On Feb. 9, Otterbein’s Governance Town Hall covered updates from President John Comerford on the winter Board of Trustees meeting, updates from various assembly chairs, and other questions posed by the Otterbein community.
25 W. Home Street will be renamed to honor the passing of former Otterbein history professor and President Emeritus, Thomas Kerr. Thomas and Donna Kerr moved back to Westerville after their retirement and regularly supported Otterbein by attending theater performances and other campus events. Official celebrations are scheduled for Homecoming.
President Comerford also confirmed that an application for Otterbein's partnership with Antioch College, now referred to as "the System", was officially submitted to the Higher Learning Commission for approval. Plans for a shared board between Antioch and Otterbein were discussed, as well as how finances would be handled.
The fall-to-spring semester persistence rate was reported to have increased by 4% from last year, leaving the current rate at 94%. This is Otterbein's highest persistence rate has been since the last fall-to-spring semester before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Total enrollment for the spring semester of 2023 decreased by 4% from spring 2022, and adult and graduate learner enrollment continues to slow.
