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WELCOME TO OSUToday, the latest news and information for faculty and staff of The Ohio State University for Monday, Oct. 29. OSUToday is published daily Monday-Friday. The deadline for submissions is noon the prior business day.

Headline news

OHIO STATE RECEIVES $20 MILLION GIFT FOR SPACE DISCOVERY

Ohio State has received a transformational gift of $20 million to support one of the biggest undertakings imaginable: the exploration of outer space. The anonymous gift is the second-largest single gift to the university in its 137-year history. In addition to unprecedented studies of our universe, it will support the mentoring of young minds and major collaborations on promising research projects. The gift will fund student fellowships and two faculty chairs that honor two men known for their inspirational fascination with discovery and exploration. Read more >

OHIO STATE IS A TOP PRODUCER OF U.S. FULBRIGHT STUDENTS

The Institute for International Education recently announced the complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most 2007-08 U.S. Fulbright Fellows, with Ohio State ranking in the top 20 research institutions. The success of the top producing institutions was highlighted in the Friday (10/26) printed edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education. Last year, 11 Ohio State students received Fulbright grants to conduct research, study and teach English abroad. Details on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program are available through the Honors Collegium (for graduating seniors), collegium@osu.edu or the Graduate School, davis-jones.1@osu.edu. A chart of top producers of Fulbright Awards can be viewed online (below the article on a new Fulbright grant).

UNIVERSITY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MEET NOV. 1, 2

The Ohio State Board of Trustees and its committees will meet Thursday (11/1) and Friday (11/2) at the Longaberger Alumni House. The schedule includes meetings Thursday of the Audit Committee from 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m., the Committee on Trusteeship from 2:30-3:30 p.m., and the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and the Fiscal Affairs Committee from 3:30-5:30 p.m. On Friday (11/2), the formal board meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. and recess into executive session from 8:30 a.m.-noon. After a break for lunch, the board meeting will reconvene at 1 p.m. Read more >

MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC TITLE

The university is hosting a celebration from 2-4 p.m. Friday (11/2) at the South Campus Gateway to recognize the 2007 Ohio State men’s gymnastics team - the first ever to be named National Academic Team Champions by the College Gymnastics Association, and to win a third consecutive Big Ten championship. The squad posted a 3.4 cumulative grade point average. The OSU and Columbus community are invited to attend. Guest speakers include President E. Gordon Gee, Athletics Director Gene Smith, Head Coach Miles Avery and former OSU gymnasts. Read more >

EVALUATION OF TEACHING WORKSHOP FOR DEANS, DEPARTMENT CHAIRS

“Best Practices on Evaluation of Teaching,” a workshop for department chairs, school directors, deans, associate deans, and assistant deans, will be held from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday (11/6) in 090 Science and Engineering Library. Registration is required. Contact 292-2800. Register online

OCTOBER SIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE

Would you like to learn more about the Student Information System Project? The October edition of the University Community Newsletter is now available online at http://oaa.osu.edu/sis/ (use the University Community Newsletter link) with the latest information about the project, as well as a look at the new functionality for Student Financial Aid. When you visit the SIS Web site, you can also opt to have this monthly communication sent directly to your inbox. Look for the sign-up box at the bottom of the SIS home page.

SICHERMAN TO DISCUSS WOMEN AND LITERACY IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA

Cultural historian Barbara Sicherman (Trinity College, Hartford) will present "Varieties of Reading Experience: Women and Literacy in Nineteenth-Century America" from 4-5:30 p.m. Thursday (11/1) in the ICRPH Knight House, 104 E. 15th. Sicherman is an American cultural historian who specializes in women’s history and was a founder of the Women’s Studies Program at Trinity College. Her publications include Alice Hamilton: A Life in Letters and Reading Little Women: The Many Lives of a Text. Contact: lantz.38@osu.edu

ESHUN-BAIDEN TO DISCUSS EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

Nemata Eshun-Baiden from the Sierra Leone Women’s Working Group will be speaking at 4 p.m. Monday (10/29) in Saxbe Auditorium, Drinko Hall about recent work done by the group to help advance legislation in Sierra Leone for the rights of women, and how they are, in general, shaping public opinion with regard to women's participation in politics. The 50/50 Group won the Madeleine K. Albright Award given annually at the National Democratic Institute.

COLLEGE OF LAW SEEKING MOCK TRIAL JURORS

The Clinical Programs at the Moritz College of Law is seeking faculty and staff to serve as jurors at mock trials to be held in its Moot Court Room. The judges in the cases will be sitting judges from around the state of Ohio. Jurors will have an opportunity to hear an entire case and then talk with the law students and judges after the case about their verdict and impressions of the trial. Mock trials will begin at 4 p.m. Monday (11/26), Thursday (11/29), Monday (12/3) and Tuesday (12/4) in room 249 College of Law. Contact: Lynda Seelie at 292-6821 or seelie.2@osu.edu.