The Board of Trustees (BOT) approved an action Wednesday afternoon reducing the tuition for in-state podiatric medicine students by 30%. 

Ohio residents will see a decrease of nearly $14,000 per year in tuition fees. Out-of-state students will see a roughly $3,000 reduction in tuition fees. The changes will be effective in Spring 2024.

The yearly in-state tuition for students in the College of Podiatric Medicine is $45,961, according to a press release from Kent State Today.

Vice Chair Ann Womer Benjamin revealed that 12.34% of the Medical 1 funding line item from would be set aside for Podiatric Medicine students following governor Mike DeWine’s signing of the 2024 and 2025 fiscal year budgets in July. The 2023 Fiscal year budget was $661.3 million.

“We thank the government and the general assembly for their support of our school,” she said.

The Audit and Finance Committee established a series of objectives including a focus on core activities, such as access to research, the well-being of students and employees and limiting new hires to protect existing employees.

The BOT approved a 2024 Fiscal Year budget of $687.5 million.

The budget was originally scheduled to be voted on in June, but the action was pushed back until September due to the State of Ohio’s failure to pass a new fiscal year budget before June 30.

The BOT announced a 3% raise in base salary for President Todd Diacon, noting their satisfaction with how he’s run the university.

“This is always an uncomfortable moment for me,” Diacon said. “It’s all these people in the university who are the source of its success.”

The board also announced it had enrolled the highest number of international students since 2017, accounting for 2,074 students.

Vice President for Enrollment Management Sean Broghammer claims making the admissions process test-optional has attracted a more diverse population of students.

“Our underrepresented students have now gone from about 16% just a few years ago to over 20% of the class this fall,” he said.

Among other actions approved by the board were the establishment of a study abroad program in France, the naming of the Susan J. Stocker Hall, ending transcript holdouts for unpaid student balances, and raises for university staff.

The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Michael Neenan is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].