Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Agreement in Principle
Frequently Asked Questions [DOWNLOAD]
November 2, 2007 Agreement in Principle between Antioch College Alumni Association and Antioch University Board of Trustees
The agreement is contained in two separate documents that can be found at antiochians.org:
• Agreements in Principle between the Alumni and the AUBoT
• AUBot Resolution 11.2.07:1
Q: Antioch College is saved, and that’s that. Right?
A: Far from it. Now the work begins to revitalize the College, and it will take the continued dedication and hard work of all who love Antioch. On November 2, the University Board of Trustees rescinded its suspension of Antioch College operations, which was scheduled to start in July 2008. The College will remain open contingent upon certain fiscal and academic conditions being maintained.
Q: The Agreement outlines the College’s future, right?
A: This is Antioch, where process is our passion. The Agreement outlines processes for deciding Antioch’s future – processes that now include the Alumni Association, a new College President and a new College Board of Trustees. It provides a framework for developing details and timetables for revitalization that are now being worked out.
Q: What will happen instead of the College being suspended?
A: The goal now is to rebuild a vibrant College that promotes academic excellence, with a tenured faculty. The Agreement in Principle states: “… continued operations of Antioch College will require the closing of some facilities, a reduction of faculty and staff, and the curtailment of some student services that are currently offered.”
The Declaration of Financial Exigency made by the Trustees remains in place.
Further, the College must obtain approval from the Ohio Board of Regents to resume offering credits and conferring degrees beyond December, 2008, the date it previously told the OBR it would suspend operations.
Q: Will the College accept new students?
A: Yes. Qualified transfer students may be accepted. Recruitment of first year students will resume when fiscally and academically feasible.
Q: What about faculty cuts?
A: These will depend upon the exact plan for limited operations in 2008-9, which is now being designed. The Alumni Association is on record as supporting a vibrant Antioch with a tenured faculty, and the Alumni Business Plan projected faculty numbers holding at a level that is expected to be reached next year after attrition and retirements.
Q: It’s clear the College facilities are in drastic need of repair and replacement. How will this be accomplished?
A: The University Chancellor has been directed to create a facilities team, including Alumni Board members. That team will evaluate facilities to determine how best to effect repairs while providing building and spaces for students, faculty and staff.
Q: What about governance?
A: The Antioch University Board of Trustees remains the sole legal, fiscal, and governing authority, and the College receives its accreditation through the University. However, a process is underway to create a new Governing Board for the University and a Board of Trustees for each campus, starting with Antioch College. The relationship between the Boards of Trustees and the Governing Board are yet to be defined.
In the meantime, the Agreement in Principle states, “ … an advisory body for Antioch College will be established to serve until a College Board of Trustees is constituted. Members of this advisory body will be appointed jointly by the President of the Alumni Association and the Chair of the University Board of Trustees.”
This advisory body will advise the Chancellor and the Office of the President. It will be an “integral part of the search committee and process in identifying a President of national stature for Antioch College.”
Q: What authority will the Alumni Board have in choosing members of the advisory body?
A: Since Reunion in June, a committee of the Alumni Board has been compiling profiles of prospective members of the advisory body and has been charged with vetting those names. The Alumni Association and the Board of Trustees will collaborate in the appointments.
Q: What is the timetable for carrying out the Interim Report of the AUBoT Governance Committee report?
A: The Board of Trustees has directed its Governance Committee to proceed swiftly to create a separate Board of Trustees for the College. That committee will meet next month with a goal of having a College Board close to being implemented or in place by July 1, 2008.
Q: Can the College still be closed?
A: Yes. AUBoT Resolution 11.2.07 directs the Chancellor “to develop, and if necessary implement, after consultation with the Executive Committee of the University Board of Trustees, a contingency plan for the suspension of operations at Antioch College.” A suspension could go into effect if “…the Fiscal Year 2008 or any future year contributions as set forth in the Agreement in Principle are not received as contemplated,” if continuation would threaten the University’s accreditation or cause the University to default on any obligation, if faculty and staff reductions cannot be sufficiently implemented, or if the Ohio Board of Regents does not extend beyond December 31, 2008 the College’s legal authority to grant credits and degrees.
Q: What happens to the College Revival Fund being administered by the Alumni Association?
A: The monies in the Fund will be transferred to Antioch University on an agreed-upon timetable, to be used exclusively to benefit Antioch College. A total of $6.6 million must be delivered to the University by December 15, 2007.
Donated funds will be directed to operations and capital expenditures.
It is the intent of the Alumni Association and the Board of Trustees that no Revival funds will be used to repay any financial obligations that may be owed by the College to the University until the College and University’s actual financial obligations to one another are independently verified.
Q: What happens to the fund raising efforts after December 15?
A: The Antioch College Alumni Association, with the full support of the Antioch University Board of Trustees, will raise funds under the supervision of the Antioch College Office of Institutional Advancement. These funds will be transferred in amounts and by dates specified in the Agreements in Principle.
Q: Can I be guaranteed that contributions I make will be used exclusively for the College?
A: Yes.
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