Editor’s note: A photo from the Sept. 23 town hall was not available; the above image shows President Short-Thompson at a prior engagement.
The first NKU Town Hall of the school year was held in the SU ballroom on Tuesday, with many faculty and staff in attendance. It covered many different areas, including school changes and improvement, along with staff and student concerns.
The focal point was that of improving campus vibrancy.
“We need to lean into our ability to be high-touch and quality-minded,” said NKU President Cady Short-Thompson.
Campus Renovation
The first update provided at the town hall was on the construction currently occurring on campus and upcoming renovation plans, as well as updates on completed projects. This presentation was given by Mary Paula Schuh, who is the Senior Director of NKU Planning, Design, and Construction.
Landrum Academic Center will be reshuffled over the next few years for both a Steely Library upgrade and a full renovation of Landrum itself. The English department is in the process of moving from the fifth floor of the building to Griffin Hall. In May of 2026, the Steely Library will move its services to the fifth floor of Landrum, remaining there until February 2027. Landrum will then close for two years beginning in the summer of 2027, after the completion of the Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Science Center expansion.
Emphasized in the list of renovation was a hefty number of necessary updates and repairs. Less visible to those who use the campus, these updates are being done to keep buildings functional. HVAC, roof repair, and elevator maintenance or replacement are some major projects that have been going on in many buildings on campus.
During the comment portion of the meeting, one major renovation concern was fielded. The renovation of the University Center, which included the first floor bathrooms, did not make those bathrooms wheelchair accessible. With signage about this accessibility being posted outside the bathrooms, there was concern about miscommunication and a lack of access on campus.
It was clarified that the signage would be removed should it be a misrepresentation, and that the building code required more toilets and sinks to be built to be compliant. This did not allow for the construction of the accessible stall in the currently allotted space, but an effort is being made to continue to try to find a place to add an accessible private bathroom within the University Center building.
Plans currently in the works include the construction of new tennis courts in the current tennis court location, the construction of Chase Law School in Covington and the extension of Norse Boulevard.
Administrative Policies-Grant Garber
“Okay, the moment you have all been waiting for — administrative policies,” said NKU Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Grant Garber.
Garber reviewed the university policies currently up for public comment, which will conclude on Oct. 31. These policies included a two year on campus living requirement for incoming freshmen starting Fall 2026 and flexible/remote work arrangements for NKU staff.
All of these policies and the link to comment on them can be accessed on the Policies Under Review page on the school’s website. Comments can be submitted by faculty, staff and students until the October deadline.
During public comment, the remote work rules and requirements were the primary focus of conversation, with many concerns being voiced. There was tension between the desire to have a vibrant campus with many people walking around and for staff to have equal flexibility in their schedules. Currently, the proposed policy would allow two remote work days per week at the discretion of the employee’s supervisor. This would likely be lower for student-facing positions where students are actively looking for the staff member throughout the week for assistance or support.
Budget and Finances
Vice President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer, Chris Calvert, took to the stage to provide an update on the current financial situation of the university, primarily through a breakdown of the budget for the previous and current fiscal years.
After a very successful Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget, NKU is beginning to hit roadblocks in budget improvement, looking at the FY 2026 budget. Goals for this newer budget include keeping a balanced budget, maintaining positive cash flow, and achieving a three percent salary increase for staff.
One difficulty was the overestimate made in this budget of the total number of students enrolled for this fiscal year. Enrollment is down by 283 traditional undergraduate students, which will impact the school’s income. The assumption was made that this number would stay the same and not decrease, meaning that extra financial wiggle room does not currently exist.
Short-Thompson expressed that they expect this number to go up with transfer students. Calvert added that they will not be making the assumption of linear enrollment going into the FY 2027 budget.
The potential for an increase in tuition and fees was mentioned as a potential portion of the solution. Enrollment numbers were another important consideration in planning for next year’s budget, with the hopes that things like the new Welcome Center will aid NKU in a competitive college recruiting environment.
In terms of overarching goals for NKU, Short-Thompson said, “We need to be a really strong, high-quality university that changes people’s lives.”