Aaron Bauer

The Board of Trustees addressed numerous actions categorized under the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, the Finance and Administration Committee, and Non-Committee Items. Key academic actions included the approval of numerous academic appointments such as Emeritus Status appointments, Endowed Chair/Professorship Appointments, Unit Head Appointments, New Hires (Professors with Tenure), and various levels of Tenure or Promotion recommendations within the College of Medicine. Furthermore, approvals were granted for Distinguished Research Professor Awards, a Distinguished Teaching Professor Award, and new members for the Fellows of the Graduate College and the Academy of Teaching and Learning. Academic unit and degree changes included renaming the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to include Industrial Engineering, changing a Geology degree to Geosciences, and approving new undergraduate and graduate certificates. Discontinuation of several graduate degree programs across multiple colleges was also approved. Financial matters involved approving funding for the design and preconstruction phase of the Holmes Hospital Renovation ($8,000,000) and the design of the Welcome Gateway Building ($12,000,000), as well as approving a Note Exchange Agreement concerning the Uptown Consortium Write off Request. A final non-committee item was the approval of an Honorary Degree nomination for E. Jean Savage.

The meeting involved the President's report, which highlighted recent commencement statistics, the launch of searches for the Vice President for Academic Affairs and University Provost, and the Vice-President for Research. The President also detailed progress on international partnerships with Nuremberg University and noted significant philanthropic contributions to the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. Key academic actions included approving various academic appointments such as Emeritus Status, Endowed Chair/Professorship Appointments, and Unit Head Appointments. The Board also approved revisions to the Faculty Workload Policy and the Tenure Policy for Non-Represented Clinical Faculty in the College of Medicine. New academic programs were approved, including a Master of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling, a combined B.S. to M.Eng. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and a name modification for a degree program. Additionally, the Board approved the discontinuation of three specific graduate degrees and the Cost of Remediation Report. Financial actions included approving block lease agreements for FY26 housing, approving the 2025 Efficiency Plan, and approving several naming recommendations for offices and classrooms within the College of Medicine and College of Engineering. Governance items included approving revisions to board rules regarding research misconduct and University Staff Senate bylaws, approving a resolution regarding foreign interest, and approving director appointments for the UCRI Board and UC Health LLC/Healthcare Systems Boards. The election of slate of officers for the 2026 Board of Trustees was also approved.

The Board of Trustees held its 417th meeting, which included President Pinto's report highlighting recent university successes such as Homecoming Week celebrations, the family weekend, and the grand reopening of the Old Chemistry Building. Key administrative actions included the approval of numerous academic appointments, including Emeritus Status, Endowed Chair appointments, Unit Head appointments/reappointments, and recommendations for Tenure or Promotion across various colleges, particularly the College of Medicine. The Board also approved revisions to several faculty policies (Tenure, Workload, Retrenchment, Post-Tenure Review, and Appeals Policy). Financial matters involved approving electric supply contracts with Dynegy and Engie, funding for YMCA Renovations for 'The Why,' and approval of the 2025 Audited Financial Statements. Furthermore, an Honorary Degree was recommended for Phil D. Collins. Student and Faculty Senate reports addressed shared governance initiatives, policy feedback, and campus events like Homecoming. Public comment raised concerns regarding compliance with Ohio Senate Bill 1 and federal guidelines related to DEI provisions.

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees involved numerous actions across several committees. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee approved academic appointments, including Emeritus Status appointments and several Endowed Chair/Professorship Appointments, as well as Unit Head Appointments. This committee also approved revisions to the Faculty Workload Policy, the Tenure Policy for Non-Represented Clinical Faculty in the College of Medicine, and the American Civic Literacy Implementation Plan. Furthermore, approvals were granted for a new Master of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling, a combined degree program in Industrial and Systems Engineering, a degree name modification, and the discontinuation of three graduate degrees. Approval was also given for the Cost of Remediation Report in response to Ohio Department of Higher Education requirements. The Finance and Administration Committee approved Block Lease Agreements to support FY26 Housing Demand, the 2025 Efficiency Plan, and several naming recommendations for offices and classrooms within the College of Medicine and College of Engineering. The Governance and Internal Affairs Committee authorized replacement and amendments to Board Rules concerning Research Misconduct investigation and University Staff Senate Bylaws, approved a Special Board Resolution Regarding Foreign Interest, and approved appointments for the UCRI Board and UC Health LLC/UC Healthcare Systems Boards. Finally, the Election of Officers for the 2026 Board of Trustees was approved.

The Board of Trustees meeting included several key actions categorized by committee review. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee approved various personnel actions, including granting Emeritus Status to two individuals, appointing several individuals to Endowed Chair positions, reappointing a Department Chair, and approving new faculty appointments with tenure. The committee also recommended promotions from Associate Professor - Clinical to Professor - Clinical across several departments within the College of Medicine, and several clinical and research promotion recommendations were noted as information items. The Finance and Administration Committee addressed the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center Management Agreement and the Sale of Goodman Garage to UC Health. The Governance and Audit Committee accepted the University's Externally Audited Annual Financial Statements.