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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Monday, April 1. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

PRESIDENT GEE RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING CHANCELLOR'S STRATEGIC PLAN

OSU President E. Gordon Gee issued the following statement to the media regarding the 10-year Ohio Higher Education Strategic Plan unveiled Monday (3/31) by Gov. Ted Strickland and Chancellor Eric Fingerhut:

“Chancellor Fingerhut’s strategic plan offers a clear and compelling vision for the future, one that places higher education at the center of Ohio’s economic prosperity and well-being. Making higher education attainable and achieving an even greater measure of excellence are objectives that will benefit all Ohioans.

“The chancellor has suggested a range of creative, flexible strategies which will help to assure that Ohio’s future is vibrant and strong. The report recognizes Ohio State’s unique position as the land-grant and national research university, and it respects the individual missions, governance and identities of each of Ohio’s public universities.

“This report reflects an impressive amount of thoughtful work by the chancellor, who has received strong, bipartisan support from the governor and members of the General Assembly. We look forward to working with our partners in state government and higher education as this plan is debated and translated into action.”

Read about the strategic plan >

TODAY: FULL TO PRESENT MBI PUBLIC LECTURE

The Mathematical Biosciences Institute is holding a free public lecture at 5:30 p.m. today (4/1) in 355 Jennings Hall (MBI Auditorium). Professor Robert Full, director of the Poly-PEDAL Lab, University of California at Berkeley, will deliver "Bipedal Bugs, Galloping Ghosts and Gripping Geckos.” View the abstract and additional details online.

CHANGE HAPPENS! CONFERENCE APRIL 28 AT COSI

Community Research Partners, a partnership of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, United Way of Central Ohio, the City of Columbus, and the Franklin County Commissioners is hosting Change Happens! from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday (4/28) at COSI. The conference features Cass R. Sunstein, University of Chicago law professor and author; the nonprofit research group, The Institute for the Future OFTF; a local innovators panel; and new data tools available through CRP to keep on top of local trends. Register online (click on the Change Happens! banner). Special student registration rates available. Contact: mattson.13@osu.edu or 224-5917 (ext. 108). Read more >

LISTENING TOUR SEEKING OPINIONS

Young voters are being encouraged to share their opinions and ideas on what it will take to ensure America’s energy security while protecting the environment. The Future of Energy University Listening Tour, led locally by American Electric Power CEO Michael G. Morris, is coming to Ohio State on Wednesday (4/2). The 90-minute presentation and discussion will take place from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater. Doors open at 12:45 p.m. The event is geared toward young student voters, but open to the entire OSU community. To reserve a seat, send an e-mail to cfr@osu.edu.

OSU KICKS OFF DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH

April is Disability Awareness Month at OSU and the Office for Disability Services has planned two kick-off events to celebrate. Dancing Wheels, a dance troupe comprised of dancers in wheelchairs, will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday (4/2) in 200 Campbell Hall. A reception for an art exhibit running through Wednesday (4/30) by artists who have disabilities will take place from 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday (4/3) on the second floor of Bricker Hall. A list of events and activities is available online.

TICKETS FOR POISON CONCERT ON SALE APRIL 4

Poison with special guests Dokken and Sebastian Bach will perform at Value City Arena on Sunday (7/13). Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (4/4) at the Schottenstein Center Box Office and Ticketmaster. Read more >

SPRING CAREER DAY 2008 AT HUNTINGTON CLUB

Faculty are asked to encourage students to attend Spring Career Day, one of Ohio State’s job fairs open to all students from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday (4/8) in the Huntington Club in Ohio Stadium. More than 100 employers from numerous industries will be seeking to fill fulltime, part-time and internship positions. Nine out of 10 students who attended last year said they would recommend this event. Review the Spring Career Day Guidebook online.

SHAW, KLEINMAN LIBRARIES READALOUD GUESTS APRIL 3

The OSU Libraries ReadAloud program continues from 3-4 p.m. Thursday (4/3) at the Wexner Center Café: Cam's on Campus. Joe Shaw from the Office of Research will read from his own writing, featuring a baseball story. Sy Kleinman, faculty emeritus, College of Education and Human Ecology will read from the George Meyer essay "My Undoing," published in the New Yorker in May 2007. Contact: distel.1@osu.edu or 292-2594. Read more >

FREE HANDS-ON TECHNOLOGY TUTORIALS

Learn about the newest tech tools for teaching, learning and research in Digital Union workshops on Flash animation, Second Life, Photoshop, podcasting, Web design, video editing and more. The free workshops are scheduled through May, but registration is required. Read more >