Half of Ashland University’s buildings were constructed 25 to 35 years ago. By the mid-1990s, the major mechanical systems in most of these 28 buildings had approached the end of their useful life. Maintenance costs to keep the heating, cooling, and other operating equipment functioning were rising each year. The university could not afford to replace all of the systems that needed replacing. And it didn’t have sufficient staff to perform preventive maintenance on so large a scale.
The financial picture was further complicated because Ashland University, which is situated between the major cities of Cleveland and Columbus, prides itself on professors giving students individual attention.
The university’s low student-faculty ratio of 15:1 comes at a price. To preserve this academic distinction, long-overdue building improvements had to be deferred.