Board of Trustees member Les Wexner (left) and University President Michael Drake (right) during the medical center’s Board meeting on April 4, 2018. Credit: Kevin Stankiewicz | Former EIC
While it will not attract the same national attention or create the same suspense as the special session to decide Urban Meyer’s employment standing, the Ohio State Board of Trustees will convene for their regularly scheduled meetings Tuesday through Friday.
Although the focal point is not Ohio State football, some noteworthy topics will come up before the trustees for either votes or discussion.
Starting Tuesday, the Wexner Medical Center Board meeting will decide whether or not to approve entering into a contract for professional services for a new optometry building, among other things.
The building will be constructed at the corner of Neil and 11th avenues, taking the place of the University Flower Shop and Adriatico’s old location, the latter of which moved to a new location this summer on Neil and 10th.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Board’s committees will meet on Thursday and Friday.
Following a summer full of developments, the Audit and Compliance Committee will discuss updates on the investigation of alleged sexual abuse by former Ohio State trainer Richard Strauss.
Each year, the Board and President Michael Drake must agree on and present the presidential goals for the fiscal year. The Talent and Compensation Committee will meet Thursday to discuss that.
The proposed goals, according to Board documents released Monday morning, include advancing the strategic plan for the university and academic health center, strengthening the quality and affordability of teaching and learning programs, establishing Ohio State as a national and global leader in higher education practices, policy and research, furthering sustainability and demonstrating “best-in-class leadership.”
The Advancement Committee will meet on Thursday, with an agenda to help reach these goals.
The committee will discuss approving the naming of Aruba Innovation Lab within the Translational Data Analytics Institute in the newly reopened Pomerene Hall.
The committee will also perform its standard task of approving a number of endowment funds, with one being named after former basketball head coach Thad Matta, who was fired from the program the summer after the 2016-17 season.
The fund in Matta’s name will be “used to support members of the men’s basketball support staff,” according to Board documents.
Finally, another agenda item to watch is the major projects scorecard that is presented to the Master Planning and Finance committees.
While nothing groundbreaking is expected to be revealed in the scorecard, they give the Board — and the community — a look at how Ohio State’s most expensive projects are developing.
The Lantern will have coverage of committee meetings all week with coverage concluding with the full board meeting Friday morning.
