UToledo Board of Trustees Endorses Budget, Career-focused Curricular Changes, Experience-based Learning for All

UToledo Board of Trustees Endorses Budget, Career-focused Curricular Changes, Experience-based Learning for All

The University of Toledo is launching ASCEND - Applied Skills for Career Experience, Networking and Development - a university-wide initiative to ensure that every undergraduate, regardless of major, graduates with an experience-based learning experience under their belt.

The initiative, presented to the UToledo Board of Trustees at its June 2026 meeting, anchors a broader set of board actions that reflect the University's strategy to align programs, experiences and resources with what students and employers need most.

In addition to the academic actions, the board ratified a new contract with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and approved a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The roughly $1.2 billion financial plan prioritizes investments in research, enrollment management, and reputation and brand-building.

The budget also provides a 3% salary increase for members of the Professional Staff Association and for faculty who are not part of a bargaining unit.

"Taken together, the board's major June actions: new academic programs aligned with employer demand, a budget that invests in research, enrollment and the University's reputation, plus the launch of ASCEND all reflect a unified strategy that is aimed at preparing UToledo students for the careers of tomorrow, while strengthening the region's talent pipeline and positioning the University for sustainable growth," said UToledo President James Holloway. "We are a great place for students to build their futures."

ASCEND: Experience for Every Undergraduate

Beginning with the incoming freshman class in the 2026-27 academic year, all bachelor's degree students will complete an approved experience-based learning opportunity before they earn their degree, ensuring they graduate with a resume that speaks for itself.

Many UToledo programs already incorporate co-ops, internships, clinical placements, undergraduate research or field experiences as part of their curriculum. ASCEND builds on that foundation and extends the same expectation to every program of study, ensuring no student leaves the University with a diploma alone.

The ASCEND initiative and team are charged with delivering on Advantage Toledo, one of three "launchpads" Holloway introduced in his inaugural address to the University and Toledo community in October 2025.

"A UToledo degree has always added value to our graduates' career pursuits, but ASCEND makes sure it comes with proof," said Provost Mitchell S. McKinney, who presented the initiative at the June meeting of the UToledo Board of Trustees. "Whether a student is studying art, engineering, nursing or physics, ASCEND is a commitment to ensure that every student leaves UToledo with the experience needed to launch a successful career."

The need for ASCEND reflects a shifting entry-level job market. Increasingly, employers expect candidates for entry-level positions to arrive with experience already in hand and they recognize internships, co-ops and applied academic projects as fantastic early work experience.

"By weaving real-world application directly into the academic journey, the initiative bridges the gap between the classroom and the professional world," McKinney said. "Employers can hire UToledo graduates with confidence, knowing they have already proven themselves through experience-based learning."

Programs Aligned with Student and Employer Demand

Alongside the ASCEND launch, the board approved a round of curricular changes that reflect UToledo's regular review of its academic offerings - a process focused on investing in programs that align with student and employer demand. These latest updates include redesigning and adding degrees, concentrations and certificates to meet the needs of today's marketplace.

Two of the most visible additions are new bachelor's degree programs in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation. The board approved a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Technology and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, both slated to launch in fall 2027, pending state approval.

The programs were developed in direct response to rapidly growing employer demand for graduates who can apply data, analytics and emerging technologies to real-world business decisions.

"These two programs position Neff College at the forefront of business education in the region," said Dr. Barbara Ritter, dean of the Neff College of Business and Innovation. "By incorporating advanced technology into our existing business curriculum, we're able to offer students a competitive edge in fields where demand is growing without losing the strong foundation in business fundamentals that has always set our graduates apart."

FinTech First for Ohio

The new B.B.A. in Financial Technology will prepare students to work at the intersection of finance and technology, with coursework in data visualization, business intelligence, AI-assisted financial analysis, blockchain and digital assets.

The program gives UToledo an early-mover advantage: no comprehensive undergraduate FinTech degree currently exists in Ohio.

A signature feature is its connection to the Neff College's $4.5 million student-managed investment portfolio, giving FinTech students hands-on experience applying technology-enhanced analytical tools to manage real capital - an opportunity few peer programs can match, and one that fits squarely within ASCEND's emphasis on real-world, professional experience for every student.

The new B.B.A. in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence will equip students with skills in data management, statistical analysis, machine learning, visualization and ethical decision-making for business settings, building on UToledo's existing B.B.A. curriculum with added coursework in machine learning, data governance and AI ethics.

Other Board Action

In their final meeting of the 2025-26 academic year, the Board of Trustees also selected officers for the upcoming year, appointed members to the UToledo Health Board and recognized departing trustees.

Trustee Michael Miller will continue to serve as chair of the UToledo Board of Trustees for the 2026-27 year and Trustee Eleanore Awadalla will again serve as vice chair following a board vote to waive term limits for the vice chair. Lindsey Vandagriff was appointed board secretary in her role as coordinator of board operations.

Board members Eleanore Awadalla, Stephen Ciucci, Lidia Ebersole and Zac Issac were reappointed to the UToledo Health Board to serve one-year terms. Community member Neema Bell was reappointed for a three-year term.

The June meeting completed the term of Patrick Kenney, who has served as UToledo trustee since 2017. He was honored with the tittle of emeritus trustee. Student trustee Nate Boley was also recognized for his two years of service to the Board of Trustees. He graduated in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in professional sales. The board also recognized Katie DeBenedictis for her contributions as board secretary over the last seven years.