University Museum

Photos by Nathan Robinson and Kevin Fitzsimons Students examine items on display in the new University Museum during its grand opening on Feb. 28 in University Hall. The Ohio Staters Inc. developed the museum, which showcases the OSU student experience in the early part of the 20th century.

Advocates help seek state support for OSU

Ohio State's advocacy network has been called on -- literally -- to help seek statewide support for the University's request for tuition cap relief.

On Feb. 22, almost 100 advocates joined President Brit Kirwan in a massive conference call to find out how they could play a role in generating support for a temporary OSU exemption from an expected 6 percent cap on tuition increases at state institutions. The exemption is considered critical to funding key initiatives in the University's Academic Plan.

"This conference call concept is a new initiative for us," said Dan Heinlen, president and CEO of the Alumni Association, which oversees the Ohio State Advocates program. "This tells us how important the Impact Ohio plan is to Ohio State University."

The Ohio State Advocates program informs and encourages alumni and friends of the University to communicate with members of the Ohio General Assembly and other elected officials regarding issues of importance to Ohio State and higher education. Advocates are volunteers appointed to build and maintain relationships with local legislators to convey OSU's and higher education's position on legislative issues.

During the conference call, Kirwan outlined the Academic Plan's six sweeping strategies and emphasized that temporary relief from the tuition cap has been identified as a funding source for initiatives targeted specifically at improving undergraduate education. Under the proposed exemption, which must be approved by the General Assembly, Ohio State would assess $144 in in-state undergraduate tuition and fees above the standard 6 percent increase for a period of six years.

Need-based financial aid budgets would be adjusted to ensure that no qualified student would be denied admission to Ohio State because of financial reasons.

Gov. Bob Taft included the exemption in his budget proposal, and the Ohio Board of Regents and other public universities in the state have endorsed the concept of an Ohio State exemption.

Kirwan acknowledged that some students have expressed concerns about the tuition increase during recent student forums, but he added, "What has impressed many of us is that when most students hear the two principles of this proposal -- adjusting financial aid and targeting the funding toward reducing class sizes, eliminating course close-outs, improving advising and providing more advanced technology -- they are supportive."

During a question-and-answer session with advocates, Kirwan addressed some callers' concerns that higher tuition and more stringent academic standards could deter some students from seeking admission to Ohio State.

"The whole thrust of the Academic Plan is to elevate the quality of the University," he said. "We will be more aggressive in recruiting talented students, and will make Ohio State a magnet for the best-prepared students coming out of Ohio's schools. I'm confident that as the quality goes up and tuition remains reasonable, we're going to do very, very well -- even better than we do now -- at attracting students to the University.

"And we have made an absolute commitment to address need-based financial aid," he added. "We want economic diversity here, too. We never want Ohio State to be a place students can't attend because of financial reasons."

Kirwan told advocates that "there is a great excitement here on campus about where we're headed, and about what would happen here with tuition cap relief and its support for Academic Plan strategies. If we have that breakthrough, we'll see both the plan and the University take a big step forward."

Campus Campaign kicks off annual drive

Campus Campaign organizers are shooting for the stars as Ohio State kicks off its annual faculty and staff fund-raising drive.

Campaign posters depicting stars and rocket ships reflect the theme for the 2001 campaign: "The Sky's The Limit." Additionally, a March 5 kickoff featured artifacts from the missions of astronauts John Glenn and Nancy Currie, an Ohio State graduate who rode the shuttle into space in 1995; a presentation by the Department of Astronomy featuring Ohio State research in outer space; and original scripts from Star Trek. President Brit Kirwan and Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel also appeared at this year's kickoff.

Linda Johnson, director of the Campus Campaign and associate director of annual giving programs in the Office of Development, said the theme symbolizes Ohio State's many missions in its quest for academic excellence.

The campaign has raised nearly $70 million in receipts since it began in 1985. Johnson said last year's campaign raised $7.4 million, with the class of 2000 giving an additional $46,500.

The campaign rallying cry is the traditional "I Believe in Ohio State" slogan.

"The Campus Campaign has given us the opportunity to seek out what is most meaningful to us that Ohio State has to offer," Johnson said. "With Ohio State as diverse as it is, there's something here for everyone to believe in."

The campaign occurs year-round but intensifies each spring when more than 1,000 volunteers work together to coordinate individual college and departmental campaigns. Some of the "mini" campaigns devised over the years have included a scavenger hunt across campus, pizza parties, and pie-throwing and kiss-a-pig contests.

"The campaign's not just for fund-raising but for friend-raising and morale boosting," Johnson said.

This year's co-chairs are Mary Ellen Jenkins, assistant dean and honors director for the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences, and Charles Babcock, professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Greek and Latin.

Babcock, a member of the committee that in 1985 proposed the establishment of a campus campaign, said it has exceeded his expectations.

"I didn't know how successful it would be," he said. "The key is that you can direct the contributions to any department, program or unit that you have a particular interest in."

Johnson said the University's Campus Campaign has an outstanding reputation.

"Ohio State remains the No. 1 internal fund-raiser in higher education," she said. "Other institutions look to us as a role model for faculty and staff fund raising."

For details, contact Johnson at 292-3065 or ccampaign@osu.edu.

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