BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS -- Northern Kentucky University is considering selling its Covington campus in an effort to align all aspects of the school toward the same goals.
In his State of the University address Tuesday, President James Votruba told about 600 faculty, staff, students and community members that the entire university community must think across the institution.
"The activities there are very important to us," Dr. Votruba said. "But the facility is underused. Right now, we spend a lot of money in keeping that facility open. We will explore other options for the building and facility, and one may be the selling of that building."
NKU spends about $200,000 a year to operate the Covington campus, and Dr. Votruba said there may be a more effective way to offer those services elsewhere.
Dr. Votruba said he will ask the different departments to participate in a study to ensure resources are focused on the school's core values: strengthening the curriculum, supporting faculty excellence, enhancing student recruitment and retention, strengthening public engagement, improving campus facilities and promoting staff effectiveness.
The address comes a year
after Dr. Votruba came to NKU. In that time he has instituted several programs to improve NKU's image as a more viable, visible and metropolitan university.
The Covington campus is actually where NKU was born. Hankin Hall was the site of the original University of Kentucky community college before the Highland Heights campus was approved in 1968. Community education, a video conferencing center, public safety, training and development, and the Social Services Training Center are among offices in the building.
Dr. Votruba also has offered full-ride scholarships to the 40 Tristate students who scored a 29 or above on the ACT exam. Of those students, 29 accepted the offer. They will form NKU's new honors program.
This fall, first-time students will not be admitted after classes begin today. The decision was made to lower the high attrition rate of these students.
NKU allocated additional money to hire 12 new full-time faculty and gave part-time faculty a 10 percent raise.
In the coming year, Dr. Votruba said he wants to conduct a market analysis for a new arena and to coordinate computer purchases among departments. The school will also make a push for increased private fund raising.
"No public university has achieved success with public funds alone," Dr. Votruba said.
