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Providing alternatives part of what makes Ohio State great

January 20, 2010

Ohio State employees have every reason to participate in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), especially if public service in the state becomes a career-long endeavor.

These defined-benefit plans, where one draws a monthly pension based on a formula using years of service and salary, are excellent cornerstones for providing sustained income. My first column strongly emphasized that the retirement systems and their defined-benefit plans are crucial to Ohio State and have our full confidence.

But there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach, especially when careers in academia often lead to more than one institution, and often in more than one state. That was why Ohio State took a leading role in 1997 in helping the legislature consider the Alternative Retirement Plan, which receives contributions from both the employee and employer, places those contributions with approved vendors and the employee directs the investments, keeps all the investment earnings or assumes all the risk for any investment losses. Continue reading ‘Providing alternatives part of what makes Ohio State great’

Newsbriefs, 1/21/10

January 20, 2010

Battelle’s Kunz appointed to James Cancer Hospital Board
Barbara Kunz, Battelle’s president of Health and Life Sciences Global Business, was named one of nine public members to The Ohio State University’s James Cancer Hospital Board Jan. 7. The board also has six ex-officio members as established by OSU’s Board of Trustees for the oversight of strategic initiatives, patient care services and financial performance of the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

Kunz joined six other new public members to the specialized board, which includes people with business and legal expertise, knowledge of healthcare delivery and the mission of the university’s academic medical center.

Kunz is accountable for Battelle’s portfolio of businesses and capabilities for government and commercial clients within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics, public and environmental health and agri/food industries.

College of Social Work to raise funds for Haiti through March
The College of Social Work is spearheading a major fundraiser for the people of Haiti that will run until March, Social Work Month. Faculty, staff and students will be hosting fundraising events and accepting donations to be given to three organizations: The Red Cross, Americares and The Clinton Foundation. For more information or to make a donation, contact Lisa Durham at durham.49@osu.edu or 292-4026.

NECE Program services available for slow-developing infants, toddlers
Infants and toddlers showing delays in their development can receive services through the Nisonger Early Childhood Education Program. There is no fee.

Children under the age of three and qualified for early intervention services in Franklin County may receive therapy from an early intervention specialist during the course of their typical child care day. Itinerant services are provided through Nisonger at the OSU Child Care Center and include occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy as needed. For information regarding openings, contact Nisonger ECE at 292-9605 or deborah.schenerlein@osumc.edu.

Forum empowers students with disabilities with leadership, advocacy skills
The Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities will host the 12th annual Ohio Youth Leadership Forum July 19-22 at the Embassy Suites Airport Hotel in Columbus. All high school juniors and seniors who have a disability are invited to apply for this exciting, interesting and empowering forum. The application deadline is Feb. 12 and are available at gcpd.ohio.gov/YLF/delegates_info.asp.

The Ohio Youth Leadership Forum is dedicated to teaching community leadership and disability advocacy to outstanding high school juniors and seniors.Throughout the four-day event, students from across Ohio will have the opportunity to explore career endeavors and education options, learn from adult mentors with disabilities and hear from Gov. Ted Strickland, key legislators and members of the disability community. The forum is an excellent opportunity for students to network with their peers and learn how the needs of people with a variety of disabilities are similar and different. For more information, contact Donna Foster-Sillanpaa at Donna.Foster@rsc.state.oh.us or 438-1394.

Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum seeking faculty judges
Now in its 24th year, the Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum is co-sponsored by the Council of Graduate Students, the Graduate School and the Office of Research. Students enrolled in any area of graduate study are invited to participate. Faculty judges are needed to serve on a blind panel to review abstracts during late February, and also to serve on judging panels for the forum presentations and posters on May 1. For more information, contact Danelle Wilbraham at wilbraham.1@osu.edu or visit cgs.osu.edu/funding/hayes.aspx.

Payroll Services now located in Blankenship Hall
Payroll Services has moved from the South Campus Gateway to Blankenship Hall, second floor, and is now under the Office of Business and Finance. The move consolidates all financial operations under one unit. All telephone numbers and e-mails to Payroll Services remain the same. Employees with payroll-specific questions should go to Blankenship Hall for assistance. More information is available at hr.osu.edu/payroll.

Center rings in new name with celebration
The University Center for the Advancement of Teaching (formerly Faculty & TA Development) will be hosting an open house from 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Younkin Success Center to celebrate its name change and to thank all of its partners in the complex enterprise that is supporting eminent teaching and learning at Ohio State.
Vice Provost Randy Smith will speak at 1:15 p.m. on current challenges and opportunities for advancing teaching. The center also will be recognizing a few of its exceptional partners as “Champions for Teaching.” For more information, visit ucat.osu.edu or e-mail ucat@osu.edu.

Wexner Center debuts ‘Transmissions’ radio show
“Transmissions,” a new, downloadable radio show produced by the Wexner Center, is now available (see wexarts.org/wexblog/?p=3497). The first bi-monthly show features a conversation between French artist Cyprien Gaillard and Wex Curator of Exhibitions Catharina Manchanda; an interview with OSU dance Professor David Covey, who worked with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company; and a segment with film curator Dave Filipi, who talks about the new partnership with the Gateway Film Center.

Top 3 on 2, 1/21/10

January 19, 2010

Why did you choose to work at Ohio State?
Ohio State employees have the opportunity to gain professional experience while also pursuing a degree (or two) and remaining engaged in the community. These opportunities are invaluable to me. Plus, OSU acknowledges and supports my partner just like my colleagues’ spouses.

What do you like about your job?
Every day I am surrounded by caring, thoughtful people who share my commitment to service and social justice. I also appreciate the college’s connectedness to communities off campus. For instance, at the organization where I volunteer weekly, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, social work students regularly intern and social work faculty conduct research. These connections enrich my experience at OSU because I know my work has an impact on the wider community.

If you weren’t working at Ohio State, what would you be doing?
I would like to practice as a social worker part-time in a community setting such as a settlement house (think Hull House and Jane Addams) and focus the rest of my time on raising my future children.

What would you improve at Ohio State?
I would like to see Ohio State do more to encourage faculty and staff to get involved in service to the community. For example, OSU could agree to make a small annual donation to an organization where an employee volunteers at least one hour per week throughout the year.

What is your favorite activity outside of work?
I’ve always been a dancer and it’s something that brings me great joy. Dancing lets me express how I feel in a beautiful and fun way. And, by dancing on a team, I have met many good friends.

Of what honor or recognition are you most proud?
I am proud to have earned two master’s degrees from OSU. My first degree empowered me to secure a rewarding job in the College of Social Work. My second degree enabled me to practice as a social worker and thereby make a tangible difference in our world.

Who is your hero?
I really look up to my dad. He is a great parent and I hope to be an equally good parent one day.

What are you going to do when you retire?
I hope to relish spending lots of time with my wife and our eventual family. I also will stay engaged in service to the community in any way I can. And, hopefully, I’ll still be dancing.

If you were the university president for a day, what would you do?
I would invest in further partnerships with inner-city and rural high schools to provide more educational connections and resources to young people in struggling districts. Ohio State has the resources to help overcome the historic problem of differential educational opportunities for black, Latino and Appalachian youth that will open more doors to higher education for these students. Our investment can help achieve this goal.

To nominate a staff member for an upcoming issue, e-mail oncampus@osu.edu.

A free medical clinic for economically challenged families opened Jan. 20 at Ohio State. The clinic, operated by Muslim physicians and health care professionals, is open to all faiths from 5-9 p.m. each Wednesday evening on the university campus in the Rardin Family Practice Center,  2231 N. High St.

The clinic is staffed by physicians, health care professionals and medical students from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and is affiliated with the Muslim Clinic of Ohio, which also has free clinics in Cincinnati and Dayton.

The university also provides space and other resources at the Rardin location for three additional free clinics. The Ohio Latino Health Clinic, the Asian Health Initiative and the Columbus Free Clinic meet on alternating days. For a complete schedule, go to medicalcenter.osu.edu/aboutus/community_benefits/community_health_services/Pages/index.aspx. For appointments to the Muslim clinic, call 516-3075.

Defined benefit system should remain core of retirement plan

December 9, 2009

By Larry Lewellen

As the state of Ohio retirement systems seek revisions to their benefit requirements in order to remain appropriately funded and stable for the long term, which they are required to do by law, it’s only natural for our faculty and staff to have questions about what’s changing and how it will affect them. Continue reading ‘Defined benefit system should remain core of retirement plan’

USAC calls for greater educational benefits, career pathing

March 4, 2009

By Adam King

In the past when the University Staff Advisory Committee submitted its compensation and benefits report to the university leadership, the report ran more than 20 pages and covered every result from its survey to staff.

That left a lot of information for the president and his or her vice presidents to thumb through and put a lot of suggestions for action on the table at once. Continue reading ‘USAC calls for greater educational benefits, career pathing’