NEWS
A4 • CCF RECORDER • JUNE 28, 2012
Votruba after 15 years: Few regrets By Cliff Peale cpeale@enquirer.com
HIGHLAND
HEIGHTS
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Boosting Northern Kentucky University’s graduation rate is the biggest job Jim Votruba feels he has left only partially done in 15 years leading NKU. The campus here has been transformed with a new student union, arena and hightech showplace for the College of Informatics. NKU will move to Division I athletics this fall, and it has installed a new general education curriculum, a move still generating controversy here. Changes like those have left Votruba beloved here as he plans to retire July 31, making way for new NKU President Geoff Mearns. But only about 37 percent of the NKU undergraduates who started as freshmen in 2005 graduated within six years, a rate that has improved about 5 percentage points but that Votruba wishes could be higher. About two-thirds of freshmen in fall 2010 returned for fall 2011. “I do have a regret, and that is that we aren’t making more progress on retention and graduation rates,” Votruba said from his eighth-floor office overlooking the campus. “There’s no magic bullet for that. “I think I’m processing it (retirement),” he added. “I’m very pleased with the progress of the last 15 years. It’s a good feeling.” Votruba has been through dozens of farewell events since he announced his retirement last fall. The new student
union now bears the name of Votruba and his wife Rachel, and NKU has collected about $523,000 for a scholarship fund in their name. His name has become synonymous with growth at NKU. During his tenure, enrollment increased by about 4,000 students to nearly 16,000 per year and the NKU endowment jumped to $68 million from about $12 million. Off campus, he has put the university in a leadership role throughout the region, from work force development to high school preparation for college. “He was able to make NKU not only an integrated part of the community but a driving force in all of Northern Kentucky,” said Terry Mann, chairman of NKU’s board of regents. “I don’t think anyone foresaw the capacity for the university to do the things it accomplished under Jim.” Votruba, 67, will take a year’s leave, remaining in his Lakeside Park home. That will include more time with his three children and six grandchildren. He’ll also work on community projects – he’s on the St. Elizabeth Healthcare board – as well as national education groups. That includes a parttime venture consulting with college presidents. He attended a full-day retreat with education faculty last month. When he returns, he’ll teach doctoral courses in educational leadership. He sounds like he’s ready for that less frenetic workload and public responsibility. “This job really owns you,
at least the way I’ve done it,” Votruba said. “I would not want to start over now.” Those responsibilities will belong to Mearns, 52, the current provost at Cleveland State University. Mearns will make the call on a potential capital campaign that some have pegged to be as much as $100 million, and also will renew NKU’s constant battle to get attention and taxpayer dollars from the legislature in Frankfort. Votruba acknowledges the level of that funding is largely out of NKU’s control and depends on the state’s economy. But he says the state should reopen the groundbreaking higher education bill that took effect at about the same time he arrived at NKU, and substitute a formula that rewards research, work force development and degrees in high-impact fields such as health care and information technology. In short, with a formula that would reward the investments NKU has made. For example, NKU pays two full-time professors who spend half their time helping early-childhood education centers gain accreditation. “A lot of water has gone under the bridge,” Votruba said. “If we had it to do over again, I would do something different. Rather than a general allocation, I’d direct it strategically. (Equity) is a tough case to make. What’s not a tough case to make is that we can’t turn out IT graduates fast enough.” In Greater Cincinnati, the landscape has changed in another way. Both NKU and the University of Cincinnati now
Trauma study doesn’t require prior consent By Justin B. Duke jbduke@nky.com
James Votruba, who is retiring July 31 as president of Northern Kentucky University, in his office on the eighth floor of the Lucas Administration Building. PATRICK REDDY/THE ENQUIRER
have metropolitan tuition rates that encourage students to cross the river at slightly higher than in-state rates. That has made all of the region’s universities, as well as fellow Kentucky institutions, real competitors for students. “If you ask me what forces are going to shape our future, UC is much more aggressive now,” Votruba said. “I would challenge anyone to tell me where there’s needless duplication. As long as programs have demand, we’re going to offer them. When I came here, there was an unspoken rule that regional universities owned their regions. Not anymore.” Votruba’s expression brightens when talking about the doctoral courses he will teach. He’ll pose questions to students directly relevant to his last 15 years. “What makes a good leader? What makes a good organization? How do you form leaders? “I’ve had an opportunity to have an impact on the university and on the region,” he said. “My intention is to continue to have an impact.”
TOLL FREE
Northern Kentucky trauma patients have a chance to help future trauma patients all over the nation. Dr. Travis Gerlach, a surgeon at University Hospital, visited Florence City Council to share information about a research study he and the hospital are conducting and how it could affect Northern Kentucky residents. Gerlach and his group are conducting the Pragmatic, Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) study. The study is taking place at Level 1 trauma centers, like University Hospital, across the nation and is studying the best ratio of blood products in massive blood transfusions to trauma patients. In transfusions, blood products are made of three parts: platelets, plasma and red blood cells, and they can be given in varying ratios, Gerlach said. “It is unclear what ratio is needed,” he said. Because PROPPR is studying trauma situations, it has clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to use patients who are unable to give prior consent. “Consent will be attempted to be obtained as soon as possible,” Gerlach said. However, because of the urgent nature of trauma injuries, the experimental transfusions will be given if a patient is unable to respond, he said. Although the ratio of the three blood parts will be experimental, all transfusions are approved by the FDA and the American Association of Blood Banks. Those who don’t want to participate in the study, in the event of a trauma injury, can opt out by calling 513-558-6332 or emailing PROPPR@uc.edu. Emergency department staff will know patients have opted out of the study by the plastic bracelet given to those who opt out. The PROPPR study is scheduled to begin in July and last 18 months.
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