Kent State Board of Trustees Announces Partnership With Bio-Med Science Academy

Kent State University's Board of Trustees approved a new partnership between the university and Bio-Med Science Academy STEM School that will bring new life to the underutilized Michael Schwartz Center building while providing the public STEM school with a state-of-the-art facility for its elementary grades. The Board's vote of approval came during its regular quarterly meeting held Dec. 11 on the Kent Campus.

Beginning fall 2027, Bio-Med Science Academy will relocate its K-6 programs to the Schwartz Center at 800 E. Summit St., consolidating its Shalersville and Ravenna campuses into one location.

The Board approved entering into a long-term lease agreement with Bio-Med Science Academy for the Schwartz Center, beginning spring 2026. By leasing the Schwartz Center to Bio-Med Science Academy, the university will reduce operating costs associated with utilities, maintenance and custodial services for a largely underutilized facility and eliminate significant deferred maintenance liabilities by transferring ongoing repair and building upkeep responsibilities to the tenant under an absolute triple-net lease structure. Kent State will maintain limited university use and presence through a sublease arrangement of approximately 7,780 square feet for its ROTC program, which recently underwent facility improvements, to remain in the building with secure, separate access.

The transition also allows the university to relocate student services and administrative offices currently housed at the Schwartz Center, including the Admissions Office, Bursar's Office, Parking Services and the Office of the University Registrar, to other locations like the newly configured Design Innovation Hub, creating a more centralized admissions experience for prospective students and families.

The Schwartz Center, which opened in 1956 as the home of the Kent State University School, a laboratory school for student teachers through 1985, will return to its original purpose as a school building. This partnership demonstrates how universities can work collaboratively with community organizations to address infrastructure challenges while strengthening ties to the region. Both organizations will work together to ensure a smooth transition by fall 2027.

Board Approves Naming of Stage at Famed Porthouse Theatre

The Board approved a significant naming action recognizing the generous philanthropic support of Joan and Rocco DiLillo. In recognition of their $1 million commitment to benefit Porthouse Theatre, the Board has named the stage at Porthouse Theatre the Joan and Rocco DiLillo Stage.

The DiLillos are dedicated patrons of Porthouse Theatre who recognize the university's role as a leader in higher education and the vital contributions of Porthouse Theatre in training and preparing future theatrical professionals.

Rocco DiLillo is a highly accomplished serial entrepreneur who has led 12 companies during his career - seven that he founded and five he acquired - across multiple industries, with numerous successful exits and public offerings. He was named Ernst & Young/NASDAQ/USA Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997 and received the George S. Dively Entrepreneurship Award in 2016 from the Harvard Business School Club of Northeastern Ohio.

Joan DiLillo is a senior lecturer in the School of Communication at the University of Akron and brings extensive experience in the arts and communications, including service as president of Toastmasters International and involvement with The Naples Players, a community theatre company based in Naples, Florida. The DiLillos' $1 million commitment will support Porthouse Theatre's infrastructure and programming as the university continues to advance excellence in theatrical training and education.

The Board also heard an additional naming action approved by the university president, the creation of The Roe Green Musical Theatre and Porthouse Artistic Directorship, that recognizes a $1 million commitment from The Roe Green Foundation. The naming action was approved by the president, who retains final approval for naming opportunities associated with administrative, faculty, student and programmatic support. Roe Green, who received her Master of Arts degree in 1980 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2023, is a distinguished Kent State alumna and Legacy Member of the Kent State University Foundation Board whose support has profoundly shaped Kent State's School of Theatre and Dance over two decades. This directorship establishes a program fund to support university and Porthouse productions, the hiring of assistant directors, guest choreographers and guest artists, the hosting of master classes and the awarding of artistic merit-based scholarships to students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre program. Students who receive such scholarships will be known as Roe Green Scholars. The purpose of the directorship is to enhance artistic excellence, professional development and the overall quality of the program.

Additionally, the Board heard naming actions that have been approved by the university president, who has the Board's delegated authority to approve philanthropic naming opportunities with a total value or cost under $100,000. The president approved the naming of four sales laboratories in Crawford Hall, home of the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, sponsored by the Tom James Company ($25,000), Jarrett Logistics Systems Inc. ($25,000), Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company ($25,000) and Curbell Plastics Inc. ($15,000). Each sponsorship reflects the companies' longstanding support of the college's sales program and their involvement with advisory boards and campus recruitment efforts.

Board Approves Expansion of Student Health Services Through Partnership With NEOMED

The Board approved a strategic partnership with NEOMED Clinical Services LLC to significantly expand health services available to students on campus. The Board authorized the university to enter into a lease and health center services agreement with NEOMED Clinical Services, establishing a collaborative arrangement designed to address increasing student health needs and provide comprehensive clinical care and preventive services. The partnership will leverage NEOMED's expertise in medical education and clinical care while utilizing designated campus space in DeWeese Health Center to deliver expanded clinical services, health education and outreach programs. NEOMED proposed to occupy about 10,500 square feet of space on the lower floor of the health center.

The three-year agreement, beginning July 1, 2026, with the option for two one-year renewals, positions Kent State to enhance its commitment to supporting student health and well-being as an essential component of student success. NEOMED will provide all staffing for the health center services and will work cooperatively with Kent State's Division of People, Culture and Belonging to offer retention to qualified employees. The partnership reflects the university's strategic priority to meet growing student demand for accessible, high-quality healthcare on campus while advancing cross-institutional collaboration in Northeast Ohio.

To support the expanded health services, the Board approved a Student Health Fee effective fall 2026. Full-time undergraduate and graduate students will be assessed $90 per semester, while part-time students will pay $35 per semester. The fee excludes College Credit Plus students, students enrolled in fully online programs, dissertation students and students enrolled at the College of Podiatric Medicine. The fee will support comprehensive healthcare and preventive services, ensuring students have access to high-quality care while pursuing their academic goals.

Board Approves Six-Year Comprehensive Capital Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2032

The Board approved a six-year comprehensive capital plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2032, identifying projects that are the most important to the institution in terms of facilitating the upgrade of campus infrastructure to address specific academic program requirements and to address the backlog of deferred maintenance, including information technology. The plan primarily includes projects funded by state capital appropriations and does not list projects solely financed by local funding or philanthropy.

The Ohio Office of Budget and Management requires that each institution of public higher education in Ohio prepare and submit a six-year capital plan. The projects identified in Kent State's six-year capital plan represent the highest-priority needs on Kent State's eight campuses and are in alignment with the university's master planning process and deferred maintenance priorities.

Projects for the first two years of the plan include:

• The third phase of the renovation of White Hall on the Kent Campus will replace antiquated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment to the remaining floors along with planned classroom and interior building improvements.
• Tower renovations in University Library on the Kent Campus.
• Continued critical deferred maintenance of the aging infrastructure on the Kent Campus.
• Information technology network access enhancements in academic buildings on the Kent Campus.
• The second phase of Purinton Hall classroom renovations on the East Liverpool Campus.
• Main Classroom Building HVAC replacement on the Salem Campus.
• The second phase of central chiller plant replacement on the Stark Campus.

Board Approves Inactivating Undergraduate Degree Programs in Compliance With Ohio Senate Bill 1

In compliance with Ohio's Senate Bill 1 that was signed into law and became effective June 27, 2025, the Board approved the inactivation of 19 undergraduate degree programs as mandated by the law. Ohio state institutions of higher education are now required to "eliminate any undergraduate degree program it offers if the institution confers an average of fewer than five degrees in the program annually over any three-year period."

Following a systematic review of undergraduate degree programs, 19 programs were proposed for inactivation: the Africana Studies major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Chemistry major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Classics major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Community Health Education major within the Bachelor of Science degree, the Dance major within the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Dance Studies major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Earth Science major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Earth Science major within the Bachelor of Science Education degree, the French major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Horticulture major within the Bachelor of Applied Horticulture degree, the Horticulture Technology major within the Associate of Applied Science degree, the Life Science major within the Bachelor of Science Education degree, the Life Science/Chemistry major within the Bachelor of Science Education degree, the Mathematics major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Physical Science major within the Bachelor of Science Education degree, the Physics major within the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Radiologic Technology major within the Associate of Technical Study degree, the Respiratory Care major within the Bachelor of Science degree and the School Health Education major within the Bachelor of Science Education degree, effective fall 2026.

Kent State will continue to offer related degrees or credentials in several areas under different program headings. For example, while the Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics will sunset, the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics continues to serve students in that field of study.

• For Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Radiologic Technology, the university will maintain other degree options at the associate or bachelor's degree level.
• For Africana Studies, Classics, Dance, Earth Science, French and Horticulture, the university will continue to offer undergraduate minors or certificates.
• Kent State also will maintain teacher education bachelor's degree programs in science and health fields that align with the inactivated programs.

The final admission term for these programs was fall 2025. All currently enrolled students are receiving individualized advising and teach-out plans to ensure timely degree completion.

Among other Board actions:

• The Board confirmed the conferral of 981 degrees from summer 2025 on those Kent State students who have been officially recorded by the University Registrar as having completed the requirements of their respective programs of study during the period of May 11, 2025, to Aug. 9, 2025.
  
• The Board approved the establishment of the Department of Sport, Hospitality and Event Management within the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, effective fall 2026. This new department will serve as the academic home for programs, courses and faculty slated to transition to the college in support of the Transformation 2028 plan for degree-seeking colleges.
  
• To maintain compliance with Ohio Senate Bill 1 in accordance with the implementation schedule set by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Board approved the following university policies:
  • Rescission of University Policy 3342-6-18 regarding faculty teaching load and the establishment of University Policy 3342-6-18 regarding faculty workload
  • Establishment of University Policy 3342-6-29 regarding faculty annual performance review
  • Establishment of University Policy 3342-6-30 regarding post-tenure review
  • Establishment of University Policy 3342-6-28 regarding faculty retrenchment
  • Revision of University Policy 3342-6-14 regarding faculty tenure
    
• The Board approved the inactivation of the Diversity Course Requirement for students pursuing a bachelor's degree, effective Dec. 31, 2025. As part of this decision, the university is reviewing bachelor's degree requirements while moving forward with reconceptualizing the general education core.
  
• The Board approved a revision to exemptions to the American Civic Literacy Course Requirement in accordance with Ohio Senate Bill 1, as requested by the Ohio Department of Higher Education under exemption (3) in Resolution 2025-44 to comply with House Bill 96 (State of Ohio Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Bill) that became effective Sept. 30, 2025. Exemption (3) now reads (with italics added to reflect revisions to the original resolution): At least three credit hours, or the equivalent, in a course in the subject area of American history or American government which includes the study of the documents described in divisions (B)(1) to (7) of this section. This exemption will not apply after the 2030-2031 academic year, in accordance with the statute.
  
• The Board approved renovations to DeWeese Health Center for the Counseling and Psychological Services. The program was formerly housed in DeWeese and is currently located in Van Campen Hall. The project will allow for shared operations services for patient care, support better crisis intervention and address current ventilation and accessibility issues experienced in the program's current location. The total cost of the project is $3 million, which will be funded through facility renewal and replacement funds held by the Division of Student Life. Construction is anticipated to start in summer 2026 and will be completed for a spring 2027 occupancy.
  
• The Board approved finish improvements at Lake and Olson halls. The project will replace carpet and repaint both residence halls. Following the new finishes, new student room furniture will be installed as approved by the Board in May 2025. The project will cost $1.7 million, which the university has budgeted from university housing renewal and replacement funds, and is anticipated to start in summer 2026 and be completed for a fall 2026 occupancy.
  
• The Board approved renovations to Henderson Hall for nursing simulation laboratories. Built in 1978, Henderson Hall is the home of Kent State's College of Nursing. The simulation labs serving the college were not included in previous building improvements and are original to the construction of the building. The project will provide state-of-the-art simulation labs that are essential to support Kent State's competency-based curriculum and to meet the pedagogical demands of the college and the nursing field. The total cost of the project is $6 million, which the university has budgeted from the College of Nursing fund balance. Construction is anticipated to start in summer 2026 and be completed in summer 2027 for fall 2027 occupancy.
  
• The Board endorsed the 2025 University Remediation Report, which will be submitted to the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education as required by Ohio House Bill 49. The report summarizes the number of students who required remedial education, the costs of remediation, the specific areas of remediation provided by the university and the causes for remediation. Results of the 2025 report indicated a 24% reduction in the number of Kent Campus students enrolled in remedial coursework and a 67% decrease on the Regional Campuses compared to the university's initial remediation report in 2017.
  
• The Board ratified the university's Fiscal Year 2025 Efficiency Report, which indicated effectiveness and savings from Fiscal Year 2025. The report is submitted annually to the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The Fiscal Year 2025 report focuses on facility planning, regional collaborations and academic practices related to textbook affordability. For instance, the First Day Inclusive Access - Flash Books initiative provided students access to their required digital course materials by the first day of class at a significant cost savings - more than $3 million - to Kent State students. Kent State has also reduced the operating square footage of the Kent Campus by nearly 185,000 square feet, resulting in an annual operating cost savings of $882,886 and a deferred maintenance cost avoidance of more than $10.5 million.
  
• The Board approved the following inactivations:
  • The College of Education, Health and Human Services will inactivate the Cultural Foundations major within the Master of Arts degree, effective fall 2026. While enrollment in the Master of Arts degree has remained very low for more than two decades, the college will continue to offer the Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Cultural Foundations, which have healthier enrollments.
  • The College of Education, Health and Human Services will inactivate the Educational Leadership K-12 major within the Educational Specialist and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, effective fall 2026. The college suspended admissions to the major in 2020 due to low enrollment and limited resources, and it does not plan to reopen admission to the program.
    
• The Board approved a change of address for Kent State's Liaison Office in India. The office moved into a new office within the same building on Sept. 1, 2024, specifically from Flat No. 413, 4th Floor, International Trade Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019 to Flat No. 909-909A, 9th Floor, International Trade Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019. The Registrar of Companies in Delhi requires a resolution from the Kent State Board of Trustees approving the change of address for Kent State's Liaison Office in India in order to update its registered address.
  
• The Board passed a resolution of appreciation to Nick Gattozzi, who joined Kent State on Aug. 1, 2015, as executive director of government and community relations. He quickly proved himself to be a highly effective advocate with regional, state and federal legislators and elected officials, leading the university's efforts to secure its fair share of operating and capital bill appropriations, securing state support for podiatric medicine and driving a successful statewide effort to obtain demolition funds to reduce operating costs on public university campuses. Gattozzi departed Kent State on Oct. 19, 2025, to return to the private sector. The Board expressed deep gratitude to Gattozzi for his far-reaching contributions to the advancement of the university and wished him and his family all the best in their future pursuits.

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Photo Caption:
Kent State University's Michael Schwartz Center is located at 800 E. Summit St. in Kent, Ohio. (Photo credit: Mike Rich, Kent State University)

Media Contacts:
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Emily Vincent, [email protected], 330-672-8595