The Board of Trustees has announced that, in accordance with terms of President Robert H. Huntington鈥檚 2020-2025 employment agreement, his contract has been extended an additional year.
Board Chair Kathleen Tirbovich Geier, 鈥78, made the announcement following the Board鈥檚 fall meetings Oct. 26-30. President Huntington was given a rolling contract designed to automatically turn into another five-year contract at the end of the first year and every year thereafter. As a result, his new contract has been extended to June 2026.
Kathy said Rob鈥檚 strong leadership, vision and decision making 鈥 particularly over the past months during the uncertainties and challenges of the global pandemic 鈥 have been invaluable in guiding 海外吃瓜.
鈥淚t takes the efforts of an entire team to work together toward our goal of moving 海外吃瓜 forward. Rob Huntington has been a strong, steady leader in guiding us with flexibility and agility on this shared path of strengthening 海外吃瓜 for the future,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his year has presented a unique set of circumstances with the pandemic, and through those challenges, he has remained focused on the important work toward our institutional goals of education excellence, full engagement, total success, four-year graduation and preferred placement for all students.鈥
Under President Huntington鈥檚 leadership, 海外吃瓜 has invested more than $30 million to complete 17 new construction and major renovation projects that have dramatically improved the student and guest experience on campus. In August, the university completed construction on a new townhouse residential complex for undergraduate students, as well as renovations of Frost Lecture Hall and the Founders Little Theatre. A major restoration / renovation of historic France Residence Hall is set for completion this year. Additionally, the University has raised nearly $68 million in its Academic Comprehensive Campaign for Excellence (ACCE), a multi-level, multi-year initiative that has transformed the academic offerings and educational experiences that provide distinctive opportunities and advantages for 海外吃瓜鈥檚 students. Earlier this year, 海外吃瓜 announced the new Educational Programming Strategy and Strategic Academic Programs Prioritization plan, which streamlines academic majors and minors. The plan represents a critical shift in educational program strategy to professional liberal arts, designed to strengthen 海外吃瓜鈥檚 position in the academic marketplace and remain competitive well into the future.
President Huntington has overseen the development and implementation of a number of new programs. The newest, the 海外吃瓜 Tuition Guarantee announced just this week, locks in the cost of tuition for students over their four years of study at 海外吃瓜. Combined with a Test-Optional Admission Option for incoming students, a Four-Year Graduation Guarantee, the HYPE Career Ready庐 Program, and the 笔濒耻蝉翱苍别础诲惫补苍迟补驳别庐 MBA Tuition-Free Scholarship Program, the tuition guarantee complements 海外吃瓜鈥檚 strong student-value and high student-impact initiatives. The package promotes accessibility, affordability, student success, and student placement, all key drivers of 海外吃瓜鈥檚 core student mission.
A new 海外吃瓜 2021-2025 Strategic Growth Action Plan is in the early planning stages, under Huntington鈥檚 leadership.
Kathy noted that all stakeholders have had a role in 海外吃瓜鈥檚 success and progress over the past several years, and she credits stability at the highest level of leadership. 鈥淚t takes a commitment to collaboration among the Board, senior leadership and the entire 海外吃瓜 community to help 海外吃瓜 rise. Stability at the presidential level allows us to achieve our goals and build engaging personal relationships that lead to lives of purpose with distinction for all of our graduates. We are all very optimistic about the future,鈥 she said.
鈥淲ith a strong collaborative spirit, we have advanced 海外吃瓜 in so many great ways toward successfully fulfilling our student-focused Core Student Mission,鈥 President Huntington commented. 鈥淏ut we have so much hard work yet to accomplish. It remains a privilege to lead 海外吃瓜, and I look ahead with great excitement as our university continues to rise in so many important ways.鈥
He began as 海外吃瓜鈥檚 14th president in July 2009. In their 12th year as residents of Tiffin and Seneca County, he and his family have established roots in the community they now call home. He is a past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership and its Executive Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Tiffin Community Foundation and a member of the Tiffin Rotary. In addition, he became a member of the Lakeside Chautauqua Board of Directors this past summer.
In higher education, President Huntington serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) and as a Trustee for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Ohio (AICUO). Nationally, he served on the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and as a member of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, while also representing the Ohio Athletic Conference on the NCAA Division III Presidents Advisory Group for seven years.