OSU education continues to be a good value

Financial analysis compares University with benchmark, Ohio institutions

Ohio State continues to offer an exceptional educational experience at a reasonable cost, particularly when compared with top public institutions in other states and other schools in Ohio, Senior Vice President for Business and Finance William J. Shkurti told the University's Board of Trustees March 2.

Shkurti outlined how the University's revenues and spending compare with benchmark institutions -- nine universities that are highly ranked academically and comparable to Ohio State in mission, size and configuration. They are Pennsylvania State University and the universities of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and California, Los Angeles.

"When compared to benchmark institutions, Ohio State has about 20 percent less resources per student, yet continues to improve the quality of its academic programs and the quality of the experience of its students,"Shkurti said. "This University continues to be a tremendous value to the taxpayers of Ohio."

Ohio State still trails the benchmark average of revenue per student in all major categories, but has improved significantly in most areas, Shkurti said. At $25,987, Ohio State has 20 percent fewer resources per student than the $32,940 average of its peers. Annual resident undergraduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are 3.8 percent below the average of $4,554 for benchmark institutions, he said, and 5.4 percent below the $4,635 average of other Ohio institutions. UCLA has the highest revenue per student at $43,969, while Penn State has the highest in-state tuition at $7,018.

Compared to benchmark institutions, Shkurti said that Ohio State spends above the average for instruction and public service, but well below the average for most other noninstructional services. The University spent 126 percent of the benchmark average for public service and 106 percent of the average for instruction, but significantly less on support services -- such as physical plant and student support services -- outside the classroom.

Despite budget challenges, Shkurti said Ohio State continues to improve the quality of its academic programs and the quality of the student experience. Ohio State was ranked 35th in academic reputation by U.S. News & World Report in 1998 (compared to 37th in 1997) and has an annual in-state tuition of $4,383 for the 2000-01 academic year, while Miami University was ranked 68th with tuition of $6,403.

Ohio University was ranked 84th and had tuition of $5,085, the University of Cincinnati ranked 134th with tuition of $5,337, and Kent State University was ranked 155th with tuition of $5,286.

Board approves new student conduct code

The University Board of Trustees on March 2 approved a revised Code of Student Conduct that more clearly defines procedures for handling allegations of academic misconduct as well as nonacademic violations, and extends the University's jurisdiction to select off-campus offenses.

The code will go into effect on March 26, the first day of spring quarter.

The revisions, the first since 1994, raise the standard of evidence required for a student to be found in violation of the code from "a preponderance of the evidence"to "clear and convincing evidence"in cases of nonacademic misconduct.

The former code applied to on-campus conduct of students and to off-campus conduct relating to registered student organizations or to any educational activity or field experience associated with course requirements or University-sponsored programs.

The new code extends the University's jurisdiction to a broader range of off-campus activities, including:

• those that cause substantial destruction of property belonging to the University or members of the University community, or that cause serious harm to the health or safety of members of the University community, or

• those in which a police report has been filed, a summons or indictment has been issued, or an arrest has occurred for a crime of violence.

Language has been clarified throughout the document, and guidelines for sanctions that may be imposed by the University are more specifically defined. In addition, the number of students participating on the University judicial panel adjudicating nonacademic cases has been increased.

"I believe the revised code provides all members of the University community, especially students, with a fair, consistent and educationally purposeful process for resolving allegations of student misconduct,"said William H. Hall, interim vice president for student affairs. "I also believe that the language permitting enhanced -- but limited -- off-campus jurisdiction is very reasonable in its reach, and does much to help protect our community members, especially students, from harm."

University Senate approved the code on Feb. 10. The Senate resolution for approval was co-sponsored by the Council on Student Affairs and the Steering and Rules committees. The revised code has received the support of Undergraduate Student Government, the Council of Graduate Students and the Inter-Professional Council.

The new code is available on the Student Affairs Web site: www.osu.edu/units/stuaff/index.php.

Ferrari earns award, to lecture in Mansfield

Mauro Ferrari, director of the Biomedical Engineering Center at Ohio State, has received the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce's "Ambassador Award"as an individual who best represents Greater Columbus to the nation and the world.

Ferrari also is associate director of the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute and the scientific founder of iMEDD Inc., a drug delivery company founded on his ground-breaking work with micro-engineering technology, known as BioMEMS (Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical System). Ferrari has relocated iMEDD from Silicon Valley to Columbus to join the Ohio MicroMD lab at the Science and Technology Campus Corp.

Ferrari is scheduled to discuss nanotechnology in medicine March 22 at OSU's Mansfield campus. Held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in 212 Bromfield Hall, Ferrari's free, public talk is part of an Arts and Lecture Series.

next page...