BGSU trustees support initial and ongoing plans for residence hall renovations, celebrate University's continued positive impact during December meeting

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4. BGSU trustees support initial and ongoing plans for residence hall renovations, celebrate University's continued positive impact during December meeting

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Offering the right academic programs at the right size, Bowling Green State University and its board of trustees continue to ensure the University remains the right place for students to earn a comprehensive education of value that supports their careers and lives and drives Ohio's workforce forward.

At their final meeting of 2025, the BGSU Board of Trustees supported initial and ongoing plans for residence hall renovations, approved degree program updates and learned of the continued positive impact Bowling Green is making in the region and beyond.

Enhancing residence halls for the future
During the Dec. 5 meeting, trustees supported initial design services for renovations to Kreischer Quadrangle and continued renovations for Founders Hall as part of the ongoing campus master plan, which focuses on modernizing learning facilities and technologies that support academic programs, research and outreach in greatest demand.

With flexible plans in place, renovations to Kreischer Quadrangle could start as soon as Fall 2027, with options to add air conditioning and upgrade restrooms in the building's two western wings. Additional work could include enhancements to common spaces to elevate student experiences and interaction.

In addition to plans for overall improvements, Kreischer Quadrangle's signature dining facility, The Sundial, is also set to undergo upgrades. Design plans for The Sundial call for operational improvements and aesthetic upgrades to offer a refreshed dining experience and renewed dining options for the eastern edge of campus.

Originally built in 1966, the four-winged Kreischer Quadrangle is one of the larger residence halls on the BGSU campus and has undergone multiple enhancements throughout the years. The building's latest round of renovations will be done in phases to minimize student disruption, with an estimated completion set for Summer 2028.

Future work and improvements to Kreischer Quadrangle will be contingent on board approval.

Home to the BGSU Honors College, Founders Hall is set to undergo the next two phases of its renovation starting in Summer 2026. Primary work will include renovating the residence hall's restrooms, plumbing and drainage systems.

Constructed in 1955, Founders Hall underwent similar work earlier in the year to ensure the building remains viable for future generations of BGSU students.

Reimagining degree requirements to support student success
The board approved updates to the Associate of Applied Business in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity (AABCST) degree, underscoring the University's commitment to consistently assessing its academic offerings to support student and workforce needs.

Offered through BGSU Firelands, the AABCST degree prepares students for careers in information technology, or IT, with a focus on networking and system administration. The enhanced degree will streamline curriculum, increase accessibility and align learning outcomes with workforce and industry standards, all without the need for additional funding or resources.

The reimagined degree will feature reduced credit hour requirements and a fully online or hybrid learning format offered through BGSU Online, reducing both time and cost for students while increasing flexibility. The program will also better equip students with the knowledge and skills to sit for industry-recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Network+, CCNA, CySA+ and CEH.

Celebrating continued positive impact
Trustees also celebrated Bowling Green's ongoing positive impact in the region and beyond since their September meeting, including the University's continued standing as a top university that students say they would choose again.

In its 2026 Best Colleges rankings, The Wall Street Journal placed BGSU among the top five universities in the nation and No. 3 among all public universities for its student-recommendation score. BGSU also ranked as the No. 1 university in Ohio that students say they would choose again. Additionally, BGSU ranked No. 1 for career preparation, learning facilities and learning opportunities, respectively, among Ohio's public universities.

Additional accolades for BGSU this fall include recognition by WalletHub for its location in Ohio's best small college town and by Military Times as the No. 1 university in the Midwest for the fifth year in a row for veterans and active military students.

As the first university in the nation to offer a customizable AI+X bachelor's degree, BGSU hosted the first-ever Great Lakes AI Week conference in November, bringing together students, educators and industry leaders to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the workforce. BGSU faculty and staff experts also shared their work and research on AI as an educational tool and workforce multiplier through panel insight and presentations.

This fall, BGSU was also recognized for its innovative and successful public-private partnerships, with President Rodney K. Rogers selected to present to a national audience on how higher education can launch successful partnerships with industry.

Through collaborations across multiple industries, BGSU has strengthened academic programs, addressed workforce needs, aligned curriculum with employer expectations and enhanced campus infrastructure and technology.

Based, in part, on its innovation and willingness to launch new partnerships, BGSU was also selected as the only university in the Midwest to participate in a groundbreaking national career-readiness initiative, the first-ever National Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator.

Action items of the board
In compliance with state law, the BGSU Board of Trustees adopted policies regarding faculty workloads, annual performance evaluations, tenure, post-tenure review and retrenchment.