YSU Foundation questions process trustees used to choose university president
A non-profit organization that supports student scholarships, student development, and career opportunities at Youngstown State University is raising concerns about the way trustees went about selecting Congressman Bill Johnson as the university’s next president.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Youngstown State University Foundation expressed concerns surrounding what was described as “developments surrounding the YSU Presidential Search with our donors, friends, the YSU Board of Trustees, and the YSU community at large.”
“We would have preferred a more inclusive process that represented the University’s students, faculty, and staff, along with its donor base, supporters, and alumni. During the past few days, many of these individuals have reached out to the YSU Foundation trustees to express their concerns and their reluctance to provide ongoing support moving forward,” according to the foundation’s statement.
The foundation went on to say that it is its responsibility, in the best interests of the University and community, to raise concerns with the recent presidential search process and its effect upon the YSU Foundation’s exercise of its mission.
The statement does not call for any specific action by trustees, emphasizing that the foundation will continue to support YSU.
Johnson’s choice as successor to Jim Tressel has been met with some pushback from groups questioning his lack of experience in the field of education, his conservative political views, and what some see as a lack of transparency in the search process.
The foundation's entire statement may be read below:
November 28, 2023
Since 1966, the Youngstown State University Foundation has served as Youngstown State University’s foremost partner in advancing the educational attainment of our region. More recently the YSU Foundation, through a development agreement, has been engaged by the University to oversee the development and advancement function for YSU.
The YSU Foundation recognizes its independent status, as well as the autonomy of the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees, in its decision-making capacity. Because of the unique relationship of the University and the YSU Foundation, the YSU Foundation finds it necessary to express our concerns regarding recent developments surrounding the YSU Presidential Search with our donors, friends, the YSU Board of Trustees, and the YSU community at large. We would have preferred a more inclusive process that represented the University’s students, faculty, and staff, along with its donor base, supporters, and alumni. During the past few days many of these individuals have reached out to the YSU Foundation trustees to express their concerns and their reluctance to provide on-going support moving forward.
While the YSU Foundation will always be the support organization for student scholarships and other educational enhancements, the YSU Foundation believes that it is our responsibility, in the best interests of the University and community, to raise our concerns with the recent presidential search process and its effect upon the YSU Foundation’s exercise of its mission.
In short, we will continue to focus on our mission as an independent, nonprofit organization that supports student scholarships, student development, and career opportunities.
