthen the Division of Academic Affairs through strategic reorganization and sustainable realignment of academic units, programs and resources and develop the next generation of the division that will positively impact learners, create greater collaboration among disciplines and services, and position ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ for future growth

The endorsed second phase of the initiative will combine the Graduate College and University College into one college, and the Honors College and the Office of Global Education into a second college. This Board approval follows an extensive consultation process involving all levels of faculty governance and the academic administrative leadership, the Faculty Senate approving this model, and the university president and provost accepting the model before recommending it for endorsement by the Board.

The new model for non-degree granting colleges will reduce staff and infrastructure at an estimated savings of $1 million annually; share services across non-degree granting colleges, reducing redundancies and streamlining processes; and facilitate opportunities to work across units and create opportunities needed for the future. The Board expressed appreciation to the faculty, deans, chairs, directors, Office of the Provost and all those whose dedicated efforts resulted in the development of thoughtful models for the transformation of the Division of Academic Affairs; endorsed the recommended structure to enable the division to proceed with planning for full implementation by 2028; and acknowledged that the specific organizational and curricular actions necessary to implement the plan will come to the Board for approval in accordance with university policy.

Board Approves Expenditure Authorization for Fiscal Year 2026 â¶Ä¯

At this time, the state of Ohio biennial budget for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 is under development by the Ohio General Assembly and Gov. Mike DeWine. The budget currently under development impacts tuition caps, state share of instruction and funding through the Ohio College Opportunity Grant. Futhermore, the U.S. Congress is currently working on legislation that may drastically amend the current Pell Grant program relative to eligibility and funding levels.  

Given the uncertainty regarding critical components of the university budget at this time, the Board approved a resolution authorizing the president and the university’s chief financial officer to expend monies from educational and general and auxiliary funds beginning July 1, 2025, at the funding level established by the Board for Fiscal Year 2025 and expenditure authorization of total funds applied equal to $703,590,880. â¶Ä¯

The president will submit an operating budget for action by the Board when appropriate information is available and a complete operating budget reflecting direction and authority can be prepared. It is anticipated this action will occur at the next regularly scheduled Board business meeting in September 2025. 

Board Approves Fall Tuition, Room and Meal Plan Rates 

Under Tuition Guarantee Model 

The Board approved the establishment of tuition, room and meal plan rates under the Tuition Guarantee Model for the cohort entering fall 2025, as permissible for the 2025-2026 year at the conclusion of the current state budget deliberations. The Tuition Guarantee is designed to provide students and their families a predictable and stable model for planning for the cost of a college degree. It provides all eligible new first-year undergraduates and their families the certainty that resident tuition, mandatory fees, and room and meal plan charges will not increase during the ensuing four academic years from their first enrollment as degree-seeking students.  

By authorizing this resolution at this time, the Board will enable the administration to finalize the rates included in the Tuition Guarantee Model immediately after the state budget is approved so the information can be communicated to students and families and fall 2025 invoices can be distributed.  

Not Under Tuition Guarantee Model &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

The Board also approved tuition and fees for students not covered under the Tuition Guarantee Model, effective fall 2025, as permissible for the 2025-2026 year at the conclusion of the current state budget deliberations. Such tuition and fees include undergraduate in-state tuition for continuing students not included in the Tuition Guarantee Model, graduate tuition and out-of-state surcharges. The tuition and fees are necessary to continue quality academic programming, enhance research opportunities and provide additional resources for investment in graduate programs.

The Kent Campus annualized full-time undergraduate tuition for continuing students is seventh of the 13 Ohio public universities. This lower tuition rate and continued investments made in institutional financial aid reflect the university’s ongoing commitment to affordability. 

Special Surcharge Rates for Non-Ohio Residents 

Responsible for approving fees for instruction and other education services, the Board approved the continuation of special out-of-state surcharge rates, subject to any required approvals from the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. â¶Ä¯

Reductions from established instructional and general fees as well as out-of-state surcharge rates are permitted if approved by the Board and the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Set to expire at the end of this fiscal year, the Board approved continuing the following reductions in the regular out-of-state surcharge assessed to specific non-Ohio residents: 

• An 80% waiver of the out-of-state surcharge rate that applies for students attending Regional Campuses from specific counties in Pennsylvania (Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence and Mercer counties) and West Virginia (Brooke, Hancock and Ohio counties). 
• A reduced special fee of $10 per credit hour for non-Ohio residents enrolled in fully online programs at any ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ campus. 
• A special reduced fee of $10 per credit hour for non-Ohio residents currently enrolled in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at the Kent Campus. 
• A reduced rate of $1 per credit hour, not to exceed $11 per term, for new non-Ohio residents enrolled in a graduate degree program at the Kent Campus (except non-degree programs or those at the College of Podiatric Medicine) who earned their undergraduate degree from an institution of higher education in Ohio. 
• A waiver of the out-of-state surcharge, not to exceed 97.5%, for undergraduate and graduate students in a dual enrollment program with the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) in Brazil and for students attending ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ as part of a specific preferred partner program.

 The approved waivers will continue through the 2027 Spring Semester and any summer terms that begin prior to June 30, 2027. 

Among other Board actions:

• The Board passed a resolution of appreciation to Mark Polatajko, Ph.D., who joined ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ on Jan. 1, 2016, as senior vice president for finance and administration. He has cemented a rich legacy at ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½, including ensuring the university’s sound financial position, reducing long-term debt, managing institutional risks and implementing a visionary facilities master plan for the Kent Campus that featured the university's most ambitious project ever – constructing Crawford Hall as the state-of-the-art new home of the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Polatajko will retire from ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ on Aug. 1, 2025, after nearly three decades of service and leadership of public higher education in Ohio.
   
• The Board passed a resolution of appreciation to Denise Seachrist, Ph.D. Capping a 37-year university career, Seachrist will retire as dean and chief administrative officer of ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ at Stark and ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ at Salem on June 30, 2025. As director of ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½â€™s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music, she launched the university’s first fully online graduate degree – a Master of Music in Music Education – in 2010. Seachrist became interim dean of ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Stark in 2014 and fully assumed the role of dean in 2016, guiding the university’s largest Regional Campus through growth, change and challenges before expanding her leadership to also include the Salem Campus in 2024.
   
• The Board passed a resolution of appreciation to Lara Shigo. Appointed to the Board on July 28, 2023, with a term that expired May 16, 2025, Shigo served as Graduate Student Trustee. She has served as a member of the Board’s Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee, Finance and Administration Committee, Audit and Compliance Committee and External Relations and Philanthropy Committee. Shigo has excelled concurrently in her responsibilities as Graduate Student Trustee and as a Ph.D. candidate in exercise physiology with a focus on aging and the brain, teacher of undergraduate courses and research assistant in the university’s Motor Control Laboratory.
   
• The Board authorized changes in a variety of special program, course and other fees, including the elimination of 30 fees. University staff, including executive officers, extensively reviewed the changes to the program, course and miscellaneous fees for fall 2025 for compliance with statutory requirements and to ensure that all are in the appropriate amounts and are necessary to protect program quality.
   
• The Board endorsed the 2025 university report regarding low-enrollment courses and programs and duplication with other institutions, which will be submitted to the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education by the required deadline of Sept. 1, 2025. Since 2015, Section 3345.35 of the Ohio Revised Code has required university board of trustees to evaluate all courses and programs the institution offers based on enrollment and duplication. With the passage of Senate Bill 135 in 2022, state law requires universities to evaluate all courses and programs the institution offers based on enrollment and duplication of its courses and programs with those of other state institutions of higher education within a geographic region.
   
• As required by Section 3345.0217 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Board approved the establishment of University Policy 3342-5-24 regarding ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½â€™s compliance with Senate Bill 1 of the 136th General Assembly of the state of Ohio. Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on March 28, 2025, and becomes effective June 27, 2025, requires the board of trustees of each state institution of higher education to take specific actions in accordance with established deadlines to ensure compliance. Section 3345.0217 of the Ohio Revised Code requires the board of trustees of each state institution of higher education to adopt and the institution to enforce a policy prohibiting and affirming specific activities to ensure nondiscrimination and intellectual diversity. ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ remains committed to abiding by all applicable laws governing higher education.
   
• Also in compliance with Senate Bill 1, the Board adopted a statement of commitment that will be posted alongside the university’s mission statement in any place it appears. The statement of commitment will also be included in any solicitations and offers of admission to students and any offers of employment to faculty. ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ remains committed to abiding by all applicable laws governing higher education.
   
• The Board heard the results of the university’s electricity reverse auction that was executed on April 2, 2025, in partnership with Enel X North America Inc. The new 36-month contract with WGL Energy Services Inc. will be at an actual fixed rate of $0.053190 per kilowatt-hour for a total contract value of $2,394,082 per year (compared to the previous value of $3,120,993 per year). For the electricity purchased from the electric grid in the next 12-month period, there will be a 10.55% price reduction.
   
• The Board approved the recommended Fiscal Year 2026 internal audit plan. The professional standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors require the Board to approve the internal audit plan. The Fiscal Year 2026 internal audit plan has been reviewed by the Board’s Audit and Compliance Committee.
   
• The Board approved revisions to nine university policies designed to bring the university in compliance with recent executive orders and state legislation as well as organizational changes at ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½, such as changes to divisional names and job titles previously adopted by the university. Consistent with ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½â€™s commitment to organizational effectiveness, efficiency and compliance, institutional policies, procedures and practices are reviewed on a regular basis.
   
• The Board elected the following officers for 2025-2026, effective July 1, 2025: Ann Womer Benjamin, chair; Donald Mason, vice chair; and Pamela Bobst, secretary.
   
• In a routine action required by the ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ Constitution, the Board formally approved the annual election of President Todd A. Diacon, effective July 1, 2025. Diacon was elected as the 13th president of ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½ effective July 1, 2019. The Board recognizes his leadership and contributions to the well-being and advancement of the university.

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Top Photo Caption:
Students in ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½â€™s College of Aeronautics and Engineering collaborate to program a FANUC robotic arm during a lab session focused on advanced manufacturing and automation. (Photo credit: Rami Daud, ÇàÄêɬµ¼º½)

Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595