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Newbriefs, 2/2/12

February 1, 2012

Wendt named top scholar in international relations

In a survey of faculty at more than 1,400 colleges and universities worldwide, Alexander Wendt was named as having the most influence in the field of international relations over the past 20 years. Wendt is Ralph D. Mershon Professor of International Security at the Mershon Center. The survey was part of the Teaching, Research and International Policy Project conducted at the College of William and Mary.

The survey also named John Mueller, Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies, as among scholars doing the most interesting research over the past five years.

Welker elected president of American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation

Mary Jo Welker, a family physician at the Medical Center, has been elected president of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Board of Trustees.

Previously, Welker served as treasurer and vice president of the AAFP Foundation Board of Trustees. The AAFP Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

As president of the AAFP Foundation, Welker will lead the organization in its efforts to advance the values of family medicine by promoting humanitarian, educational and scientific initiatives that improve the health of all people.

At OSU, Welker is executive director of the Primary Care Network and associate dean for primary care. She also serves as the chair for the Department of Family Medicine.

Applications now open for full-time summer research funding

The Undergraduate Research Office, in partnership with Honors and Scholars, Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Psychology and International Affairs, is announcing the 2012 Summer Research Funding Awards. These awards, $2,800 each, support full-time research over eight weeks in summer semester 2012. Students from all majors are eligible. Applications are due March 16 and are available at undergraduateresearch.osu.edu/awards/summerfellowships/index.htm.

Grotewold receives $4.2M plant research grant

Erich Grotewold, professor of Molecular Genetics and Horticulture and Crop Science and director of the Center for Applied Sciences, is the principal investigator on a $4,234,908 National Science Foundation project to address fundamentally important questions in plant research.

The four-year grant funds the study “Systems Approaches to Identify Gene Regulatory Networks in the Grasses” that features co-principal investigators Department of Molecular Genetics Associate Professor Andrea Doseff and University of Toledo Associate Professor John Gray.

Physicians honored for working with medical students

Several physicians associated with the OSU College of Medicine have received awards from Ohio State for sharing their time and expertise with medical students.

Distinguished Educator awards are given to faculty and preceptors who have shown extraordinary commitment to teaching and the promotion of outstanding patient care. OSU’s Mark DeBard in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Kenneth Jones in the Department of Anatomy were among six physicians to receive the Distinguished Educator award.

Lifetime Achievement awards are given to physicians who have dedicated their professional lives and services to educating medical students. OSU’s Paul Weber in the Department of Ophthalmology was one of four physicians to receive that distinction.

OSU’s foliage nabs national certification

Ohio State’s Columbus campus has been certified as a “Tree Campus USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Campus officials got the word Jan. 12, just about three months after coordinating “ArboBlitz 2011,” a four-day event featuring tree lectures, tree tours, tree-care demonstrations and tree inventory and mapping activities.

Though ArboBlitz was designed as a concentrated effort to help the campus reach its goal of becoming a Tree Campus USA, the undertaking has been years in the making.

Since then, a broad spectrum of campus entities has worked more closely together to protect campus trees and the landscape, including Chadwick Arboretum; Facilities Operations and Development; Ohio State University Extension; the Office of Student Affairs; the Humanities Institute; the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology; and the landscape architecture program of the Knowlton School of Architecture.

The Tree Campus USA designation is possible when a campus meets the Arbor Day Foundation’s five criteria of establishing:

• A campus tree advisory committee.

• A campus tree care plan.

• A campus tree program with dedicated annual expenditures.

• An annual Arbor Day observance.

• A service-learning project.

As a result of Arboblitz, a newly formed student/faculty club is continuing work on the tree inventory program, in which all campus trees will be identified, measured and mapped. The hope is the information can someday be integrated into the “Buckeye Stroll,” available on Ohio State’s mobile app.

Newsbriefs, 1/19/12

January 18, 2012

Georges Tamer awarded Marie Curie Fellowship

Georges Tamer, professor and M.S. Sofia Chair in Arabic Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, has been awarded a 24-month Marie Curie Fellowship in the M4HUMAN (Mobility for experienced researchers in historical humanities and Islamic studies) programme of the German Gerda Henkel Foundation for his project “The Concept of Time in the Koran.” The fellowship is aimed at supporting outstanding scholars. Tamer’s research deals with various subjects of Arabic and Islamic literature and culture.

Read more at go.osu.edu/HN6.

Bell National Resource Center’s Recognition Ceremony nominations being accepted

The Bell National Resource Center is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Service Award by a student, faculty, staff and community member who has exhibited great service to the OSU African American male community. Nominations should be completed and sent in by Feb. 18. The nomination form can be found at go.osu.edu/recognition and can be returned via e-mail at suddeth.1@osu.edu, mail, fax or in person. For more information contact Todd Suddeth at suddeth.1@osu.edu.

Geography scholar honored for lifetime achievement

Kevin Cox, Distinguished University Professor of Geography, is the recipient of the Association of American Geographers Lifetime Achievement Honors Award for 2012. The award recognizes Cox for superlative achievements that have led, defined and transformed multiple fields within the discipline of Geography and for a career marked by a generosity of spirit in the training of generations of intellectual leadership. The awards ceremony will take place at the AAG Annual Meeting in New York City on Feb. 28.

Office of Research to survey researchers’ technology needs

Whether gathering or analyzing research data, developing software or collaborating with colleagues through shared data collections, it is important to re-examine the ways that OSU supports the information technology needs of its researchers. The Research Computing Committee is taking a strategic look at research computing across campus. This week, more than 6,500 researchers will be invited to participate in a short survey that will help shape Ohio State’s future research computing services, staffing and policies. For more information, contact John Heimaster at jwh@physics.osu.edu or 292-1435.

Call for entries: Ohio Shorts film showcase

The Wexner Center is now accepting entries through March 23 for the 2012 Ohio Shorts film and video showcase. Now in its 17th year, Ohio Shorts — to be held April 28 — features both an adult and a youth division. The juried event celebrates the best of independent filmmaking in the Buckeye state, featuring short films (20 minutes or less for adults, 10 or less for youth). More information can be found at wexarts.org/ohioshorts.

Save money on your commute with vanpooling

In partnership with OSU’s Transportation and Parking Services, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s RideSolutions program continues to provide faculty and staff with vanpooling services. Vanpool groups are forming from cities including Delaware, Grove City, South Vienna, Lancaster, Marysville/Dublin, Morrow County and others. For details on vanpooling opportunities, visit osuvanpool.morpc.org. For more information, contact Patty Olmsted at 233-4133 or polmsted@morpc.org.

New website showcases Maumee Bay Project

A new website showcases the work of researchers from Ohio State and Case Western Reserve University on a recently funded four-year, $1.5 million National Science Foundation project to determine how people’s actions in the Maumee River watershed can affect water quality in Lake Erie in the face of climate change. Over the course of the project, the website, managed by Ohio Sea Grant, will provide information for policy makers, environmental managers and citizens in the region. For more information, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu/news/?article=381.

OSU Medical Center partners with new major league lacrosse team

The OSU Medical Center and Ohio’s new major league lacrosse team, the Ohio Machine, have formed a new partnership. OSU Sports Medicine will serve as the team physicians for the Ohio Machine and will provide athletic training and sports performance coaching services to the players. The inaugural home game will be played at Shelby Stadium on Ohio Wesleyan University’s campus in Delaware on April 19 — designated OSU Sports Medicine night with discounts to OSU faculty, staff and students. For more information, visit theohiomachine.com, or follow the team on Facebook and Twitter (@MachineMLL).

Register for Chemical Redistribution Program

Environmental Health and Safety’s Chemical Redistribution Program provides usable chemicals to faculty and staff to be used on campus for university related purposes at no cost. Since its inception, the program has redistributed more than $1 million in usable chemicals. Interested persons must register and request a login on the Environmental Affairs portion of the EHS website (ehs.ohio-state.edu) to view the available chemicals. As requests are filled, they will be delivered within a week. For more information, call 292-1284.

Newsbriefs, 1/5/12

January 4, 2012

Hope supports new James building

A 31-foot steel beam carrying messages of hope for a cancer-free world from nearly 1,000 James cancer survivors was installed Dec. 22 at the new James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute and critical care tower currently under construction at the OSU Medical Center.

The 1,240-pound beam was signed by grateful patients and survivors during the 23rd annual Cancer Survivors Day celebration Sept. 18 and now is located on the front side of the new building on level five, 64 feet above ground and about 700 feet below what will be the top of the structure. It will be one of more than 10,000 pieces of steel in the building. So far, about 35 percent of the steel pieces have been installed.

The hospital building is slated to open in 2014.

Brain imaging center opens its doors

The College of Arts and Sciences is hosting an opening ceremony at 4 p.m. Jan. 20 for the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging. The CCBBI is a new state-of-the art interdisciplinary research facility dedicated to pursuing structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. It aims to contribute to the development of future brain imaging modalities and to create and disseminate knowledge about brain, mind and imaging research.

The study of brain functioning and behavior (cognitive neuroscience) is one of the fastest-growing fields in psychology and the social and biological sciences more generally. A major contributor to this growth is the development of innovative fMRI technology. With a new Siemens 3T Trio functional magnetic resonance imaging system and ancillary equipment to support research spanning the cognitive and behavioral sciences, the CCBBI will be dedicated to the study of brain mechanisms underlying individuals’ cognitive capacity and subjective well-being, as well as dysfunctions of these brain mechanisms in normal aging and mental disorders. For more information about the opening ceremony, e-mail bourke.8@osu.edu.

International Corporate Partnership Program to strengthen foreign investment in Ohio

To increase Ohio State’s collaborations on a more global level, the university has developed an International Corporate Partnership Program. Working through the Global Gateways, Ohio State seeks to partner with both local businesses and international corporations to further contribute to the foreign direct investment of the region and enhance the global competitiveness of those businesses based in Ohio that are operating around the world. Services provided include career resources, workforce training and education, consultation and research.

For more information, contact Christopher Carey at carey.3@osu.edu or visit oia.osu.edu/gateways.html.

Immigration in Comics discussion begins Jan. 9

The Ohio State University Libraries and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum will present a four-part reading and discussion series, “Immigration in Comics,” beginning this month in conjunction with the campus-wide conversation on immigration. Jared Gardner of the Department of English will facilitate the discussions, which will take place at the Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Ave. The first discussion, titled “Four Immigrants Manga: A Japanese Experience in San Francisco, 1904-1924 by Henry (Yoshitaka) Kiyama,” is Jan. 9. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/G9s.

American students sought  to be conversation partners

The Office of International Affairs is seeking American students to participate in the English Conversation Partners Program for spring quarter. ECP pairs American and international students for language practice and cultural exchange. There is a great need for native English speakers to match the high demand from international students. Apply online by Jan. 6, and read more at go.osu.edu/G9v.

Course Design Institute can revitalize a class, faculty

Faculty interested in designing or re-designing a course or looking to revitalize their teaching can join the University Center for the Advancement of Teaching’s Winter Quarter 2012 Course Design Institute. Several spaces are still open. The Institute will provide the tools, the time away from the office and the collegial support to dig in and get that course design completed. Participants create the basic structure of their course and learn an effective, time-efficient and workable process of course design.

The course meets noon-3 p.m. Wednesdays on Jan. 11, 18 and 25 and Feb. 1 and 8 in 300 Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave. Attendees must commit to attending all five sessions. To apply, visit ucat.osu.edu/participate/ucat_events/ucat_events#fcd2.

Hiphop conference to examine black popular culture

The 2012 Hiphop Literacies Conference, “Globalization of Black Popular Culture,” is seeking proposals that consider aspects of black diaspora Hiphop and new ways of envisioning the roles of such in local and transnational culture. The deadline for abstracts, roundtables and other formats is Jan. 16 and may be sent to Hiphopliteracies@gmail.com.

The conference is designed to explore Hiphop as a site of knowledge formation, identity construction and learning. Various global Hiphop cultures have emerged as a response to numerous socioeconomic, political and cultural factors influencing new youth identity formations so extensively that its methodology is now an important area of cross- and interdisciplinary study. The diverse elements of Hiphop that have emerged from black and brown youth starting in the 1970s have changed the ways in which we think about how identities are defined in social contexts. The conference will be held at Ohio State May 9-11 and also will feature a lecture and headline performance by a nationally recognized Hiphop artist.

For more information, visit ehe.osu.edu/edtl/hip-hop-literacies.php.

Newsbriefs, 12/8/11

December 7, 2011

College of Medicine dean to conduct town meeting

Charles Lockwood will present impressions of his first 90 days as dean of the OSU College of Medicine during a town meeting at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 in 16 Meiling Hall. The presentation will include Lockwood’s view of the challenges and opportunities facing the college as it strives to move from excellence to eminence as one of the nation’s top medical schools. Refreshments served after the presentation. The meeting is open to all. Register at https://www.research.net/s/LockwoodTownMeeting.

New ticketing platform at Wex coincides with member presale

The Wexner Center for the Arts has launched a new online ticketing platform, coinciding with the kickoff of its winter/spring member presale period for performing arts, films and exhibitions. Through this new user-friendly system, patrons can purchase tickets online and know that the convenience fees — which will now be lower — will go to the Wex and not to a third party. They also can print out their tickets at home; purchase or renew memberships online; register for workshops; make one-time donations; RSVP to select events; and more.

Tickets to most winter/spring events are on sale to members now, and to the public beginning Jan. 1. For more information, visit tickets.wexarts.org.

Faculty’s semester conversion questions are answered

Do you have questions about how faculty pay schedules, leave policies or service credit will operate under semesters? These issues and more are addressed in a series of frequently asked questions about faculty appointments and the semester switch at oaa.osu.edu. For more information, contact Semester_Appointments@busfin.ohio-state.edu.

Shapiro to lead breast cancer research program

Charles Shapiro has been named to lead the breast cancer research program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Shapiro will lead an interdisciplinary team of clinical and research scientists whose sole focus is the study of breast cancer.

Shapiro’s efforts will focus on partnering with laboratory and population scientists in three key areas of research, including efforts to use microRNAs to better understand the biology and classification of breast cancer, developing new drugs for breast cancer treatment and how best to treat the breast cancer strmal tissue, which is the tissue that can exert anti-tumor effects on breast cancer.

2011 International Photography Exhibition on display in Ohio Union

The 2011 International Photography Exhibition currently on display in the East Art Lounge of the Ohio Union features 41 original photographs taken overseas by Ohio State students, staff, faculty and visiting scholars. Graduate student Erdem Erkilic earned the Best in Show award. Other first-place winners are: MaKenzie Frank, People category; Pranav Mistry, Places category; Olivea Oldham, Signs; and Alvaro Pasquel, Arts & Music.

For more information, visit oia.osu.edu/photo-contest or go to Facebook at go.osu.edu/Gn8.

Apply by Feb. 1 for Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships

The East Asian Studies Center, Center for Slavic and East European Studies, Center for Latin American Studies and Middle East Studies Center are seeking applications for fellowships for Summer 2012 and Academic Year 2012-13 under the US Department of Education’s Title VI Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship program.

Fellowships are available for Ohio State graduate and professional school students pursuing a course of study that requires advanced foreign language and area studies training and select undergraduate students (eligibility varies by center).

Feinberg gives distinguished Princeton lectures

Martin Feinberg, the Richard M. Morrow Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and professor of mathematics, was selected to give the prestigious Richard H. Wilhelm Lectureship in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University. On Oct. 3 and 5, Feinberg gave two lectures, “Thinking about Chemical Reaction Networks,” and “Thinking About Chemical Reactors,” at Princeton.

Feinberg is a former recipient of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ R.H. Wilhelm Award in Chemical Reaction Engineering, presented annually to one person in recognition of significant and new contributions in the field. Feinberg was involved in research that laid the foundations for what has become known as “chemical reaction network theory,” and he and his students have expanded the theory, particularly for the benefit of cell biologists.

Fisher professor named DCI Fellow

Fisher College of Business’ Peter Ward, Richard M. Ross Chair in Management and director of the Center for Operational Excellence, was named a Fellow of the Decision Sciences Institute at its annual meeting in Boston on Nov. 20.

The distinguished title of “Fellow” is given to leading scholars and professionals of the institute for outstanding contributions in the field of decisions sciences. Only two Fellows are named each year.

Newsbriefs, 11/17/11

November 16, 2011

EHE mobilizes talent for hard-to-staff schools with $10 million grant

Children at high-need, hard-to-staff school districts in 12 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico will benefit from a new $10.3 million federal grant to the College of Education and Human Ecology. The five-year project will prepare 1,111 recent college graduates, mid-career professionals and paraprofessionals who will teach for at least three years in high-need schools. The US Department of Education project builds on Project KNOTtT, a successful five-state effort led by Belinda Gimbert, associate professor of educational administration and director of the new grant.

The new project, called KNOTtT 3.0: Mobilizing National Educator Talent (m-NET), will focus on two priorities: Promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and work with six rural, high-need, hard-to-staff school districts in North Carolina that predominantly serve Native American communities with children ages 5-17.

OSU Mobile app goes live for Android users

Ohio State has launched an Android version of its OSU Mobile app, following up the successful introduction of the Apple iOS version this summer, which had more than 22,000 downloads. The student-staff collaboration from various OSU offices worked to create and refine features that include personalized grade, schedule and BuckID information; suggestions for nearby amenities such as restaurants; a real-time bus locator and the latest news and events.

“An Android version of OSU Mobile was one of the most-requested features we received from our users, so were obviously pleased to have it delivered before autumn quarter ends,” said Jim Burgoon, University Marketing Communications senior web designer.

“As with the iOS version, this is a ‘One University’ team effort and would not be possible without this type of institution-wide collaboration.”

Researchers awarded chemical defense
grant to fight nerve agents

A $7.5 million grant will help researchers harness the body’s own defenses to counteract nerve agents that might be used in terrorist attacks.

The research also could one day lead to new types of antidotes for exposure to pesticides and other poisons.

The grant, from the National Institutes of Health, extends a previous grant and establishes a new Center of Excellence at Ohio State University, where chemists will collaborate with the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Nerve agents are chemicals that attack the nervous system, causing paralysis and seizures and ultimately killing the victim through asphyxiation.

Ohio State ranked highly for study abroad, international students

Ohio State is ranked among the top 10 nationally for its international student enrollment and in the top 20 for the number of students studying abroad, according to a national report.

Ohio State jumped eight spots to seventh among the nation’s colleges and universities for hosting 6,082 international students in 2010, a 26.8 percent increase over the previous year. Ohio State also improved to 18th nationally with 1,945 students studying abroad in 2009-10 and remained third in the nation with 1,702 students studying abroad on short-term programs.

These findings were issued as part of the Open Doors 2011 report, an annual survey published by the Institute of International Education.

Students interested in widening their international horizons now have a quick and easy way to narrow their search for a study abroad program. The Office of International Affairs launched a new, online search engine at oia.osu.edu/programs/search-programs that enables students to search through more than 100 programs to find a study abroad program that best meets their academic goals.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to inform students about this new tool.

Faculty should plan for Autumn Commencement processional

All faculty members planning to march in the academic processional at Autumn Commencement on Dec. 11 in the Jerome Schottenstein Center should notify their college dean’s office by Dec. 2. On commencement day, faculty registered to participate should take the elevator across from Section 101 (in the southeast corner near the Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road intersection) down to arena level where faculty will robe and assemble for the processional. Please plan to arrive no later than 1:30 p.m. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. For more information, contact the Office of Commencement and Special Events at 292-9051.

Benefits Open Enrollment now underway through Dec. 2

Benefits Open Enrollment 2012 will take place through Dec. 2, and information has been mailed to each employee’s home address. Employees are encouraged to review this material and attend an Open Enrollment forum to learn about changes to the benefits plans. Employees will need their Ohio State ID (name.#) and password to make benefit elections online. Visit my.osu.edu for any password help and hr.osu.edu/oe to learn more about 2012 changes and to register to attend an Open Enrollment forum.

Newsbriefs, 11/03/11

November 2, 2011

Unchanged passwords to be phased out throughout November

More than 70,000 individuals at Ohio State have changed their passwords at my.osu.edu as part of the required process of strengthening security for OSU’s information technology systems. But thousands more have yet to do so, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer will begin forced password expiration starting Nov. 7. When an individual’s password expires, he or she will lose all access to Ohio State’s systems, including e-mail, Carmen, OSU Wireless, etc.

The phased password expiration will occur in this order:

• Faculty employees.

• Staff and student-only employees.

• Sponsored guests.

• Students.

• Applicants, graduated students and all others.

All groups can visit my.osu.edu to change their passwords.

Professor emeritus receives top award for work in environmental education

Rosanne Fortner, former OSU Sea Grant education director and current COSEE Great Lakes director, received the highest honor from the North American Association for Environmental Education at its annual conference on Oct. 15. Fortner was presented the 2011 Walter E. Jeske Award, which recognizes an individual’s outstanding service to NAAEE and leadership within the environment education profession.

Ohio State, Iceland’s university and Soil Service sign cooperation agreements

As part of its drive to forge lasting global partnerships, Ohio State has signed two memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the University of Iceland and that European island-nation’s Soil Conservation Service with the goal of enhancing educational experiences and advancing critical research dealing with climate change, environmental sustainability and food security. The MOUs were signed during a July visit to Iceland by Ohio State officials, including President Gordon Gee.

Optometry dean named Ohio’s top optometrist for 2011

College of Optometry Dean Melvin Shipp is the Ohio Optometric Association’s 2011 recipient of the Warren G. and Ruth P. Morris Optometrist of the Year award. Shipp, dean since 2004, also is president-elect of the American Public Health Association. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Ohio Optometric Association in Cleveland on Oct. 23.

Former OSU MBA graduate named president, CEO of Ford Canada

Ford of Canada says it has appointed longtime executive and Ohio State MBA graduate Dianne Craig as its new president and CEO.

Craig, the second woman to head Ford’s Canadian operations, replaced David Mondragon on Nov. 1. Mondragon led the company to become the best-selling automaker in Canada for the first time last year.

Bobbie Gaunt was president of Ford Canada from 1997 before she retired at the end of 2000 and was widely credited with transforming the automaker into a more consumer-focused company.

Since 2009, Craig has been the general manager for the southeast market in the US, where she was responsible for all marketing, sales and service operations for 520 Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. She joined Ford in 1986.

Researchers garner $1.3 million award to study stroke brain cell pathology

Neuroscience researchers from the College of Medicine are using a $1.3 million award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to better understand the role a specific type of brain cell plays in the pathology of strokes, which are the third leading cause of death globally and affect 750,000 American lives per year.

Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked. Min Zhou, assistant professor of neuroscience, and colleagues are using the new funding to build upon previous research from his lab, which focused on determining what compounds inhibit or increase potassium channel function, which in turn may regulate the tone of cerebral blood vessels during stroke.

A time to kill — mosquitoes, that is

Peter Piermarini, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology, has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health to discover chemicals that could pave the way to an entirely new way of killing mosquitoes that spread malaria, a disease that claims the lives of 1 million children around the world each year.

Piermarini leads one of four projects recently awarded nearly $6 million by FNIH as part of its “New Insecticides for Malaria Control” program. His collaborators include Klaus Beyenbach, professor of physiology at Cornell University, and Jerod Denton, assistant professor of pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Read more at go.osu.edu/GWn.

Fire hydrant winterization commences

The City of Columbus mandates all privately-owned fire hydrants are to be pumped free of water from Oct. 15 through April 15 every year. Accordingly, Facilities Operations and Development is in the process of winterizing all university fire hydrants.

A winterized fire hydrant has all the water in the barrel section evacuated to eliminate the possibility of the hydrant freezing, leaving it inoperable. Therefore, if anyone uses a fire hydrant for any reason, Utility Distribution must be notified. Contact Philllip Reece at 688-3357 or Jeff Mullins at 292-6383 if you need to use a hydrant or you see a hydrant being used.

Newsbriefs, 10/20/11

October 19, 2011

Ohio State recognized for revolutionizing campus bicycling culture

The League of American Bicyclists has named Ohio State as a Bicycle Friendly University, one of just 26 nationwide and the only one in Ohio. The Bicycle Friendly University designation recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bicycle-friendly campus for students and visitors.

The organization noted that Ohio State invested more than $2 million over the last three years to connect the campus to the city’s bicycle infrastructure system, construct new bike facilities and parking and for launching Yay Bikes, a new bicycle education and safety program.

The organization recognized Columbus as a Bicycle Friendly Community in 2009.

Ohio State collaboration launches
Center for Applied Plant Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are partnering to create the Center for Applied Plant Sciences. The development of new bioproducts and enhanced crop performance are among its priorities.

The new center will facilitate the translation, or connection, between basic research and applications in areas such as photosynthesis and carbon fixation, biomass and bioproducts, crop production enhancement and plant-microbe interactions.

CAPS will support the work of interdisciplinary scientific teams with members from across the university. These teams will have access to research facilities, PhD students and graduate fellowships through the university’s new Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Translational Plant Sciences, postdoctoral fellowships and research seed grants.

Kirwan Institute receives HUD grant
for work on equitable development

A collaboration including the Kirwan Institute Opportunity Communities program and two other partner organizations was recently awarded a $900,000 grant to serve as one of the primary technical assistance providers for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development on equitable development for the national sustainable communities program. The Kirwan Institute will train regional planners on social equity issues and also assist with regional planning, opportunity mapping and civic engagement in a number of regions working on regional sustainability plans.

Learning Collaboration Studio
available for winter classes

The Learning Collaboration Studio is actively seeking faculty and instructors to reserve the room for classes and events to fill out the winter schedule. The LCS is a reconfigurable learning space complete with dual-boot laptops, SMART Podium and on-site staff. There is no charge, and the Office of the Chief Information Officer sponsors instructor orientation sessions to provide insight on how to best make use of the space.

Submit requests by Oct. 28 to lcstudio@osu.edu or visit ocio.osu.edu/lcs.1.

College of Law seeking mock trial jurors

The Clinical Programs at the Moritz College of Law is seeking faculty, staff, students and friends to serve as jurors at mock trials to be held on Nov. 10, 15, 17 and 22. Choose any combination of the four trials, which last two to three hours starting at 4 p.m. in the Moot Court Room, 249 Drinko Hall. A light dinner will be provided. For more information, contact Lynda Seelie at seelie.2@osu.edu.

Alumni Grants for Graduate Research
applications being accepted

The Graduate School’s Alumni Grants for Graduate Research and Scholarship Program provides up to $2,000 to support the research and scholarship of doctoral or MFA candidates in a terminal degree program for their dissertations or theses. The deadline for the autumn quarter competition is Oct. 24.

For more information, call 247-7300 or visit gradsch.ohio-state.edu/alumni-grants-for-graduate-research-and-scholarship.html.

Graduate Associate Teaching Award
nomination deadline Dec. 1

Some of the best teaching at Ohio State happens in classrooms and labs led by Graduate Teaching Associates. This award, sponsored by the Graduate School, is Ohio State’s highest recognition of this exceptional teaching. Award winners receive $1,500 and are recognized at the annual Graduate School awards reception. Nomination deadline is Dec. 1.

For more information, contact 247-7300, e-mail mayer.113@osu.edu or visit gradsch.osu.edu/graduate-associate-teaching-award.html.

Employee Assistance Program: A helping
hand anytime, day or night

The Ohio State Employee Assistance Program is here to help employees and their family with challenges that affect their health, family or job. The program provides many complimentary services, including live phone support 24/7/365; five counseling sessions per person, per occurrence; and new services, including legal and financial counseling and identity theft recovery assistance. The EAP is offered to benefits-eligible faculty, staff and their families. For more information, call (800) 678-6265 or visit osuhealthplan.com/OhioStateEAP.

Newsbriefs, 10/6/11

October 5, 2011

Faculty, staff required to change passwords

The university recently adopted standard password practices that include a requirement that users reset the password associated with their Ohio State username (lastname.#) every 90 days, as well as other minimum requirements for password strength.

A new site, my.osu.edu, is available to aid the transition to the new standard and replaces the existing Account Management site. All employees are strongly encouraged to go to my.osu.edu and change their passwords before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Those who do not change their passwords by the deadline will lose access to university systems and sites such as Buckeye Link, Carmen and FSA Online. More information is available at buckeyesecure.osu.edu/Passwords.

Campus invited to Cunz Hall grand opening

The College of Public Health invites the campus community to the grand opening of the newly renovated Cunz Hall from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 14.

Natural light and environmental sustainability are the hallmarks of the building, which is expected to be Ohio State’s first LEED-certified renovation, with the possibility of achieving gold status.

The event will include the presentation of the 2011 Champions of Public Health Awards. This year’s winners are: Matthew Stefanak, health commissioner for Mahoning County; Karen Butler, director of Cleveland’s Department of Public Health; and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks.

The program will begin at 4 p.m. outside the south entrance, followed by a reception and tours of the building. Rain venue will be the second-floor lobby, as classes will be taking place that afternoon on the first floor.

To RSVP for the event, visit cph.osu.edu/2011Gala.

Office of Diveristy and Inclusion celebrates Frank Hale’s life, accomplishments

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will celebrate the life and service of Frank Hale Jr., vice provost and professor emeritus who died July 27.

A university celebration from 5-6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Weigel Hall Auditorium will precede the 6-8 p.m. memorial and concert featuring the African American Voices gospel choir.

From 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Oct. 11, the Frank W. Hale Jr. Memorial Tribute Speaker Series features Sunny Martin, CEO and publisher, who will discuss “100 Years of African American Achievements at OSU.” A book signing tribute for Hale and candlelight dessert luncheon will follow in the MLK Lounge of the Hale Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave.

For more information, call the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 292-0074.

Provost’s strategic planning update available

Executive Vice President and Provost Joseph Alutto has released an update on the university’s strategic planning process. In the update, the provost discusses strategic planning in the context of Ohio State’s institutional culture. The update is posted online at oaa.osu.edu/strategicplanning.html.

Ohio State, Wuhan University awarded federal grant to open Center for American Culture

The Ohio State University and Wuhan University in the People’s Republic of China have been awarded a $100,000 federal grant from the Department of State to fund the WHU-OSU Center for American Culture, located within the School of Foreign Languages on the Wuhan campus in the Hubei Province of China. The grant will support interactive programming to provide information about American culture and the English language to the people of China. William Brustein, vice provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs, along with Gary Locke, US Ambassador to China, met in China to commemorate the occasion. To learn more, visit oia.osu.edu.

STEM teachers sought through new program

The Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship program seeks to recruit and prepare accomplished professionals and students as teachers in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Applications are now available at wwteachingfellowship.org for the program, which was created to prepare more STEM teachers and place them in some of Ohio’s most-challenged public schools. Fellowships are open to high-achievers who have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or science, including those who already work in a STEM field and want to try their hand at teaching. Fellows receive a $30,000 stipend and complete an intensive, one-year school-based master’s degree in education. They then agree to work in a high-need Ohio school district for three years.

Fellows graduating from Ohio State’s program will take their expertise to high-need school districts in the hopes of inspiring urban and low-income students to take a science- or math-based career path. For more information on Ohio State’s program, visit go.osu.edu/wilson. Those chosen for Ohio State’s first class of 15 Fellows will begin their master’s programs in summer 2012.

Bucks for Charity Drive runs through Dec. 9

Columbus campus faculty, staff, retirees and students have the opportunity to support central Ohio environmental, health and human service agencies through the Bucks for Charity Drive. College, department and business unit coordinators will be contacting colleagues to request participation. Support preferred charities through one-time contributions (cash or check) or through payroll deduction pledges. Contributions are tax-deductible.

For more information, contact 292-4341 or visit hr.osu.edu/special/bucksforcharity.aspx.

Newsbriefs, 9/22/11

September 21, 2011

Faculty, staff, students must re-register for Buckeye Alert system

On Sept. 30, the Buckeye Alert emergency text messaging system will be upgraded. Everyone previously registered for text messaging will be removed from the system.

Public Safety plans to use the Human Resources database to pull cell phone numbers for Buckeye Alert text messages. Student numbers will be pulled from the Student Information System. To re-enroll, faculty and staff must update their cell phone numbers in the HR database, which they can do online. Information will be sent out once the online function is active. Faculty and staff not previously enrolled can do so via the same process.

OSU Medical Center faculty and staff already have the ability to register their cell phone numbers and should do so by accessing the employee self-service portal via OneSource.

The re-enrollment is part of Public Safety’s push to update the database, which was originally created in 2006 and has since become outdated. For the latest information, visit buckeyealert.osu.edu.

New career resource: The Versatile PhD

Interested in how graduate degrees translate into careers outside the academy? The Graduate School has purchased a subscription to The Versatile PhD, a web-based resource and online community for graduate students interested in exploring non-academic career options. The subscription gives Ohio State graduate students, faculty and staff full access after going through the Ohio State username.# authentication process. For more information, contact Kathleen Wallace at 247-7283 or visit go.osu.edu/VersatilePhD.

WOSU Public Media divests its AM station

WOSU Public Media has signed an agreement to sell its 820 AM radio station. The $2 million dollar sale was approved by the Ohio State Board of Trustees. The buyer is St. Gabriel Radio Inc., which provides Catholic radio in central Ohio. Transfer of ownership is pending FCC approval, which should occur by the end of the year.

The sale of the AM station by WOSU is part of the station’s plan to build listenership that began in December 2010 with the purchase of 101.1 FM and the launch of Classical 101, which allowed WOSU’s 89.7 FM to shift to an all-day NPR and local news station.

COTA line realignment alters OSU routes

COTA lines No. 7 Neil, No. 18 Kenny, No. 80 OSU/Lennox and No. 84 Arlington/OSU returned to their original alignment with the reopening of Woodruff Avenue. Those lines will no longer serve Curl Drive, W. 18th Avenue or sections of W. Lane Avenue and Tuttle Park Place. Visit cota.com to find active stops.

Faculty, staff encouraged to get free flu shots

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends universal flu vaccinations for everyone age six months and older to expand protection against the flu, and Your Plan for Health has provided for OSU faculty and staff to get their shots for free.

Along with opportunities at numerous campus locations in the coming weeks and months (see https://hr.osu.edu/osuhealthplan/flu/register.aspx for a listing), employees and their families can get the shots with no co-pay at dozens of retail pharmacies (such as CVS, Giant Eagle, K-Mart, Kroger or Meijer) in the OSU Health Plan network.

Flu shots are nondiscretionary for all Medical Center faculty and staff.

Mason Hall opens after renovation

After more than two years of planning and six months of construction work, Mason Hall, 250 W. Woodruff Ave., reopened Sept. 16.

The building, originally dedicated in 1999 and named in recognition of alumnus Maj. Gen. Raymond E. Mason Jr., places a focus on flexible and interactive spaces designed to reflect the workplace of today.

Highlights of the renovation include large and comfortable study areas, conference rooms and 21 student breakout rooms; redesigned administrative offices for units with a focus on action-based learning; a multipurpose space inside the second floor rotunda for classes, meetings, receptions and other special events; state-of-the-art technology throughout; and LEED certification.

Duke University’s Taylor named executive director of Ross Heart Hospital

Martha Taylor was named executive director of the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital and chief operating officer of the OSU Heart and Vascular Center, effective Oct. 1. In her new role as executive director and COO, Taylor will oversee all administrative and operational functions of the Ross Heart Hospital.

Taylor comes to Ohio State from Duke University Health System, where she served as associate vice president of cardiovascular services, directing and managing all aspects of Duke’s adult and pediatric cardiovascular services across three hospitals, 14 catheterization labs, three electrophysiology labs, five cardiology clinic locations as well as diagnostic and rehabilitation locations.

An Ohio native, Taylor served as director of heart center nursing at Duke from 1995-97 and associate operating officer of the Duke Heart Center clinical service unit 1998-2004.

OARDC opens infectious disease facility

The Ohio Agricultural and Research Development Center opened its new Plant and Animal Agrosecurity Research (PAAR) facility on Sept. 16. PAAR is a highly secure biocontainment building that is required by federal law for conducting research with organisms that cause diseases in animals classified at biosafety level 3 (BSL-3 and/or BSL-3 Ag). It also is needed for working with plant diseases that could cause undue economic hardship on agriculture if released into the environment.

PAAR will be the only facility in Ohio and one of only two nationally with capacity for both plant and animal research at the BSL-3 and BSL-3 Ag safety levels. Ohio State operates several BSL-3 labs on its Columbus campus, but PAAR will be the first BSL-3 facility on the Wooster campus and the university’s first BSL-3 Ag facility.

Newsbriefs, 8/11/11

August 10, 2011

Hale’s legacy at Ohio State significant

Frank Hale Jr., former vice provost and professor, who dedicated his life to diversity in higher education and civil rights, died July 27 following an extended illness. He was 84.

An advocate for higher education for 54 years as a faculty member, administrator and educational consultant, Hale dedicated 24 years of leadership to Ohio State.

“We have lost one of the true giants of the Ohio State community,” said President Gordon Gee. “Dr. Frank Hale was a scholar, teacher, researcher, administrator, a civil rights pioneer. More than that, he was a force to be reckoned with who opened the doors of opportunity to underserved students through sheer force of his intellect and determination.

“Frank Hale richly deserved the honor of having Hale Hall named for him. Indeed, a small piece of this campus carries his name, but every inch bears his imprint.”

As associate dean and chairman of the Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School (1971-78) and vice provost for the Office of Minority Affairs (1978-88), Hale founded the current Graduate and Professional Schools Visitation Days program implemented to increase the number of minorities seeking advanced degrees. From its inception, the program served as a national model and led to Ohio State’s long-held distinction as the highest producer of minority PhD students among four-year colleges and universities.

Through his efforts, nearly $15 million in graduate fellowship awards were awarded to approximately 1,200 minority students, of which 80 percent earned master’s and/or doctoral degrees. His efforts in establishing undergraduate scholarship programs assisted nearly 500 students during his tenure.

Trustees embark on building ‘integrity program’

The compliance structures within Ohio State’s Department of Athletics and across the university are good — and in many areas very good — but there are areas that can be improved as well, OSU Trustee Robert Schottenstein told a meeting of the trustees’ Audit and Compliance Committee July 22.

Schottenstein made the statement as the committee began its review and assessment of all audit and compliance structures across the university, which was triggered in part by the NCAA infractions that have since cost former football coach Jim Tressell his job and have OSU administrators in front of an NCAA hearing Aug. 12.

“We belive OSU has a leadership role to play in assuring the best possible standards in compliance processes and protocols,” Schottenstein said. “We embrace that role and are determined to do all we can to assure that Ohio State’s programs and protocols are a model. In order to achieve this, we believe it is necessary to approach compliance as a matter of institutionl integrity — not about meeting minimum standards but about striving for the highest standards of integrity. The goal of this process is to emerge with a universitywide integrity program second to none.”

A review of all compliance programs is scheduled to be complete by September, and options for a redesigned system should be finished by November with the target for implementation Jan. 1.

Ohio State scientists to share in $25 million grant to study virus-related foodborne illness

Four OSU scientists are part of a multi-state $25 million effort to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses caused by viruses. The five-year US Department of Agriculture grant is the largest single food safety grant awarded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Involved from Ohio State are Jianrong Li, assistant professor of food science and technology and environmental health sciences; Linda Saif, distinguished university professor in the Food Animal Health Research Program at OARDC; Qiuhong Wang, a research scientist and adjunct assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine; and Richard Linton, currently at Purdue University, who starts at Ohio State on Aug. 15 as professor and chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology. Read more at go.osu.edu/virusgrant.

Collaborative million-dollar grant focuses on knee replacement outcomes

Assistant Professor Robert Siston of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has been awarded a four-year, $1.134 million National Institutes of Health grant to study patient functionality and clinical outcomes following total knee replacement (also known as total knee arthroplasty, TKA), a common surgical procedure used to treat degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Working in collaboration with his co-investigators from the College of Medicine, Siston will explore potential causes for the wide gap that separates those patients who cannot perform the basic activities of daily living, like comfortably climbing stairs, to those who can go back to activities they enjoy such as hiking, golfing or playing tennis after a total knee replacement procedure. Siston reported that following total knee replacement, many patients have functional challenges that are not seen in aged-matched controls, such as climbing stairs more slowly, stiff-knee gait, quadriceps weakness and abnormal knee motion.

Siston will be joined by co-investigators Ajit Chaudhari, assistant professor of orthopaedics and sports medicine; Laura Schmitt, assistant professor of physical therapy; Andy Glassman, Jeff Granger and Matt Beal, all faculty in orthopaedics; and Xueliang “Jeff” Pan, a research scientist in biostatistics.

College of Medicine programs rank among top 25

A recent survey released by US News and World Report has ranked seven of Ohio State’s medical programs, including cancer and heart disease, among the nation’s top 25 best programs in their respective specialties. A total of 11 Ohio State medical programs are recognized in the 2011 rankings. Additional programs included in the rankings are cardiology, gynecology, nephrology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology. The rankings (usnews.com/besthospitals) are based on patient safety, staffing levels, technology, mortality and reputation as judged by 200 physicians selected from each
specialty.

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