BGSU to honor efforts of its former president

4/24/2009

BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University is honoring former president Sidney Ribeau by naming a program and outdoor plaza for the man who led the school for 13 years.

The President's Leadership Academy, which Mr. Ribeau created in 1997 to encourage students to pursue leadership and community engagement opportunities, will now bear his name as the Sidney A. Ribeau President's Leadership Academy.

The university's board of trustees approved the change yesterday after the suggestion was forwarded to it from campus groups including staff, faculty, and undergraduate and graduate student organizations.

"We honor and we thank Dr. Ribeau for his 13 years of dedicated service," said John Harbal, chairman of the board of trustees.

Mr. Ribeau, the ninth president of BGSU, served from 1995 to 2008. He is now president of Howard University in Washington.

His name also will mark the outdoor plaza near the entrance of the future Wolfe Center for the Arts that he was instrumental in raising funds to make a reality.

As president, Mr. Ribeau led the Building Dreams capital campaign that exceeded its $120 million goal, about $14 million of which will help fund the future $40 million arts center.

Mr. Ribeau was known for his commitment to the arts and as more an artist than a boss himself in his leadership style, longtime BGSU Trustee Mike Marsh said.

He joked that it was fitting to name an outdoor, open-air space after Mr. Ribeau. "We're talking about a unique person here, I think we all would agree," Mr.

Marsh said.

The trustees yesterday also approved room-and-board fee increases for the 2009-10 school year.

Room rates will increase an average of 2.94 percent, and meal plans will rise an average of 2.86 percent.

For the standard double room, the cost will go up 4.96 percent, and the standard Bronze meal plan will increase 4.56 percent. A student with those standards will see their bill go up $166.

The rate increases vary among the different room and meal plan options.

"We are very aware of the financial challenges most of our students and their families are facing," said Sheri Stoll, BGSU's chief financial officer.

That's why the university compared its room and board rates with peer institutions and found these modest increases will not change how they compare, Ms. Stoll said.

Last year, BGSU increased room rates an average of 2.83 percent and meal plans an average of 4.6 percent.

The trustees also approved several academic changes related to architecture programs on campus.

A Department of Architecture and Environmental Design was approved in the College of Technology.

A bachelor of science in architecture was created to replace an existing major in architectural/environmental design studies offered within the bachelor of science in technology degree. The trustees approved a master of architecture degree pending approval by the Ohio Board of Regents.

Contact Meghan Gilbert at:

mgilbert@theblade.com

or 419-724-6134.