Ohio University intends to sell OUS Proctorville Center; community protests

UPDATE 3/14/23 @ 9 p.m.

PROCTORVILLE, Ohio (WSAZ) - Ohio University is planning to sell the OUS Proctorville Center, according to a letter from university President Hugh Sherman.

In the letter, Sherman says the center has had declining enrollment and decreased revenues.

“In discussions with our staff at the Proctorville Center, additional reviews of the facility use over the past several years, and enrollment projections, we have determined that it is in the university’s best interest to move forward with the sale of the Proctorville Center,” Sherman said in the letter.

Joe Freeman, who has donated money to the center in Proctorville, says he learned the update from Ohio University leadership during a meeting at the Proctorville Center Tuesday afternoon.

Freeman says he believes leadership could and should find a way to make the center profitable.

“I think Athens doesn’t believe the Proctorville community wants classes or wants Ohio University here. If we could show them that we do, that we do want the center here and want them here, I think that would go a long way to get this stopped.”

President Sherman says the intent is to sell the building to another educational institution.

Cassie Rucker’s grandfather, Marshall Smith, donated the land the building was built on in the year 2000, with the goal of offering classes to non-traditional students.

She says in-person classes haven’t been taught there since the fall of 2021.

“We’re just really concerned about honoring my grandfather’s donation,” Rucker said. “He donated it for a reason, along with other community members of Proctorville who came together and donated money for this specific reason.”

Sherman’s letter says revenues from the sale will go toward scholarships.

The letter says, “We have made multiple good faith attempts to lease the Proctorville Center to retain the option to continue to offer classes at the facility should there be a demand. We issued a Request for Proposals in 2019 with no resulting inquiries or bids.”

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ORIGINAL STORY

PROCTORVILLE, Ohio (WSAZ) - Community members are protesting Tuesday afternoon outside the Ohio University Southern Proctorville Center as rumors have swirled of the facility possibly closing and and being sold.

Cassie Rucker is among those in the parking lot with signs supporting the center. Her grandfather, Marshall Smith, donated the land the facility was built on in the year 2000, with the goal of offering classes to non-traditional students.

Rucker says her family was informed a private meeting on the issue was being held at the center at 3 p.m. Tuesday with Ohio University leadership.

WSAZ was not allowed into the meeting.

People who want to see the facility remain open have been in the parking lot with signs, wanting to send the message they want this center to stay open.

Rucker says in-person classes haven’t been offered there since the fall of 2021.

She says what they’re hearing is the facility may be closing because it hasn’t been making a profit, but she believes leadership could and should find a way to allow it to stay open.

It’s unclear whether an official decision or announcement will be made following the meeting.

Rucker says her mother is among those attending the meeting, and WSAZ hopes to share the results later Tuesday.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.