Office of Research seeking proposals

The Ohio Plan (TOP), put forth in the Board of Regents budget request for the next biennium, calls for $150 million per year to fund multidisciplinary, multi-institutional programs in biotechnology, information technology and nanotechnology at up to $50 million per program. If TOP is included in the governor's budget and funded by the legislature, programs will be selected competitively on the basis of scientific quality and economic effectiveness.

The University is moving quickly to define key multidisciplinary activities at Ohio State that have the potential to dovetail with activities on other campuses around the state. Proposals in the form of a short letter describing the specific research direction, the planning activities and product thereof, and the budget required should be submitted to the Office of Research by Jan. 3, 2001.

Commitments from this fiscal year's funds will be made by Jan. 31, 2001.

For details, contact the Office of Research at 292-1582 or visit its Web site at http://research.rf.ohio-state.edu/

Office launches new Web bulletin board

The Office of University Relations is offering a new communications tool to help facilitate the flow of information across campus. A new Web site -- called the Community Bulletin Board (www.osu.edu/osutoday/index.html) -- will feature interesting and useful information such as a Diversity Calendar, lectures, entertainment, grant opportunities, awards and personnel news. The news pages will be updated daily, and items will remain online for several days.

The Community Bulletin Board will be accessible via a prominent link from daily OSU Today e-mail messages. For details, contact osutoday@osu.edu.

HomeNet, Internet upgrades scheduled

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 12, HomeNet service will be unavailable while the building power at the Telecommunications Network Center is upgraded. Service should be restored in two hours.

At the same time, the Office of Information Technology will be making hardware changes to the campus Internet, which will cause intermittent outages of some Internet services for the entire campus until 8 a.m. Dec. 12.

For technical details, contact Jim Tufano at 292-0548 or tufano.1@osu.edu.

Outback Bowl trip packages go on sale

Join faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day to watch the Buckeyes play in the 2001 Outback Bowl. Packages are being offered by the Office of Student Affairs and the Alumni Association.

For details and rates, visit the Web at www.osu.edu/bowlgame.

Distinguished Staff nominations sought

The Office of Human Resources is accepting nominations for the 2001 Distinguished Staff Awards through Jan. 19, 2001.

Staff members should be nominated based on exceptional accomplishments, leadership and service to the University. Twelve award winners will be honored at a June 2001 luncheon and receive a $1,500 cash award and $700 base salary increase.

All part-time and full-time staff with a minimum of three years of continuous service at Ohio State are eligible.

For details, contact Ned Cullom at 292-4341 or visit the Web at www.ohr.ohio-state.edu/special/specevents.htm.

Funds available for outreach projects

University Outreach/Engagement and OSU CARES are accepting proposals for seed funding of new or enhanced outreach and engagement initiatives. The University Outreach/Engagement grants are made available as the result of funding through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Phase II of FSPE Leadership Development for Institutional Change. OSU CARES is an initiative led by OSU Extension and jointly funded by the Office of the President and OSU Extension.

University Outreach/Engagement will be awarding grants of up to $25,000 and OSU CARES will be awarding grants of up to $10,000. Grant proposals are due Jan. 12, 2001. To obtain a copy of the request for proposals and guidelines, visit the Web at www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~engage or www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~osucares.

For details, contact Karen Bruns at 292-9613 or bruns.1@osu.edu, or Tracie Stanley at 688-3041 or stanley.119@osu.edu.

Seminar connects politics, Internet

Kathleen McGraw, professor of political science, will present "E-Connection: Legislators' Use of the Internet to Explain Controversial Votes," from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8 in 300 Fisher Hall.

The lecture is part of an interdisciplinary seminar series, "Democratic Electrons: The Political and Policy Implications of the Internet," sponsored by the School of Public Policy and Management. The series will meet twice per quarter and is supported by the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Program, Office of Research and the Graduate School.

For details, contact Mary K. Marvel at 292-7423.

Lecture to explore library digitization

John Howard, librarian for information technology at Harvard College Library, will be at University Libraries Dec. 11 to speak about library digitization projects designed for users. He will also explore the implications of digitization projects on library infrastructure, reference services and information literacy.

The lecture will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 122 Main Library.

For details, call 292-2594 or visit the Web at www.lib.ohio-state.edu/welweb.

Center hosts maple syrup workshop

"Maple 101 -- An Introduction to Maple Syrup Production" will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at OSU-Piketon Centers.

The workshop will cover all aspects of maple syrup production, and includes a field demonstration at Mapleberry Farm and a pancake and sausage lunch. The cost of the workshop is $15 (192-page manual included) or $10 (without manual).

For details or to register, call (740) 289-2071.

Forage management course offered

Ohio State's Forage Production Short Course, a three-day course, will be offered at three sites this winter. Curriculum will cover all aspects of forages, but the emphasis will be on management, or treating forage as a crop.

Dates, locations and telephone numbers to register are:

• Dec. 11, 13, and 14, Maria Stein, Retreat Center, (419) 586-2179.

• Jan. 8-10, Defiance, OSU Extension office, (419) 782-4771.

• Jan. 22, 23 and 25, Zanesville, Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, (740) 454-0144.

Each site is limited to 30 participants, and a $50 pre-registration fee is required.

For registration materials, visit the Web at www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~forages/ and click on "Events."

Travel agencies announce changes

Effective Dec. 1, the University's authorized travel agencies -- Uniglobe Travel Designers and Peoples Travel -- have implemented a $10 service fee for each airline ticket booked.

Also, Peoples Travel has notified the University that it intends to cancel its existing contract. Peoples will provide travel services through Feb. 1, 2001, or until other options for pre-payment of airfare can be established.

For details, contact Julie Townsend, travel coordinator, at 292-9439 or townsend.57@osu.edu.