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It’s good to be a Buckeye

October 21, 2009

New fan appreciation program aims to enhance game-day atmosphere for everyone

By Adam King

Drawing more than 100,000 loyal football fans to Ohio Stadium is part of the Buckeyes’ inherent home-field advantage. That was not so much the case for the women’s volleyball team, which usually averaged about 150 fans per match — hardly intimidating to visiting teams. Continue reading ‘It’s good to be a Buckeye’

Top 3 on 2, 10/22/09

October 21, 2009

Why did you choose to work at Ohio State?
I applied for an accountant position and got the offer within two weeks of my job search.

What do you like about your job?
The diversity of various accounting responsibilities that I perform daily. I like the people I work with every day and the people I come in contact with, either from within the Research Foundation or across the campus.

What would you improve at Ohio State?
To encourage everyone to be more conscious about saving our environment through cutting waste and recycling more. If each one of us participates in this noble cause, imagine the impact it would have on the whole environment. I always try to be a good example around my family and friends by going the extra yards to recycle whenever possible.

If you weren’t working at Ohio State, what would you be doing?
Probably I would do the same things I am doing now. I like to work with details and numbers. I have been working in either financial or tax accounting since 1981.

What is your favorite activity outside of work?
I practice tai-chi, yoga, pilates, dancing, swimming, Sudoku and reading. Behind my back, my friends say: “If there is nobody to do any activity with you, ask Tina, she would sign up for that class and never miss a session.” I would do anything to keep my aging body parts moving.

What advice would you give a new employee?
Learn to do the right things; find a good mentor to help you grow; stay positive and be enthusiastic about everything you do, including work and working out.

Of what honor or recognition are you most proud?
I was on the cover of Columbus Monthly magazine in February 1993, 10 months after my husband and I opened the Saigon Palace restaurant in downtown Columbus. We worked together there for 11 years, four months and nine days. When we decided to get back to our professions, the Columbus City Council honored us with a resolution for contributing excellent services to the people of Columbus.

Who is your hero?
My mother. She was very wise and kind-hearted. She taught me to be humble, honest and diligent. I am still trying hard to be like her.

What are you going to do when you retire?
Continue to maintain all of my favorite activities for as long as possible.

If you were the university president for a day, what would you do?
I would definitely come to 1960 Kenny Road to visit the OSURF building since no president has been here for at least five years. I would spend the day talking to all my wonderful colleagues and pat them on their backs for their quiet dedication to support the OSU research community. I am very proud to be a member of this wonderful organization.

To nominate a staff member for an upcoming issue, e-mail oncampus@osu.edu.

President Gordon Gee thanks retirees Pearlie Glover, left, for 38 years of service (primary care, College of Dentistry) and Lewis Claman, right, for 35 years of service (Division of Periodontology, College of Dentistry) at the faculty and staff retirement dinner Oct. 8 at the Fawcett Center.

Columbus Landmarks Foundation presented its 2009 James B. Recchie Design Award to Ohio State’s Thompson Library renovation and expansion, during a ceremony held Oct. 9. The annual award recognizes quality urban design in central Ohio.

The library project, designed by Acock Associates Architects, Gund Partnership and MSI Design, was selected over four other finalists. Jurists selected the project for the impact it will have on thousands of people every year and applauded the skillful blending of the old and new, preserving the historic character while creating a dynamic 21st century library.

The library’s attention to detail also drew high praise. The “exquisite detailing” was singled out during the award presentation, including the library’s Ohio white oak shelving and paneling, the practical but beautiful metal mesh in the elevators and the dramatic cantilevered staircase on the west side. Jurists also noted the importance of reinforcing the axis of the Oval through the building to the west side of Neil Avenue putting the library physically and symbolically at the very center of the university; and they praised the way it opened up the space and made a complicated project look simple.

Reviews: TWP serves ‘vital, unique’ purpose

October 21, 2009

By Jeff McCallister

Clearly Deb Ballam is pleased about — and a little bit proud of — the institutional advances women have earned at Ohio State during her time as director of The Women’s Place.

But at the same time, she knows there’s still much to be done, and as she leaves her position there to return to full-time faculty in the Fisher College of Business, she knows TWP is in a strong position to affect even more positive change. Continue reading ‘Reviews: TWP serves ‘vital, unique’ purpose’

Silver nanoparticles give polymer solar cells a boost

October 21, 2009

By Pam Frost Gorder

Small bits of metal may play a new role in solar power.

Researchers at Ohio State are experimenting with polymer semiconductors that absorb the sun’s energy and generate electricity. The goal: Lighter, cheaper and more-flexible solar cells. Continue reading ‘Silver nanoparticles give polymer solar cells a boost’

Student evaluations of instruction all move online

October 21, 2009

By Jeff McCallister

In about a month, students here can begin filling out forms to evaluate their fall-quarter instructors. For the first time, all of those forms now will be completed online.

Dick Gunther, a political science professor who has been working on the online Student Evaluation of Instruction issue for several years, made a presentation to University Senate about the system at the Oct. 15 meeting to quell any lingering concerns among faculty.

The SEI results are used for several purposes. The qualititive results — in which students rate several areas on a 1-5 scale — are factored into tenure evaluations. Those cumulative results also are available to students for use in deciding which instructor to take for a given course. Individual faculty use the qualitative results — the answers to the open-ended questions — as a means of self-evaluation to improve their teaching.

Gunther said the online version has several advantages over the paper forms formerly available (data quality, data integrity and security, lower cost, quicker availability and improved sortability of results) and have negligible difference in overall ratings students offer.

“There are a few down sides, such as a short-term decline in the response rate when other universities have moved to all-online forms, and there is a real risk of some skewed data for low-enrollment courses, but the benefits greatly outweigh the risks, especially because they are only in the short term and can be managed.”

Gunther said students’ familiarity with Carmen and the Student Information Service, which will be used to link to the SEI, make it desireable to make the switch now as opposed to a few years ago.

“There are all kinds of instruments already out there that students use to compare their professors, but none of them have the statistically reliable amount of data available with the SEI,” he said.

He pointed specifically to ratemyprofessors.com, which student members of the senate said many students use to learn about professors in advance of taking a course.

“I looked at my own ratings there, and saw that even though I have taught thousands of students, only 24 have rated my work,” he said. “And I must say that I was a little disappointed that my name did not have a little red-hot chili pepper beside it. It’s just a bunch of frivolous nonsense.”

More information is available at sei.osu.edu.

A new look at an old problem

October 21, 2009

The Department of Theatre’s fall drama — staged as part of a new Big Ten collaboration — tackles the thorny issue of race relations

By Julia Harris

Kayla Jackmon may not have been alive in the 1960s, but she knows a heck of a lot about that decade just the same — particularly about the year 1967, as experienced by one carefully integrated Detroit neighborhood.

As one of the 10 actors in the play Palmer Park, the first production of the year for the Department of Theatre, Jackmon has done enough in-depth research on this volatile period of American history to discuss it like an expert. Continue reading ‘A new look at an old problem’

New health plan to help low-income OSU employees

October 21, 2009

By Adam King

Some of the university’s lowest-earning employees will be getting a break on their health care costs with the introduction of Prime Care Connect to Ohio State’s medical plan offerings for 2010.

Targeted to help between 1 percent and 3 percent of OSU employees with the lowest household earnings, the new plan will help reduce out-of-pocket costs, with an estimated savings of more than $350 annually per enrolled member. Only full-time employees with a continuous year of service who are at or below 175 percent of the 2009 federal poverty level guidelines qualify. Continue reading ‘New health plan to help low-income OSU employees’

Records fall at OSU as enrollment numbers climb

October 21, 2009

The Ohio State University has set new records this fall — in the size, quality and diversity of its student body.

There are new records in the number of students attending the Columbus campus and several regional campuses. New autumn quarter enrollment figures show a 2.7 percent increase in Ohio State enrollment, with a record 63,217 students on all campuses and a record 55,014 on the Columbus campus — a 2.4 percent increase.

Regional campus enrollment also set a new record with more than 8,200 students — up 4.5 percent. New enrollment records were set at Ohio State’s campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark. Across all campuses, a record 49,915 undergraduates including 9,510 new first-year students are attending Ohio State.

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee says while many colleges have reduced the size of their freshman class, Ohio State has done the opposite, providing more students than ever access to higher education.

“Thanks to remarkably strong bi-partisan support for higher education at the state level, the university has been able to open its doors wider to greater numbers of well-prepared students, including 500 more Ohioans in our freshman class,” Gee said. “Assuring that talented young people can pursue their educational aspirations and improve their communities is very fully a part of our founding mission.”

On the Columbus campus, there are 6,607 first-year students — a 9.4 percent increase over last autumn. The class set records in average ACT (27.5) and SAT (1230) scores. It also set new records in out-of-state enrollment (up 3.7 percent to 906) and international students (up 15.8 percent to 271). Students of color accounted for 15 percent of the freshman class.

Other enrollment highlights:

• Ohio State students come from all 88 counties in Ohio, all 50 states and 118 countries. Approximately 81 percent (51,475) of students are from Ohio. Nearly 12 percent (7,504) are from other states or territories or are US students from foreign countries.

• Across all campuses, new records were set in the number of out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students. Out-of-state undergraduates increased 8.7 percent to 5,497 and out-of-state graduate and professional students increased by 3.3 percent to 4,984.

• Enrollment of international students increased 7 percent to 4,238, and international students comprise about 7 percent of the student body.

• Diversity across Ohio State increased, with students of color accounting for 14 percent of the total university enrollment. For the third consecutive year, there was a record high enrollment of Hispanic students (1,584).

There also were record high enrollments of Asian or Pacific Islander students (3,108). Enrollment of African American students increased 2.1 percent with 3,934 students, and enrollment of American Indian/Alaskan Native students remained nearly steady at 225.

Expo kicks off Research Awareness Month

October 21, 2009

Over its 15-year history, the Research Expo has evolved from a small reception for new faculty held in a single conference room to what has now become an all-day event.

This year’s Expo on Nov. 3 in the Thompson Library will include exhibits and booths showcasing research support services, as well as research centers and institutes, from across the university.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the Research Expo is the opportunity for networking. New as well as seasoned investigators may find support for their ideas and potential collaborators for projects. Robert McKenney, research assistant professor and director of Biomedical Informatics, said the Expo is an excellent tool.

“It allows both researchers and providers of research support services to interact and enhance perhaps already existing relationships,” he said. “This interaction facilitates an even stronger foundation as we at Ohio State compete for funding and work toward greater innovations. Indeed this allows us to be at the forefront of research.”

Open to the entire campus research community (faculty, staff, postdocs and students), this year’s event is expected to draw the largest and most diverse crowd to date.

To learn more about the Research Expo and other events celebrating Ohio State research, visit the Research Awareness Month Web site (research.osu.edu/ram/).

What’s happening

Research Expo Schedule
8:30 a.m.: Exhibits open.

9:30-10:30 a.m.: New Faculty meet and greet.

10-11 a.m.: Panel Discussion: New Discoveries at the Intersection of Disciplines: How to Forge Strategic Multidisciplinary Collaborations.

10-11 a.m.: Research Funding Opportunities.

11:15-11:30 a.m.: Remarks from President Gordon Gee.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: If a Tree Falls in the Forest…The Conundrum of Science Communications, Earle Holland, assistant vice president for research communications.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Electronic Research Tools Demonstration.

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Inventions, IP, and Industry: The Ins and Outs of Industry Collaboration and Commercialization, Jean Schelhorn, associate vice president, Technology Licensing and Commercialization, and Sharell Mikesell, associate vice president, Industry Liaison Office.

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Research Funding Opportunities.

1:30-2:30 p.m.: Electronic Research Tools Demonstration.

2-3 p.m.: Panel Discussion Tips from the Pros: Strategies for Successful Grantsmanship.

Lines of sight

October 21, 2009

Interactive virtual exhibit sheds light on ancient wisdom

By Julia Harris

In New Mexico’s desolate Chaco Canyon, a sprawl of crumbling ruins raises more questions than answers about the culture that once thrived there. Questions like, why build such elaborate structures in a harsh and inhospitable climate? How were those towering masonry buildings, honeycombed with dark and tiny rooms, constructed?

In other words, what did they know and how did they know it? Continue reading ‘Lines of sight’

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