Special edition
WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Monday, Sept. 22. This is a special edition of OSUToday highlighting the top stories from summer quarter and the latest campus news and events. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

WOSU, ABN Radio announce new partnership

WOSU Public Media has announced a new partnership with ABN Radio, the largest farm radio network in Ohio. ABN will relocate their headquarters in early 2009 to office and studio space in the Fawcett Center recently vacated by WOSU when it opened its new digital radio complex within the building. The move onto the OSU campus will also give ABN greater access to experts and educators within the field of agriculture, as well as strengthening its connection with students. Read more >

This Week with George Stephanopoulos live town hall meeting

On Sunday (9/28) ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” is hosting a live town hall meeting at the Southern Theater in Columbus. Stephanopoulos will moderate the meeting with one of the presidential candidates. Audience members are being sought who are undecided voters and would like the opportunity to ask a question of the presidential candidate to help them decide. ABC wants to hear immediately from faculty and staff that are interested in participating. Contact lauren.lipani@abc.com. For security reasons, the audience will need to arrive by 8 a.m. and can expect to be there until 10 a.m.

Information on AIG, Merrill Lynch retirement accounts

Over the last week you may have heard of the recent struggles in the financial market. Human Resources has received inquiries from faculty and staff about their retirement accounts, particularly AIG Retirement (a subsidiary of AIG) as a 403(b) and Alternative Retirement Plan vendor and any such Merrill Lynch accounts at Ohio State. AIG Retirement and Merrill Lynch will remain vendors with the university at this time, but you should contact a financial planner or AIG Retirement and Merrill Lynch directly to make your investment decisions. AIG and Merrill Lynch contact information is available at hr.osu.edu/hrpubs/ben/septemberletter.pdf.

Nothing to fear when horror and dark fantasy writers visit Sept. 26

Authors Lawrence Connolly, Lucy Snyder, Gary Braunbeck, and Michael Arnzen will discuss making a living at writing at 3 p.m. Friday (9/26) in 10 Page Hall. The program is free and open to the public. A book signing will follow the program, called “The Business/Life of Writing Horror & Dark Fantasy. The event is hosted by the Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing. Contact: Doug Dangler, dangler.6@osu.edu or 292-1308

Today: Foreign Language Center hosts Langfest

The Foreign Language Center is hosting its annual Langfest event from noon-3 p.m. today (9/22) in and around Hagerty Hall, in the World Media and Culture Center. Enjoy international dishes, live entertainment, dancing and music presented by representatives from the more than 30 languages offered at OSU, as well as international satellite broadcasts in 12 languages. Contact: bias.3@osu.edu or 292-4361

Objects of Wonder from OSU at Columbus Museum of Art

Objects of Wonder from Ohio State will be shown exclusively at the Columbus Museum of Art from Friday (9/26)-Sunday (1/11/09). Each artifact has a story to tell. Admission is free for OSU faculty, staff and students with a valid ID. The museum is open from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and until 8:30 p.m. every Thursday. Call 221-4848 or visit www.columbusmuseum.org.

Top stories from summer quarter

For those who may have been away from campus during summer quarter, welcome back. Here’s a brief recap of some of the top stories you may have missed:

U.S. News: Ohio State among nation’s best colleges

Ohio State has been named one of the nation's top-15 "innovative" universities, according to a new category in the U.S. News & World Report 2009 edition of "America’s Best Colleges" released Friday (8/22). In addition, the university maintained its place among the publication’s ranking of the nation’s top 50 public universities. Ohio State is again ranked 19th. Read more >

Hook named Ohio State’s first chief investment officer

Jonathan D. Hook, previously associate vice president and chief investment officer at Baylor University since 2001, became vice president and chief investment officer for Ohio State effective Friday (8/1). In this newly created position, Hook will manage the university’s $2.2 billion long-term investment pool that includes a $1.5 billion gifted endowment. At Baylor, Hook was responsible for overseeing a $1.1 billion endowment. Read more >

Whitacre named vice president for research

President E. Gordon Gee on Tuesday (9/16) announced Caroline C. Whitacre has been named vice president for research at Ohio State. She had been serving as interim vice president for research since August. Whitacre was formerly associate vice president for Health Sciences Research and vice dean for research in the College of Medicine at the OSU Medical Center. Read more >

Katzenmeyer named senior VP for University Communications

Tom Katzenmeyer, most recently senior vice president of investor, media and community relations for the Limited Brands, has joined Ohio State as the senior vice president for University Communications. Curt Steiner, who has served as the university’s senior vice president for University Relations since 2004, becomes senior vice president for Government Affairs.
Read more >

Two faculty named Distinguished University Professors

The title of Distinguished University Professor was conferred by trustees on Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychiatry and psychology and holder of the S. Robert Davis Chair of Medicine in the College of Medicine, and James Phelan, Humanities Distinguished Professor in the Department of English. Each will receive a one-time cash award of $30,000 from Academic Affairs to support their academic work and will become a member of the President’s and Provost’s Advisory Council. Read more >

Beatty named vice president for outreach and engagement

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee on Tuesday (9/16) announced that Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-27th District) has been named senior vice president for outreach and engagement. Beatty has served in the Ohio House of Representatives since 1999, representing major portions of the city of Columbus. In 2006, she became the first woman leader of the Ohio House of Representatives' Democratic Caucus. Beatty will begin her new role at Ohio State in January, following the completion of her final term as a state representative. Read more >

Washington named interim dean for Engineering

Gregory N. Washington, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been named interim dean of Engineering. He replaced W.A. “Bud” Baeslack, who leaves the university to become the executive vice president and provost for Case Western. Washington joined Ohio State’s faculty in 1995, and also is associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, and currently the interim director of the Institute for Energy and the Environment. Read more >

Student Affairs becomes Office of Student Life

Effective Tuesday (7/1), Ohio State’s Office of Student Affairs became the Office of Student Life. The change aligns the office’s name with its primary goal of supporting and positively affecting the lives of students during their entire university experience. Student Life staff are in the process of changing the name on letterhead, Web sites and all other materials. Other areas of the university are requested to review their materials and change existing references to the office from Student Affairs to Student Life when possible and as new materials are designed. Contact: uhrig.3@osu.edu or 292-5944. Read more >

Veteran journalist to lead The Lantern

Veteran journalist Thomas P. O’Hara will join Ohio State's School of Communication to lead The Lantern, the university’s student-run newspaper. O'Hara, former managing editor of The Plain Dealer, 2000-07, most recently served as a professional in residence at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kent State University, where he taught journalism ethics and news writing. O’Hara also has served as managing editor of The Palm Beach Post.

Ohio State named to 'Great Colleges to Work For' list

Ohio State has been named one of the top employers according to The Chronicle of Higher Education's inaugural 2008 "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. The university was recognized as a top-five employer in five of the publication's survey categories, including compensation and benefits, confidence in senior leaders, health insurance, housing assistance programs and life insurance. The university recently initiated a survey of all of its employees with the goal of identifying areas for further workplace improvements. Read more >

Senior positions subject to new background check policy

Human Resources developed a background check policy that took effect Monday (9/1). The new policy requires appointees and final candidates for president, provost, vice president, vice provost, dean, senior fiscal officer, senior human resource professional and all President’s Council members to undergo a background check by HireRight, an international company currently used by other Big Ten schools. The new policy will promote fair and consistent methods for how background checks are conducted and used. The new policy is available online. For additional information on background screenings already in place in your college or VP unit, please contact your human resource professional.