When the 31 members of the Oberlin Board of Trustees meet this weekend, they will be faced with mounting concerns regarding the continuing budget crisis, admission statistics and the ongoing debate over student housing.

Oberlin’s endowment, which has fallen to troubling lows the last few years, has modestly recuperated, though the College is still feeling the sting of its stagging performance. The administration braced for a $1 million defecit last year but was able to avoid the loss through judicious spending and nearly $300,000 of overbudgeted heath care allotments.

However, this year may be toughest yet. Rumors have spread that the College may look to cut academic programming for the first time in three decades. President Nancy Dye has repeatedly warned that this year is the third year in “six years of hard times.”

In a closed session, the Board will hear a report from the Investment Committee on the current health of the endowment.
Vice President of Finance Andrew Evans will give a status report on the budget for this academic year. The Board will then vote to finalize the financial report from last year.

Admissions will most likely be on the agenda as well. Conservatory Dean Robert Dodson submitted a report to the board in October stating conerns about trends stemming from a decrease in Conservtory applicants in the past year. In the confidential document, he emphasized the need for increased recruiting, publicity and scholarship money to lure potential students to the Conservatory.

Also pressing is the College’s ongoing program to cut employee health care costs. By switching to a larger provider, the College has managed to reduce claims by nearly $2 million this year, but some employees have criticized the plan. This will likely be the major topic of discussion in the union negotiations set to begin this spring.

Since last week’s city council vote, the College has been unable to develop new student housing on the Johnson House property, leaving many wondering what the College’s next move will be. Evans will likely discuss the College’s position during a projects report.

Other matters on the board’s agenda include preliminary discussions to find a replacement for an undisclosed departing member and the introduction of new Class Trustee Ni’Ja Wilson.