By Jo McCulty   Ilee Rhimes Jr. likes what he sees at Ohio State after joining the University as chief information officer in November.

New CIO poised to help OSU meet technology, academic potential

Ilee Rhimes Jr. discovered he had a knack for technology long before computers became mainstream. After a modest start in the military in 1960, he has climbed the technology ladder all the way to the position of chief information officer at Ohio State, where he is in charge of providing the technology leadership and services required to support the implementation of the Academic Plan.

Rhimes joined Ohio State in mid-November, bringing years of varied experiences with him, including similar posts at two Ohio institutions.

It all started in the U.S. Army. After enduring a battery of aptitude tests upon enlisting, Rhimes was schooled in the art of wiring accounting machines. That training was followed by three years as a machine accounting specialist at a supply depot in France.

After the service, Rhimes was hired to wire accounting machines at Loyola University, then worked in leadership positions for technology consulting firms in the private sector. At the same time, he earned both a bachelor of arts degree from Governors State University in University Park, Ill., and a master's degree in business from Miami University in Oxford while attending school at night.

He later served as CIO and associate vice president for business and finance at Kent State University, where he co-wrote and presented papers at national conferences on integrated technology strategic planning, and director of the computer center and computing services at Miami University.

Most recently, Rhimes was vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer for the City Colleges of Chicago, where he structured and led the completion of the PeopleSoft Human Resource system and initiated an integrated technology strategy and planning initiative.

Now, Rhimes will apply his experience toward helping one of the largest universities in the nation meet its technology -- and, at the same time, academic -- potential.

"Ilee's experience and expertise with regard to strategic planning, learning technologies and distributed information technology systems position him well to help the University realize its aspirations with respect to improvements in the effective use of instructional, research and administration information systems," said Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost.

Rhimes said the timing couldn't be better to be at Ohio State.

"This is an exciting time to be here," he said. "With the Academic Plan and the changes in technology taking place, the opportunity to make a difference never has been any greater."

As CIO, Rhimes oversees the Office of Information Technology, Student Information Systems Project, Technology Enhanced Learning and Research (TELR), UNITS and the technology advisory committees.

The mission of the Office of the Chief Information Officer covers quite a bit: The CIO is expected to serve as a leader and advocate for effectively leveraging information and learning technologies to transform and improve the quality of teaching, learning, research, outreach, information systems and decision-making.

But one element of University life remains a priority all the time: supporting implementation of the Academic Plan.

Key objectives Rhimes has set are:

• To provide an empowering technological environment and infrastructure for faculty, students and staff.

• To establish and maintain a distance and distributed learning program that is competitive and reflects the same high level of academic standards and quality.

• To make the best use of technology in transforming teaching, learning, research and business processes.

• To complete and maintain an integrated information system with data warehousing and decision-support capabilities.

But there are some universal challenges inherent in being CIO of a major university, Rhimes said.

"The challenge is to leverage the resources you have to best meet the needs of the University," he said.

Other possible obstacles may be keeping up with rapidly changing technologies and meeting the sharply increasing demand for technology; initiating and sustaining change; and keeping the campus community informed of major projects, such as improvements to the infrastructure.

Rhimes said the CIO's office is establishing a process that will result in a technology strategic plan within the next fiscal year, something that he was involved in at three previous university positions. He said the plan will help define Ohio State's priorities and future with regard to advancing technology.

After two short months on campus, Rhimes said he is impressed with Ohio State.

"I've enjoyed the people, and the energy they bring," Rhimes said. "I think that the people I've met seem to be genuinely interested in doing what is best for the University."

Regional campuses to offer business degrees

A recent decision by Ohio State's Council on Academic Affairs (CAA) makes it possible to earn a Fisher College of Business undergraduate degree through Ohio State's regional campuses at Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark.

The latest in distance learning technologies will bring the new general business major to regional campus students via computer and modem, coupled with traditional classroom instruction. The new major is slated to begin with a pilot program in September 2001. The courses and delivery method have been tailored to meet the needs of nontraditional students who already hold positions in Ohio's small and mid-size firms as well as for those who aspire to careers in business.

"Ongoing education and professional development are essential for the continued economic health and prosperity of the state," said President William E. Kirwan. "This new program will make it possible for those who are an essential part of Ohio's economic picture to develop new skills and gain knowledge that will help them be even more effective in an extremely competitive marketplace."

Fisher College has been developing the distance learning support for the new regional campus academic program with a $1.5 million grant it received from the Dorney Fund through the Cleveland Foundation this summer. Rebecca Andre, coordinator of instructional technology for the college's undergraduate business program, has been working with Fisher College faculty members who will be teaching the courses to transform their material into Internet-based formats.

"Students will access lecture notes, link to other materials, preview video clips and participate in online discussions," Andre said.

The business courses will include the group work typical of business education and the business environment itself, with each member of the team contributing to the whole product and posting his or her component online. Faculty will hold online office hours and drop in on online chat rooms to review the stream of conversation and comment or respond to questions or issues raised, said David A. Schilling, professor of management sciences at Fisher College and academic director for the new major.

The new general business major will consist of 13 junior- and senior- level classes, about half of which are core business courses, and the rest, general business electives, Schilling said. An entrepreneurship course is planned as the capstone course. Students will begin courses in the new general business major after completing general education and business foundation courses.

"We are very pleased to make Fisher College's top-20 undergraduate program available to Ohioans through the University's regional campus system," said Joseph A. Alutto, dean of the college. U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges Year 2000 Guide gave Fisher College's undergraduate program a ranking of 16th nationally. Fisher College's undergraduate, MBA and Ph.D. programs are accredited by the AACSB.

Students will register for the new business major courses through Ohio State's Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark campuses. Upon completion, they will receive the same undergraduate degree in business that they would have received if they had attended classes at Fisher College on the Columbus campus.

Anna Rzewnicki is media relations coordinator for Fisher College.

Hazing cited in fraternity suspension

The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chapter at Ohio State has been suspended for at least two years by both the University and the national Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for hazing and other violations.

An investigation by the fraternity's alumni officers and University officials revealed that the chapter had participated in unsanctioned "intake" sessions with prospective new members during fall quarter 2000. During these sessions, which violated the fraternity's regulations on new member recruitment, prospective members were subjected to physical and verbal abuse, a violation of Ohio State's Code of Student Conduct.

Two prospective members were injured seriously enough to require medical care. The University and the fraternity advisers have reported the incidents to Columbus Police.

"These are very serious violations and require an immediate and strong response," said William H. Hall, interim vice president for student affairs at Ohio State. "There is no place for hazing in the Greek community or elsewhere at this University."

The University and the fraternity have jointly suspended Alpha Phi Alpha through Jan. 11, 2003. The chapter will be on probation for an additional year, from Jan. 12, 2003, to Jan. 12, 2004.

While suspended, the chapter will not be a recognized student organization at Ohio State and, therefore, may not use University facilities, advisers or funds. It also may not participate in Pan-Hellenic Council activities, including recruitment of new members, or in intramural sports or other University activities. The chapter, which currently has seven active members, does not have a chapter facility.

Individual students who are alleged to have violated the Code of Student Conduct will be required to go through Ohio State's student judicial system. If found to be in violation, they could face University sanctions ranging from warnings or probation to permanent dismissal from the University.

Alpha Phi Alpha is the sixth Ohio State fraternity chapter to be sanctioned within the last year. The most recent suspension, of Sigma Alpha Epsilon in early January, was for numerous violations of University and fraternity policies.

Hall noted the strong partnership with the national Alpha Phi Alpha organization in handling this situation.

"This has been a joint effort," he said. "The national Alpha Phi Alpha organization and its local alumni leaders are as disappointed about these incidents as we are. They are adamant that the chapter be strongly disciplined for the violations. I am grateful for their support and assistance, and I hope that in two years we can work with them to bring Alpha Phi Alpha back to Ohio State."

The fraternity "will not tolerate or condone violations of the membership intake process or its Standing Orders, which outline the behavioral standards of the national organization," said Samuel DeShazior, Midwestern regional vice president of Alpha Phi Alpha. "In partnership with The Ohio State University, we seek to provide safe and enriching fraternity experiences for students who seek membership within the organization and Greek life in general."

The national fraternity, in addition to concurring with Ohio State's discipline, may impose further sanctions on the chapter and individual members.

Kappa chapter, the 10th Alpha Phi Alpha chapter to be organized, has been at Ohio State since 1911, and has a rich history of community service and distinguished alumni. The fraternity's national headquarters are in Baltimore.