President Bellamkonda receives 3% raise, trustees discuss dorm renovations and a new major

Reegan Davis, Audrey Coleman
Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:24:49 +0000
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President Ravi V. Bellamkonda smiles after the Board of Trustee’s officially appointed him to be the 18th president of Ohio State in March. Credit: Sandra Fu | Lantern File Photo

The Ohio State Board of Trustees gave the university’s new president a raise and a bonus Thursday, while addressing multiple topics that include a new major within the Salmon P. Chase Center and dorm renovations.

Read below to find out what occurred at the public session.?

President Bellamkonda receives a raise

University President Ravi Bellamkonda received both a raise and pay bonus at the meeting. The Board approved a 3% raise — $42,000 — and a $420,000 performance award, pushing Bellamkonda’s salary to $1.44 million a year.?

“You have made a strong transition into the role, and you’re building on what you’ve done already to do some even more impressive things,” Board Chair Jeff Kaplan said. “At the beginning, [you] are already creating deep relationships here and developing a real understanding… on what makes us unique.”?

Bellamkonda has spent less than six months in the role, marking the 2026-27 school year as his first full academic year on campus.?

He was appointed as the 18th president in March 2026 following former president Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s resignation after an inappropriate relationship with podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos came to light, according to multiple previous Lantern reports. Before the presidency, Bellamkonda served as executive vice president and provost for the university.?

“There’s no doubt you’re off to a tremendously strong start as president, and all of the board here joins me,” Kaplan said. “We hope you continue this, and we want you to know we’ll continue to support you as you help bring Ohio State’s excellence to bear everywhere.”?

Dorm renovations

With the Trustees’ approval of a new fiscal bill, there will be more money set aside for dorm renovations.?

Approved in March 2026, the university is still set to renovate two north campus dorms — Taylor and Drackett Towers — and demolish Jones Tower, also on north campus, according to prior Lantern reporting.?

The upgrades coming to Taylor and Drackett include maintenance work, infrastructure and updated interiors for student use.?

One of the largest aspects of the project is a full replacement of plumbing systems, following the pipe failure that occurred in Taylor in January 2026. The flooding forced students returning to campus after winter break to relocate on short notice, according to previous Lantern reporting.?

There was also discussion of two more towers, Lincoln and Morrill, located on west campus. Work on the towers is currently listed as a future priority for the university, though the question remains unanswered. The university is assessing potential maintenance work to complete on the two buildings, which were built in 1967.?

“We’ve been thinking about the future of [Lincoln and Morrill Towers], and maybe this is a premature question, but it’s on the minds of a lot of people,” Trustee Reggie Wilkinson said.

New major in Salmon P. Chase Center

The board also approved a new major; Bachelor of Arts degree in Civics, Law, and Leadership, per the meeting materials. The degree was created by the faculty at the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at the university.

“The proposed Bachelor of Arts in Civics, Law, and Leadership (CIVICLL) advances Ohio State’s land grant mission of ‘Education for Citizenship’ by preparing students to engage thoughtfully and lead effectively in American civic life,” the meeting materials state.

The course is a 33 credit-hour undergraduate degree, focusing on American civic life and traditional, constitutional values, per an Ohio State website.