Highlights from the Feb. 2 meeting of the Board of Trustees:

Distinguished service

By Jo McCulty President Kirwan presents Frank W. Hale Jr., distinguished University representative and consultant, with the Commission on Human Rights and Social Change Distinguished Service Award during the Board of Trustees meeting at the Younkin Success Center Feb. 2. Each year, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges awards the honor to a leader in higher education who is making major contributions to improve access, increase diversity and enhance the undergraduate experience.

Kirwan comments on Ohio budget proposal

In remarks to the University Board of Trustees on Feb. 2, President William E. Kirwan commended Ohio Gov. Bob Taft for "recognizing the need to build Ohio's high-technology economy," citing Taft's request for $40 million to begin funding The Ohio Plan in support of higher education's efforts in biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology.

The budget plan also supports development of biomedical research facilities at Ohio's three major research universities.

"These initiatives will provide the basic knowledge, infrastructure and work force to help make Ohio a leader in these emerging fields," Kirwan said.

Kirwan also praised the governor for supporting Ohio State's and the Ohio Board of Regents' request for temporary relief from the 6 percent tuition cap. Should the cap exemption be granted by the General Assembly, Kirwan pointed out that the increase in funds would be directed toward improving the quality of undergraduate education at Ohio State.

Kirwan expressed disappointment that the state budget proposal recommends an annual growth of only 2 percent for instructional support, rather than the 5 percent recommended by the regents. "These funds are needed to cover increased enrollments system-wide and to help every institution defray costs of utilities, computers, personnel and other resources necessary to operate a modern university," Kirwan said. "We recognize that this is a difficult time for state legislators as they deal with K-12 funding, Medicaid and other challenges, and we will be working with the General Assembly to achieve a better outcome for our instructional support from the state."

Kirwan assured the trustees that, though this may be the "most difficult budget since the early 1990s," the University is committed to moving forward with the Academic Plan, its blueprint for making Ohio State one of the nation's top public universities.

G-QUE proposals reported to board

Recommendations resulting from a study of the graduate student experience at Ohio State include strengthening academic programs, professional development and training, and enhancing career advising and placement services for graduate students.

The recommendations are among eight contained in a sweeping report on graduate education at Ohio State -- the first such study of its kind in the country.

G-QUE (Graduate Quality of University Experience) is a joint project of the Graduate School and the Council of Graduate Students. Besides a survey of students, information for the report was sought via surveys of graduate studies chairs, department chairs, deans and students who were accepted to but did not enroll at Ohio State, as well as through interviews and published materials.

Though the project primarily is designed to enhance the graduate student experience, Graduate School Dean Susan Huntington told trustees during an update on G-QUE that pursuit of the report's proposals ultimately will advance Ohio State's reputation nationally.

Among actions planned to address the first two recommendations are expansion of training for graduate teaching associates and the launch of a career/job placement service for graduate students, said Huntington, also vice provost for graduate studies.

In addition, she said the report suggests that academic preparation of graduate students should be reshaped to prepare students for multiple careers, changing job trends and interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.

New title for Moser reflects changes

Bobby D. Moser's title has been amended to include an outreach component. Reflecting a change approved by trustees, Moser is now vice president for agricultural administration and University outreach, and executive dean in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Moser has been asked to take on additional and more formally designated responsibilities in the areas of outreach and engagement. He has been a campus leader in outreach for several years, including his role in heading the President's Council on Outreach and Engagement.

In his capacity as vice president for University outreach, Moser will have both direct and coordinating responsibility for many facets of outreach, from the traditional programs to newly emerging opportunities.

Interim director leads internal audit office

Trustees received an update from William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, on the Department of Internal Audit work plan. The mid-year report is in response to a request by the fiscal committee to periodically review work plans and other activities involving internal audit functions.

Shkurti announced the appointment of Kevin Patton as interim director. Patton will replace Aletha Shipley, the current director, who is moving to Florida.

Trustees also heard a routine mid-year budget report. Reporting on general fund resources, Shkurti said that finances are stable for FY 2001. Enrollment and medical center figures continue to be monitored, as are the Department of Athletics and the Schottenstein Center, and benefit costs for faculty and staff. Shkurti said that while it appears there will be no cuts in higher education, the legislative outcome is more uncertain than in previous years.

Fiscal, academic actions authorized

In other business, the board:

• Authorized the University to proceed with small capital improvement projects, each estimated at $1 million or less, to be undertaken in 2001.

• Approved the renaming of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics and Aviation to the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation, and the renaming of the Department of Marketing to the Department of Marketing and Logistics.

• Approved the naming of the Food Industries Center, located in Howlett Hall of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environment Sciences, in honor of Wilbur A. Gould, former director of the center, who served on Ohio State's food processing and technology faculty for nearly 40 years.

• Approved the administrative renaming of the Floriculture Research and Biocontainment Facility, 670 Tharp St., as the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center.

Trustees also approved the following construction-related items:

• Selection of qualified architectural/engineering firms for Phase II of the Doan and Rhodes Halls material handling system, Sisson Hall complete shelled space, and Wexner Center for the Arts building renovations.

• Award of contract for a central chilled water plant at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster.

Gifts, research grants accepted

The board accepted 323 research grants and contracts awarded during November and December 2000 and totaling nearly $32 million. Trustees also accepted more than $900,000 in gifts received during December to establish the following endowed funds:

• The Retrieving the American Past Fund, $140,000.

• The Ralph E. "Dutch" Schramm Scholarship Fund in Animal Sciences, $100,328.

• The Dorothy Bliss Student Enrichment Fund, $100,000.

• The Howard R. Steele Memorial Fund in Chemical Engineering, $100,000.

• The Dorothy Bliss Endowed Scholarship Fund, $90,000.

• The Community Cultural Arts Endowment Fund, $75,695.

• The Marvene E. Riggs Endowment Fund to Support Cancer Research, $73,325.

• The Wade Orthodontic Education Center Fund, $41,610.

• The Elwood and Nellie Ellis II MBA Fellowship Fund, $32,409.

• Non-Traditional Student Fund in the College of Human Ecology, $30,280.

• Zachary Halley Memorial Cancer Research Endowment Fund, $27,802.

• The Daniel G. Amstutz International Trade Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

• The Mary Jo and A. Robert Kent Endowment Fund for Cancer Research, $25,000.

• The Jared Robert Nodelman Humanities Scholar Endowed Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

• The Tuckerman Family Endowment Fund for Children's Programs, $25,000.

• The Christos I. Yessios Endowment Fund, $22,185.