By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
President Rodney Rogers often identifies BGSU as the right program, that’s the right size, in the right location.
And on Friday, the university’s Board of Trustees identified Rogers as the right person to continue leading the institution through June 30, 2029. The board action quieted any rumors that Rogers was toying with retiring.
The board voted unanimously to extend his contract, at an annual salary of $567,079, which is reflective of the 2.5% increase received by all administrative staff at the university. And in recognition of his “exemplary performance” in leading BGSU, the board also granted Rogers a bonus of 25% of his base salary.
Rogers, a first generation college student himself, welcomes the opportunity to finish the work he has started at BGSU. He knows well that across the nation Americans are questioning the future of higher education. And he offered the answer after the board meeting concluded.
“It’s very bright here at BG,” he said of the institution’s forecast. And it’s not going unnoticed nationally. “People are noting what’s going on in BG.”
Rogers thanked the board for its vote of confidence, and spread the credit for BGSU successes to others at the institution.
“Nothing would be possible without great leaders across this university,” he said, praising faculty and staff for their “commitment to driving this institution forward.”
Though BGSU racked up accolades again this year – for record enrollment, student retention, and national rankings on student success, Rogers said he isn’t ready to rest quite yet.
“We’ve got more work to do. This moment – it’s our moment,” he said.
After the trustees meeting concluded, Rogers, who became president in 2018, talked about how to know when is a good time to retire. He used the adage, “always leave them wanting more.”
“You never want to overstay your welcome,” he said.
But when the board asked him to continue leading BGSU, Rogers saw a way to complete some of the goals he laid the groundwork for during the past eight years.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of the momentum at BG,” he said.
While BGSU has gained national status in polling of student satisfaction and success, Rogers believes there is more room to grow. Among his goals are:
- Increasing philanthropic support. Contributions to BGSU this year hit $35.1 million, and Rogers envisions that number growing. Given the current environment, “private support is going to be more important than ever.”
- Expanding offerings for graduate students. “We believe there’s opportunity in our graduate portfolio.”
- Continuing to serve the needs of a couple industries in the region – advanced manufacturing and health care.
- Offering programs for non-traditional students, serving the needs of working professionals.
BGSU enters this new academic year with continued momentum marked by growing student success, national recognition and academic programs designed to prepare graduates for Ohio’s evolving workforce needs.
The Board of Trustees celebrated first-year enrollment exceeding 4,000 students for the second consecutive year. This fall also marks the fourth consecutive year of overall enrollment growth at BGSU, with the total headcount at 20,799 students, up 2.1% over last year, serving as the university’s largest enrollment in nearly two decades.
The university also sustained record-high retention rates over the past three years. The four-year graduation rate has increased 14% over the past five years, with more students than ever graduating in four years or less. Meanwhile, student debt has declined 13.4% in the same five years.
“This is another banner year, and we are proud to have achieved our enrollment goals again, especially given the increasingly competitive landscape across Ohio’s universities,” Rogers said. “This is the sweet spot for us, and we like this size – big enough to offer all the incredible opportunities of a large university in preparation for career and life, yet small enough that students don’t need to compete with 50,000 students for those experiences to stand out. We want to thank our faculty and staff for creating a learning environment more students are choosing, again and again.”
This fall’s enrollment growth continues to be driven by a combination of in-demand academic programs, particularly in healthcare and STEM, and a top-ranked first-year experience that provides students with the resources, connections and support they need to succeed from the moment they arrive on campus.
The university’s nationally recognized Career and Life Design program also continues to differentiate a BGSU education by putting students in the driver’s seat of their education and equipping them with the tools they need to navigate college and prepare for life after graduation.
The trustees also recognized the continued strength of BG’s first-year experiences, ranked No. 1 among public universities in Ohio and No. 3 in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings.
“Bowling Green State University is proud to be a leader not only in the state, but the nation, for student experience, and this ranking reaffirms our commitment to each student, from day one through graduation,” Rogers said.
“Higher education has long known how a student goes to college matters. At Bowling Green, we leaned in, investing in programs that give students the tools, framework and support to fully leverage all their educational experience has to offer.”
