Highlights from the Dec. 1 meeting of the board of trustees:

Board hears budget report for 1st quarter

The University Board of Trustees heard a first-quarter budget report from William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, during its Dec. 1 meeting. Shkurti said enrollment for summer and autumn quarters was .3 percent above projections, with no significant financial impact at this time.

The board received an annual update on internal debts owed by units to the University. For units that identified deficits in fiscal year 1993, debt has been eliminated, Shkurti said. Currently, nine units have deficits totaling $17.8 million, or less than .1 percent of annual revenues, Shkurti said, and do not have an adverse impact on the University's financial condition. Six of these units have approved recovery plans while the other three have recovery plans pending.

Shkurti told trustees the University Health Service System, Enrollment Services and Athletics/Schottenstein Center will be monitored for progress toward financial stability in the year ahead.

Shkurti also reported that the funding mechanism approved by trustees for the "Affirm Thy Friendship" campaign was successful on all measures. He said necessary resources were allocated where and when needed; good relations were maintained with donors; a firm basis for continuing support has been provided; and the General Fund has not only been protected, but also enhanced.

Shkurti said the ARMS project was completed Sept. 30 -- on time and within budget for the final phase -- and consolidation and restructuring of the Office of Information Technology and ARMS is complete.

Endowment stands at almost $1.2 billion

University Treasurer James L. Nichols updated trustees on the University's endowment, which was $1.17 billion as of Nov. 24. In his quarterly report, Nichols stated the endowment stood at $1.26 billion as the quarter ended Sept. 30 and the total number of named funds at the end of the quarter was 2,879. He said the return on investment for the 12 months ending Sept. 30 was 28 percent.

Over the last 10 years, the amount distributed to colleges and departments has increased dramatically. Nichols reported that the amount that will be distributed to colleges and departments in fiscal 2001 would be $51.2 million, compared to $19.8 million in 1989.

Projects improve infrastructure

A variety of campus construction and renovation projects aimed at improving Ohio State's infrastructure were approved by trustees.

The board authorized the employment of architect/engineering firms and request of construction bids for renovation of the second floor of Postle Hall to provide for oral and maxillofacial surgery services. The total project cost is estimated at $1 million and the total construction cost at $830,000, with funding provided by the College of Dentistry.

The board also authorized entering into an agreement with the Science and Technology Campus Corp. for necessary tenant improvements to support the MicroMD Laboratory in the Science Village facility, at a total project cost not to exceed $9 million.

The board accepted the report of award of contracts and establishment of contingency funds for the following projects:

• Building improvements at 1314 Kinnear Road to accommodate the increased program needs of the Center for Lake Erie Area Research program. The total project cost is $658,000, with funding provided by House Bill 790, House Bill 850, House Bill 904 and the Office of Research. The completion date is February 2001.

• Replacement of the chiller and air conditioning condenser system at 1314 Kinnear Road. The total project cost is $660,000, with funding provided by House Bill 790. Completion is set for this month.

• Replacement of the roof at 1315 Kinnear Road, completed in November. The total project cost is $789,000, with funding from House Bill 850 and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Providing ADA compliant rest rooms in Cunz, Dulles and Kottman halls and Lincoln Tower. The total project cost is $338,000, with funding from House Bill 748. The completion date was September 2000.

• Replacement of the cooling tower at the Biological Sciences Building. The total project cost is $500,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850. The completion date is January 2001.

• Renovations in the Biological Sciences Lab, Phase I, completed in September. The total project cost is $580,000, with funding provided by House Bill 748.

• Asbestos abatement in Caldwell Lab. Total project cost is $670,000, with funding provided by House Bill 790 and the Ohio Board of Regents. Completion is set for this month.

• Continuing replacement of campus grounds exterior lighting with energy efficient lights, Phase VI. The total project cost is $673,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850; the Department of Physical Facilities; and Housing, Food Services and Event Centers. Completion is due in March 2001.

• Renovation of Cooke Castle on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie, completed in November. The total project cost is $509,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850 and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Milling and overlay of Curl Drive with new asphalt in September. The total project cost is $221,170, with funding provided by House Bill 850.

• Roof replacements on Dodd Hall and Davis Center, completed in November. The total project cost is $990,000, with funding provided by University Hospitals.

• Upgrade of the Drinko Hall air conditioning system, to be completed in August 2001. Total project cost is $610,000, with funding provided by House Bill 748 and House Bill 850.

• Replacement of glass panels at the roofline of French Field House. The total project cost is $372,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850. Completion is set for this month.

• Replacement of windows in Larkins Hall in October. The total project cost is $222,000, with funding provided by House Bill 904 and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Replacement of the cooling tower in the Reed Hall Student Activities Center on the Lima campus. The total project cost is $43,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850 and Senate Bill 351. Completion is set for this month.

• Renovation of Founders Auditorium in Ovalwood Hall on the Mansfield campus. The total project cost is $1.3 million, with funding provided by House Bills 748 and 850, Mansfield campus funds and gifts to the Mansfield campus. Completion is scheduled for September 2001.

• Repaving of roadway and tennis courts on the Mansfield campus in October. The total cost is $122,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850.

• Construction of a one-story addition to the existing MRI Center. The total project cost is $957,000, with funding provided by University Hospitals.

• Asbestos abatement in the Neil Avenue utility tunnel completed last spring. The total project cost is $120,000, with funding provided by the Ohio Board of Regents Asbestos Fund and the Department of Physical Facilities.

• Renovation of the OARDC Poultry Research Facility completed last summer. The total project cost is $338,000, with funding provided by House Bills 808 and 904.

• Renovation of the east elevator in the Ohio Union Parking Garage in October. The total project cost is $281,000, with funding provided by the Office of Transportation and Parking Services.

• Upgrading or replacement of pay telephones at several Columbus campus locations to remove barriers for the physically impaired. The total project cost is $119,000, with funding provided by House Bill 904. Completion is set for this month.

• Renovation of two operating rooms in Rhodes Hall. The total project cost is $599,000, with funding provided by University Hospitals. The completion date is March 2001.

• Upgrading the HVAC system in Thompson Library in November. The total project is $603,000, with funding provided by House Bill 850.

• Upgrade of the utilities steam line in the South Neil tunnel. The total project cost is $937,000, with funding provided by House Bills 748 and 850 and the Department of Physical Facilities. Completion is set for this month.

New named endowed funds accepted

Trustees accepted 11 new endowed funds totaling more than $2 million. A gift of more than $1.5 million from Fred H. and Mary Jo Bryan in memory of Mary Jo's father, Will C. Hauk, will support two funds with equal amounts: The Will C. Hauk College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Endowment Fund and The Will C. Hauk Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Other endowed funds include:

• The Genevieve S. Doan Endowment Fund, $33,568.

• The Dimon R. McFerson/Nationwide Foundation Innovation Fund, $200,000.

• The Raul A. Hernandez, Jr., M.D., Athletic Scholarship Fund, $100,000.

• The Ralph M. and Annabel Miller Endowed Scholarship Fund in Optometry, $46,814.

• The Ann Neu Tyler Endowment Fund for Breast Cancer Research, $40,000.

• The Walter L. Eppley Agricultural Excellence Fund, $36,500.

• Tiney and Helena McComb Family 4-H Endowment Fund, $27,809.

• Secrest Arboretum Volunteers LTD Endowment Fund, $25,325.

• The Larry G. Marston Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

Street, facilities named

Trustees approved the naming of the road running from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to Borror Drive as Jack Nicklaus Drive in recognition of the golfing accomplishments and loyal support of Nicklaus, a former Ohio State student and varsity athlete. The Jack Nicklaus Museum is located on the drive.

The board also approved the naming of the Floriculture Research and Biocontainment Facility, 670 Tharp St., as the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center, and approved the naming of the Center for Education and Economic Development, located on the Wooster campus, as The Arden Shisler Center for Education and Economic Development. The naming was made in recognition of Shisler, president and CEO of K&B Transport in Dalton, Ohio, and a member of the board of directors of Nationwide Mutual Insurance since 1984. The Nationwide Foundation contributed the naming gift.