External economic and political realities make it increasing less likely that BGSU will be able to realize its vision and strategic directions by continuing to draw upon traditional funding sources. In order to provide adequate resources we must draw upon private giving, sponsored research and outreach activities, partnerships, and other creative and fruitful approaches.

Indicators

A history of the relative contributions of student instructional fees and state support for the main campus educational budget highlights markedly declining state support and, as a result, substantial increases in student fees, in recent years.

There have been slight but steady increases over the past five years in the percentage of revenue from other than state support and student fees in the main campus educational and general budgets.

There has been an overall trend of increased private giving to the BGSU Foundation over the past five years.

Reports from the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research indicate that the University’s level of sponsored grant and contract dollars awarded has been rising steadily over the last five years.

The percentage of BGSU faculty, staff, and retirees who participate in the Family Campaign has increased steadily over the past five years and was 51% in 2002-2003.

BGSU endowment levels , as reported in the NACUBO Endowment Study, have been increasing steadily over the past seven years.

The percentage of undergraduate alumni who donate funds to the University has remained generally unchanged over the past few years.

A report of the economic impact of BGSU on the local and regional economy produced by Dr. Michael Carroll of the Center for Policy Analysis and Public Service provided the following conclusions:

• BGSU generates more than $700 million annually for the Ohio economy
• BGSU economic activity creates nearly 9,000 jobs for Ohioans
• BGSU generates $8 in local economic activity for each dollar it receives in state appropriations
• Spending from BGSU capital improvements and operations generates $322 million annually for Ohio's economy
• BGSU employee spending generates $167.5 million annually for Ohio's economy
• BGSU student spending generates $191 million annually for Ohio's economy
• BGSU visitor spending generates $25.4 million annually for Ohio's economy; most is retained by Wood County businesses
• BGSU generates $28.5 million annually in state and local tax revenues

Achievements and Improvement Initiatives

The Office of Development has established a set of ambitious plans to raise funds, for the period 2003 to 2009. The funding priorities were developed through consultation with constituencies on a university-wide basis, with contributions from vice-presidential areas, colleges, academic departments, and academic support units. The priorities, which have been approved at the presidential level, will focus on the following four funding objectives: 1) support for academic excellence; 2) support for student success; 3) support for the learning community; and 4) support for on-going initiatives.

Over recent years the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research has reorganized in order to accomplish its objectives of developing a more robust research infrastructure and preparing for changes in federal and state regulations affecting externally-funded programs. The Office has developed new methods of supporting and encouraging faculty involvement in research and sponsored program activity, including developing new internal seed grant funding mechanisms to establish and promote the research agendas of probationary faculty, carefully targeting funds in niche research areas to support on-going efforts of the more established faculty, developing a variety of electronic resources to assist in the identification of funding sources, and increasing its emphasis on organizing interdisciplinary projects, facilitating proposal development, and assisting faculty members to develop relationships with industry. The addition of new, research-intensive faculty members increases the likelihood of enhanced research activity and development of intellectual property.

The Office of University Relations and Governmental Affairs coordinates and facilitates communication between University constituencies and governmental representatives at all levels.

As a member of Ohio’s Inter-University Council (IUC), BGSU works to collaboratively promote strategic higher education issues in the state. Through the IUC, the HELP-OHIO group (Higher Education Leaders for Prosperity in Ohio) has recently been formed; alumni and friends of each public university are being called upon communicate with state legislators about critical higher education issues, including funding.

Through the University’s Governmental Advocacy Program, alumni and friends of BGSU across the state contact their local legislators to share our many positive stories and voice concerns over critical issues.

The State House Falcons group consists of BGSU alumni who are employed in state government; they periodically meet with BGSU representatives to exchange information and provide mutual assistance.

BGSU faculty, staff, and students meet annually with state legislators to exchange information and perspectives.