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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Wednesday, Jan. 30. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

OSU HONORED FOR WORK IN ENCOURAGING FORMER STUDENT ATHLETES TO COMPLETE DEGREES

Ohio State was recognized Monday (1/28) by the National Consortium of Academics and Sports for ranking second nationally in the 2006-07 academic year in former student-athletes returning and completing their undergraduate degrees. Of 224 member schools that participate in the NCAS Degree Completion Program, Ohio State is one of 59 named to the 2008 DCP Honor Roll for its dedication to former student-athletes completing their undergraduate degrees and serving the campus and Columbus communities. Ohio State, which has participated in the program since 1994, boasts more than 100 former Buckeyes who have come back to complete their undergrad coursework and earn a degree. Read more >

KASEY TO LEAD MEDICAL CENTER EXPANSION

Jay Kasey has been named interim executive program director of the OSU Medical Center’s $1 billion planned expansion. He will provide day-to-day coordination and oversight for the project, which is to be completed in 2015. He also will lead the search for a permanent director. Kasey will work under the direction of university and medical center leaders to manage all aspects of the expansion, including funding and construction logistics. Recruited to Ohio State in 2007 as chief operating officer of the OSU Health System, Kasey has been instrumental in helping to develop the goals and strategic direction of the hospitals. Read more >

OSU STUDENTS TO COMPETE IN INTERNATIONAL SOLAR DECATHLON

A team of Ohio State engineering students has been selected to participate in an international, U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored competition to design, build and operate a fully solar-powered home. The prestigious competition, called the Solar Decathlon, pits university-led teams in the two-year contest, which culminates in fall 2009 when their homes will be shipped to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for display and final judging. Ohio State is among 20 teams from the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Spain and Germany that were selected from universities around the world. Contact: wall.107@osu.edu or 292-4064. Read more >

NATIONAL ACADEMIES' WEB COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR TO SPEAK AT FACULTY CLUB

Michael Jensen, director of Web Communications, National Academies will offer insights into digital technologies and scholarly/academic publishing at 3:30 p.m. Thursday (1/31) at the Faculty Club. Refreshments begin at 3:15 p.m. Jensen is also director of Publishing Technologies at the National Academies Press, which makes more than 3,600 books from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council fully browsable and searchable online for free. He is also the inventor of WordXS puzzles. The event is sponsored by University Libraries and TELR, and supported by the Friends of the OSU Libraries. Contact: cetwinski.1 or 292-2503

CORNERSTONES INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE

Information formerly contained in the annual publication Cornerstones is now available online. View endowment fund current market value, principal value and projected income. Faculty and staff may request access to the Development Fund Warehouse, the Web-based application that combines financial information from the General Ledger, Endowment, Student Financial Aid and Development Funds. It was created for university personnel whose roles include planning for and disbursement of accounts that are supported by Development dollars, or money that has been given to the university to supports its students, faculty and programs. Access to DFW is contingent upon completion of a brief training session. A schedule of training sessions is available online. Contact: donor-relations@osu.edu or 292-6261

AFRICAN AMERICAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES CHAIR CANDIDATE JOB TALK

The Department of African American and African Studies invites you to a job talk by Anthonia Kalu, of the University of Northern Colorado Africana Studies Program and the School of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, from 10-11:15 a.m. Friday (2/1) in 347 University Hall. She will discuss “Language, Woman and Story: African Literature and Social Transformation.” Contact: boykin.1@osu.edu or 292-3700

WINTER BOOK GROUP TO DISCUSS ENGAGING IDEAS

Join your colleagues in a discussion of the book "Engaging Ideas: The Professor’s Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom." The book explores strategies for increasing critical thinking through writing across the curriculum, problem-based assignments, discussion, and other active learning techniques. Faculty and TAs are invited to join the four-week seminar, to be held from 3:30-5 p.m. in 324 Younkin Success Center on consecutive Thursdays starting (2/7). Twelve individuals will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Register online

LIBRARY OFFERS INSTANT MESSAGE SERVICE

Library reference help is now available through Instant Messaging. Add the library’s Instant Message buddy name “ohiostaterefdesk” onto your Yahoo, AOL, MSN or Google Talk contact list. The service is available: noon-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m. Friday, and noon-11 p.m. Sunday. To learn more about the service go to Instant Message a Librarian or contact kupferberg.1@osu.edu

LEARN, SELL, LOOK ON THE ONCAMPUS BULLETIN BOARD

Like to spice up your next event with a little classical guitar, mandolin or violin? Interested in learning jazz piano and jazz theory? Check out the Moonlighting/Service Directory on the onCampus Bulletin Board. Faculty and staff may post or view items under a broad range of categories. Register by using your OSU Internet ID (name.#).