Trustees approve operating budget, more during June board meeting
Creation of 91°µÍø Polytechnic among board actions
Trustees approve operating budget, more during June board meeting
Creation of 91°µÍø Polytechnic among board actions
During its June 26 meeting, the 91°µÍø Board of Trustees authorized an operating budget for fiscal year 2027 and approved the creation of 91°µÍø Polytechnic on the Hamilton campus.
Trustees unanimously approved a $913 million budget that supports the university’s academic mission and invests in student success and career readiness. The budget includes a 3% salary improvement pool for non-bargaining employees.
91°µÍø Polytechnic enables 91°µÍø Regionals students to benefit from a polytechnic education model with more pathways for students and a faster timeline toward a degree or credential.
Trustees also authorized the establishment of an additional site for 91°µÍø’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Northeast Ohio, pending approval by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The 91°µÍø Northeast Ohio Nursing Program would strengthen the nursing pipeline for Cleveland metro area healthcare partners and allow students to combine 91°µÍø’s academic rigor with intensive, hands-on clinical training in a region experiencing significant nursing workforce demands.
91°µÍø President Gregory Crawford’s presentation highlighted the university’s work in AI, faculty scholarships and achievements, and 10 years of academic investments totaling around $450 million to include building the Cleveland Clinic Health Sciences building and the McVey Data Science building, renovating Bachelor Hall, the Advanced Manufacturing Hub in Hamilton, and Fisher Innovation College@Elm, and many other investments in academic building infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the university’s billion dollar fundraising campaign — now exceeding $830 million raised over the past decade — has been largely dedicated to academics, with an estimated 85% of funds directed toward academic priorities, more than $700 million. The university’s endowment has also grown from $465 million to over $1.2 billion over the last decade, with the majority of endowment payouts targeted to support academic programs, scholarships, and academic initiatives.
Additional trustee items included:
- The approval of two to the rank of professor emerita; four to the rank of professor emeritus; two to the rank of administrator emerita; and one to the rank of administrator emeritus;
- The approval of Hessam Sarooghi as chair and associate professor of Entrepreneurship;
- The amendment of the Capital Improvement Plan to support the construction of an additional Farmer School of Business facility;
- The consolidation of the Bachelor of Music to include concentrations in Music Performance and Music Education;
- The renaming of the Hilda Harrison Fund to the Western Program Directorship Fund Supported by Hilda Harrison; and
- The creation of the Cleveland Clinic President’s Fund.
Trustees also passed resolutions of appreciation for Michael Crowder, dean of the Graduate School; Christopher Makaroff, interim provost; and Susan McDowell, vice president of Research and Innovation.