The UToledo Board of Trustees approved Wednesday the $1.1B operating budget for fiscal year 2026 that is inclusive of the academic, healthcare and auxiliary operations of the institution.
University leaders worked collaboratively to reallocate resources to prioritize funding to advance institutional priorities. Investments include implementing the Academic Success and Engagement Plan, recruiting a faculty member with expertise in glass to contribute to the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium and adding faculty in data science and a lecturer in counselor education to meet the growing demand in those disciplines, among other initiatives.
Investments are being made in enrollment management and marketing with increased advertising to support The Power To Do brand as it enters its second year and a contract with a firm that supports student recruitment efforts with personalized and data-driven connections. UToledo also committed resources for risk management to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and for strategic auxiliary initiatives, such as the women’s rowing varsity sport that is new for the 2025-26 academic year.
On the clinical side, the budget plans for continued growth at UToledo Health with increased patient volumes and operating efficiencies as a result of the clinic alignment process and the hiring of additional providers to serve the community.
“This was a strategic process identifying areas of need across the institution and working collaboratively to identify resources to accomplish those shared goals both in this upcoming fiscal year and also looking out into our five-year forecast to continue our positive momentum,” Interim President Matt Schroeder said.
In addition to the operating budget, the Board of Trustees approved a capital spending authorization to reinvest a surplus of operating revenue from the current fiscal year, plus draw on reserves to fund facilities improvements. Projects included in the $30 million plan include renovations in the Thompson Student Union, Snyder Memorial and MacKinnon Hall, roof replacement for Libbey Hall, upgrades to research labs, advancing athletics master plan initiatives and addressing deferred maintenance. In clinical areas, investments are planned for the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center, radiology and surgery, equipment purchases and improvements to the electrical and mechanical systems.
In other business, the UToledo Board of Trustees approved resolutions aligned with the implementation of the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, known as Ohio Senate Bill 1, that goes into effect June 27, 2025. Actions include adopting a Statement of Commitment and a new Intellectual Diversity and Controversial Beliefs policy.
Trustees also approved a new bachelor’s degree in geospatial science that is unique in the region as an undergraduate degree integrating both theoretical foundations and practical applications of technologies like artificial intelligence, digital cartography and geographic information systems. In addition, an independent Ph.D. in mechanical engineering that will replace the current program offered as a Ph.D. in engineering with a concentration in mechanical engineering was approved.
In the final meeting of the 2024-25 academic year, the Board of Trustees selected officers for the upcoming year, reappointed a national trustee and appointed members to the UToledo Health Board.
Michael R. Miller will serve as chair of the UToledo Board of Trustees for the 2025-26 year and Dr. Eleanore Awadalla will serve as vice chair. Katie DeBenedictis will continue as secretary in her role as associate vice president for university board affairs.
Dr. Thomas Wakefield, professor emeritus of surgery at the University of Michigan, was reappointed as a national trustee to serve an additional two-year term beginning July 2, 2025. Wakefield received his bachelor’s degree from UToledo and medical degree from the former Medical College of Ohio and has remained engaged with his alma mater.
The June meeting completed the term of Al Baker, who has served as UToledo trustee since 2016. He also previously served on the Medical College of Ohio Board of Trustees, having been appointed in 1995 to complete an unfinished term, and then he was reappointed to a full term in 1998. A graduate of UToledo, Baker was a member of the undefeated Toledo football team that posted a 35-0 record from 1969 through 1971. He retired from Owens-Illinois Inc. in 2006 after 14 years as vice president of human resources. He was honored with the title of emeritus trustee.
Student trustee Kevin Bishop was also recognized for his two years of service to the Board of Trustees. He graduated in December 2024 with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance.
Appointments to the UToledo Health Board include naming current trustees Eleanore Awadalla, Stephen Ciucci, Zac Isaac and Patrick Kenney to serve one-year terms effective July 2, 2025. Community members Jeannie Hylant, executive vice president and leader of the hospitality and franchise practice at Hylant, and Dr. Gerald Zelenock, a surgeon who led the UToledo Department of Surgery as professor and chair from 2006 to 2015 and also held leadership roles at the University of Michigan and Beaumont Hospital, were each appointed to a second term of three years.
