Posted: February 11, 2009

1. Offer compressed summer graduate courses
2. Eliminate the requirement that underclassmen live on campus
3. Reduce publication of the BG News to two-three times per week
4. Develop a retention-focused program
5. Allow faculty to enter homes games free or at reduced costs
   
   
   1. To boost summer enrollment, it was suggested that the University place fewer restrictions on implementing workshops and offer intensive summer classes in a shortened time frame that could attract new graduate students to the campus.
      
      We are exploring innovative ways to increase enrollment at BGSU, and will take the proposal into consideration and share it with the deans as an option. We currently offer a limited number of workshops in a compressed schedule and are considering a self-funding model for summer workshops in 2010.
      
      
   2. A writer proposed that BGSU stop requiring freshmen to live on campus, in order to lighten parents’ financial burden and perhaps encourage enrollment.
      
      Living on campus is a valuable part of the BGSU undergraduate experience, and being a residential campus is one of the special aspects of BGSU. While the University strongly recommends on-campus residence, the current BGSU live-on policy does actually permit commuting by underclassmen who are under age 23, not married and who live with their parents less than 50 miles away. Many students who fall into this category do indeed commute.
      
      
   3. A writer suggested that paper and other resources could be saved by publishing the BG News only once or twice a week, while still maintaining a good news source for students.
      
      While the suggestion is a good one, it’s important to know that the BG News is a self-supporting student publication. It receives no state or student fee dollars. The paper covers all its expenses through the sale of advertisements.
      
      
   4. The development of a retention-focused program called “B efore G oing S ee U s” was proposed by a writer. It would be a collaborative effort among several offices and across divisions. Students experiencing difficulties that have them thinking of withdrawing from BGSU could schedule an appointment with a committee of staff members with expertise in a number of areas (counseling, career services, academic advising, success coaching, financial aid/money management). The team would help devise an individualized plan for the student and would continue to serve as mentors as the student developed or enhanced coping skills.
      
      We recommend that faculty and staff who are addressing retention initiatives carefully consider this idea.
      
      
   5. A writer advocated for allowing faculty to enter homes games free or at reduced costs so they could help fill the stands and support our athletic teams.
      
      This suggestion will be forwarded to the Director of Athletics for consideration. Also, the staff in the athletics ticket office can provide detailed information about special pricing on season tickets that is often made available to faculty and staff. In addition, special "faculty/staff" appreciation games are sponsored by Intercollegiate Athletics. Faculty/staff are typically offered at least two free tickets to designated games.

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