Ohio State to raise tuition 6 percent for 1999-2000

The Board of Trustees on June 4 approved the first of a state-mandated two-phase vote with the intent to increase undergraduate resident tuition by 6 percent for the 1999-2000 academic year.

The first vote increases tuition by 4 percent. The complete 6 percent tuition increase is pending a vote at the board's July 2 meeting, after the Ohio General Assembly adopts a state budget for higher education.

For undergraduates, the increase means resident instructional and general fees will increase $231 per year, or $77 per quarter, for a full-time student. An undergraduate student from Ohio will pay $4,110 in tuition next year. Nonresident fees will increase $612 per year.

The total cost for a resident undergraduate to attend Ohio State's Columbus campus and live in University housing for the year will increase $527 for the academic year, or 5.1 percent, from $10,329 to $10,856 - an increase of less than $2.50 per day for a 10-week quarter, noted William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for finance, business and administration.

That annual figure takes into account a 4.3 percent increase for room and board ($213), a 2 percent increase for textbooks and supplies ($14), a 5.9 percent increase for health insurance ($33), and a 21.2 percent increase for parking on the central Columbus campus and a bus pass ($21).

Resident graduate student fees will increase $285 per year, or $95 per quarter, to $5,730. Nonresident fees will increase $720 per year. Differentially higher increases are recommended for professional and graduate students on a selected basis. Ohio students in law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine will see a 9.5 percent tuition increase, and students in the MBA program, a 14.6 percent increase. Tuition for in-state graduate students and professional students in pharmacy and optometry will increase by 5.2 percent for 1999-2000.

The 6 percent increase in undergraduate tuition - the maximum allowed by state law - maintains Ohio State's value to taxpayers, especially when compared to benchmark institutions and other state schools, said Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost.

"Ohio State's undergraduate fees remain 7 percent below the state average for public assisted universities, and 7 percent below the average among our benchmark institutions," Ray said. "But our revenues and state support per student also are significantly lower than benchmark universities."

Ohio State's revenues per student are 19 percent less than the average for benchmark institutions, and state support for Ohio State students is 8 percent lower than the benchmarks' average. Benchmark institutions are the nine universities against which Ohio State measures itself. The schools are highly ranked academically and comparable to Ohio State in mission, size and configuration. They are Pennsylvania State University, and the universities of Minnesota, Washington, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, Wisconsin and California, Los Angeles.

"While we remain an excellent value in Ohio and nationally, we do not have the resources to fully match or exceed our competitors in critical areas, such as service to students, or to better serve the people of Ohio without seeking an increase in tuition and fees," Ray said. He also noted Ohio State's value in the context of rankings: Based on U.S. News & World Report academic reputation rankings, Ohio State is ranked 35th with a 1998-99 annual tuition of $3,879, compared to Miami University, ranked 69th with a tuition of $5,802.

The additional funding will support, among other programs and services, a reduction in the student/faculty ratio; library acquisitions; increased scholarships and financial aid; increased wages for student workers; and improvements in student services and instructional technologies.

Shkurti noted that in addition to increasing student tuition, OSU will seek other funding sources through private fund raising, research grants, and internal reallocations made possible by improved operations. He also said University financial aid will be increased proportionally to minimize hardship on the neediest students.

Shkurti said recommendations regarding tuition and fees at regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark will be presented to trustees in July. Because additional state funding is available through Access Challenge, Shkurti added, he expects to recommend little or no increase at that time for the regional campuses - excluding the Agricultural Technical Institute.

In other business, trustees:

• Approved an interim budget to continue expenditures at the 1998-99 level from the July 1 beginning of the new fiscal year until the board approves a current funds budget for 1999-2000.

• Authorized the sale of 1.1 acres of land on the south side of state Route 33 in Logan County to the Ohio Department of Transportation at a cost of $300.

• Amended the Rules of the University Faculty in three areas: updating membership of the Council on Student Affairs; creating the Council on the Physical Environment and abolishing the Committee on Traffic and Parking, reflecting an effort to more effectively provide for University Senate consultation in matters affecting the University physical environment; and specifying procedures that entail an effort to speed up the review of appeals of promotion and tenure denials.

• Heard a report about the continuation of computer laboratory fees in the Fisher College of Business, the College of Engineering and the School of Public Policy and Management, all proposed to remain at the 1998-99 levels.

• Heard a monthly endowment report from University Treasurer James Nichols. The endowment stood at $1.02 billion May 31.

• Approved 210 contracts totaling $18.9 million for research projects funded in April.

• Approved the sale of $158.7 million in commercial paper to fund 15 construction projects. Commercial paper is sold much like short-term notes.

OSU's Geriatric Dentistry Clinic fills a void in the campus area

When William Davis, retired manager of the Mental Health Department for the state of Ohio, went to visit a patient at the James Cancer Hospital last December, he saw a flier on the wall of an elevator that would forever change his view on dental care for the elderly.

The flier advertised a new geriatric dentistry clinic that was opening in January on the first floor of Postle Hall.

Although he was apprehensive to see a dentist, Davis gave the clinic a call and scheduled an appointment. What Davis did not know was that he would be the first patient to use the new service.

When he went to his appointment, he was greeted with smiles, friendly people and lots of complimentary dental supplies. Even though he ended up having two teeth pulled, along with work on his upper and lower plates, a deep cleaning, a fluoride treatment and treatment for gum disease, he left the clinic feeling better than he ever had after visiting a dental office.

"They make you feel like you're worth fixing even when you walk in there at 70 years old," Davis said. "They took my blood pressure and recommended an over-the-counter product and mouth wash for dry mouth, which I suffer from as a result of my high blood pressure medication. They treated me with respect and dignity and made me feel like I am valued."

The clinic is directed by Abdel Mohammad, professor of geriatric dentistry and oral medicine and editor of Clinicians Guide to Oral Health in Geriatrics Patients. The clinic serves patients ages 60 and older and offers a variety of services that cater specifically to the geriatric dental patient.

The care is tailored to each patient, depending on their physical health, medical limitations and medications they are taking.

"This area of dentistry sees many patients who are medically compromised, with most of the patients on three or more medications," said John Pyke, one of the first students to work in the clinic. "Their treatment requires more skill, training and understanding of how their conditions or medications will affect their treatment."

The clinic is based on a similar geriatric dentistry program Mohammad ran at the University of Southern California. He came to Ohio State in January 1998 with the intention to duplicate the success of the USC clinic.

"I wanted to work with patients who were older, poor and underserved. Many dentists aren't too anxious to work with them because they can't afford to pay or because of other problems such as transportation to the clinic," Mohammad said. "I wanted to offer affordable care for the elderly."

Mohammad received a $7,000 grant from Campus Collaborative, one of nine grants from the University Neighborhoods Seed Grant Program. He started the clinic -- which is staffed by students in the class Geriatrics 522 -- in January with collaboration from the departments of Periodontics, Dental Hygiene and Clinic Affairs, as well as Academic Affairs. Only students in the final stages of training work in the clinic.

The class and clinic rotation, which was once an elective, is now a required part of the dentistry rotation thanks to lobbying work by Mohammad. He said this type of dental training is important for students because of the changing demographics.

"The baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are reaching 50 at an unprecedented rate," Mohammad said. "They're only 15 years away from senior status, so the students who are coming out of school will have to be prepared to work with those patients."

Carol Orders, geriatric clinic administrative assistant and a former dental hygienist for 12 years, said she enjoys working with the patients and thinks that it is a great service.

"Older adults are keeping their teeth longer and staying healthier longer, so there is a real need for this type of service for the patients and training for the students," she said. "Students really need to learn how to treat and work with an aging population."

For those patients who are unable to come to the clinic, Mohammad, Orders and the students take the clinic to them. The clinic works with 14 area nursing homes to provide in-home dental care for the patients.

Betty Hunt, who has worked at Ohio State for some 18 years, most recently as manager of Ohio State's tax office, went to the clinic for work on her dentures. She said the dental care at the clinic is wonderful.

"Everyone here is nice. They put you at ease as soon as you walk into the room," Hunt said. "I think it will go far, and I would recommend it to anyone."

The clinic is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays. Appointments can be made by calling 292-8802.

Political scientist Caldeira named Distinguished Professor

Political scientist Gregory Caldeira, recognized as a national and international leader in public law and judicial politics, has been named a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State.

At the Board of Trustees meeting June 4, Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray awarded Caldeira the title and an annual budget of $10,000 for three years to support his academic work.

"Professor Caldeira's contributions to the University, the national and international political science community, and his students place him among our most accomplished and respected scholars and teachers," Ray said. "He exhibits the values and standards for scholarship that this university holds dear, and he discharges his responsibilities with a degree of excellence to which we all aspire on a daily basis."

Gregory Calderia

Distinguished University Professors continue their regular program of teaching; research, scholarly or creative work; and service. They are nominated by colleagues at Ohio State.

Scholars from outside OSU are invited to assess the quality and significance of each nominee's academic accomplishments. The selection this year was made by a committee that included Larry Brown, chair of the Department of Geography; Jessie Au, professor of pharmacy and surgery; Bruce Bursten, professor of chemistry; Liang-Shih Fan, chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering; and Susan Huntington, vice provost for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School. All are Distinguished University Professors.

Caldeira, a professor of political science, has established himself nationally and internationally as one of the most eminent scholars in the fields of public law and judicial politics in the United States. He also specializes in American political institutions, interest groups, comparative law and courts.

"I cannot think of anyone who has given so much to the study of legal institutions," an external evaluator wrote. "Most of what passes for legal scholarship, within the law schools, is formalistic and nonrigorous. Those of us in the law school world, who look for something better, depend on political scientists like Greg Caldeira to give rigor and substance to the study of legal and governmental institutions."

Another evaluator wrote, "His breadth is quite unusual. Most scholars of institutions study only one branch of government. Caldeira crosses all the lines. This is perhaps a good test for the distinction between a Ôgood' and a Ôdistinguished' scholar."

A member of the Ohio State faculty since 1987, Caldeira was a member of the Distinguished University Professor selection committee in 1996, and was a member of University Senate from 1989 to 1993. Before coming to Ohio State, he was a professor of political science at the University of Iowa.

Invited to speak to trustees, Caldeira emphasized the importance of striving to be a great university.

"Great teaching and research universities are engines of social and economic progress. Great public teaching and research universities are also engines of social mobility," he said, noting that rewarding faculty excellence is one component of achieving overall institutional excellence.

Caldeira said faculty awards combined with competitive rewards to strong departments through such programs as Academic Enrichment and Selective Investment will continue to foster overall excellence - and said they should be carried out in "good years and bad."

He added, "In my view, two of the most important things the board and the administration can do to recruit and retain faculty are to continue and intensify its efforts to bring more high-ability undergraduates to Ohio State, and to support efforts to enhance the quality of the undergraduate experience."

Caldeira has received many awards, including the American Judicature Society Prize for Best Paper on Law and Courts at the 1997 and 1996 annual meetings of the American Political Science Association and the University's Distinguished Scholar Award in 1994.

He has received nearly continuous funding from the National Science Foundation since 1978 and is editor of the American Journal of Political Science, considered by many to be the discipline's top journal.

Caldeira has played a major role in establishing Ohio State's highly regarded graduate program in judicial politics. He also regularly teaches at the undergraduate level, including the introduction to American politics and advanced courses in constitutional law and judicial politics that are central to Ohio State's pre-law program, and at the graduate level.

Caldeira earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from California State University, Stanislaus, and a master's degree and Ph.D. in politics, both from Princeton University.

"In my judgment (Caldeira) is a truly outstanding social scientist who well merits the distinguished professorship," an evaluator wrote. "Greg's extraordinary productivity is well matched by the exceptionally high quality of his research. His work is widely acclaimed and cited by his colleagues in the profession; he would be on anybody's list of the best political scientists in the law and politics field - and he certainly is at the top of mine."

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