Tuition, enrollment and University funding were some of the main topics University President Mary Ellen Mazey covered in Tuesday’s State of the University Address.

“Simply put, the current operating model for higher education and Bowling Green State University is unsustainable,” Mazey said to an audience of approximately 400 in the Donnell Theatre in the Wolfe Center. “With student debt on the rise, we cannot afford to continue to raise tuition to cover our costs.”

Tuition was raised two percent this year, but Mazey said she wants to reverse the trend by lowering costs and increasing revenue.

Under the State Share of Instruction, the formula used to distribute the bulk of state money provided to Ohio’s public universities, 50 percent of University funding is based on the total number of students who graduate. University SSI has declined 30 percent “in recent years,” while it has gone up as much as nine percent for other universities, Mazey said.

To remedy this, the goal, said Mazey, is to retain students while growing enrollment, whether the students are traditional, international, out-of-state, adult or transfer.

Mazey outlined 10 keys to addressing these issues, all related to the strategic plan.

Among these keys are innovative programming, new community partnerships, co-ops and internships for every student and the promotion of diversity.

“We can do better. We must do better,” she said. “The challenges we face are not insurmountable. Our future can be very bright.”

Mazey also recognized the accomplishments at the University during the past year. These accomplishments range from infrastructure projects, and success in both the athletic field and academic field.

“We all should be very proud of what we’ve achieved by working together,” Mazey said. “Now we must move forward together to ensure that student success is our central focus for BGSU’s future.”

Infrastructure projects included completion of the Falcon Health Center, funded by Wood County Hospital; the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Lab, funded by the state; and the continuing Rec Center renovations, all of which were completed without raising student fees, Mazey said.

The Athletic Department saw MAC championships in volleyball and baseball, along with a bowl game appearance for football, Mazey said.

Multiple students and faculty members were praised for their successes, whether they secured fellowships to study in China or to do research in neuroscience.

“One of our goals is to assure greater state, national and international recognition for students, faculty and staff,” Mazey said. “Our students are doing some outstanding work with the guidance and support of faculty.”

Julia Grummel, a senior, was one of the students Mazey specifically acknowledged during her speech.

Grummel completed two internships with Adobe at the San Jose headquarters. She now works with Adobe part-time.

Grummel came to the address not only because she knew she would be mentioned, but also because she wants to stay informed about updates at the University.

“I’m definitely glad I came,” Grummel said. “It’s really good to know what’s going on in the rest of the University and not just my major.”

Further praise came to those who took part in finalizing the Faculty Association contract and those who secured a perfect reaccreditation visit this past spring.

Mazey also announced Simon Morgan-Russell as the new dean of the Honors College, which moved to Founders Hall this year.

She also touted the historic freshmen class, which has the highest-ever grade point average at the University.

Trustee Fran Voll introduced Mazey. He expressed his honor to continue working at the University.

“I’ve never seen BGSU so vibrant and energetic as it is today,” he said.

For Mazey, the goal is to “build on our strengths, overcome our weaknesses” by communicating with everyone at the University, especially students, about where the University needs to go from here.

“Change is upon us. We must embrace that change,” she said. “It is important, it is critical, for all of us to support and assist our students and each other in moving forward.”

ing her speech. “With student debt on the rise, we cannot afford to continue to raise tuition to cover out costs.”

Tuition was raised two percent this year, but Mazey said she wants to reverse the trend by lowering costs and increasing revenue.

Under the state share of instruction, the formula used to distribute the bulk of state money provided to Ohio’s public universities, 50 percent of University funding is based on the total number of students who graduate. University SSI has declined 30 percent in recent years, Mazey said.

To remedy this, the goal, said Mazey, is to retain students while growing enrollments, whether the students be traditional, international, out-of-state, adult or transfer.

Mazey outlined 10 keys to addressing these issues, all related to the strategic plan. Among these keys are innovative programming, new community partnerships, co-ops and internships for every student and the promotion of diversity.

“We can do better. We must do better,” she said.

Among the accomplishments Mazey highlighted from this past year were completion of infrastructure projects, success in athletics and faculty and students who have made significant strides in academia.

“One of our goals is to assure greater state, national and international recognition for students, faculty and staff,” she said. “Our students are doing some outstaning work with the guidance and support of faculty.”

Infrastructure projects included completion of the Falcon Health Center, funded by Wood County Hospitals, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Lab, funded by the state, and the continuing Rec Center renovations, all of which were completed without raising student fees, Mazey said.

Future infrastructure projects related to the maste plan include Olscamp Hall renovations and a new Business Building.

“We must have state-of-the-art facilities on our campuses,” she said.

Mazey also pointed to the recent finalizing of BGSU Faculty Association contract, which was approved at the May meeting of the Board of Trustrees.

“Thanks to the hard work of the negotiating teams, we were able to reach an agreement,” she said.