The Board of Trustees heard a proposed parking plan during its Oct. 6 meeting that recommends three new garages and at least 1,500 new parking spaces to serve the south campus and Medical Center areas.

Barbara Chance, president and CEO of CHANCE Management Advisors Inc., presented the South Campus/Health Sciences District Parking Plan. Because of the rapid pace of development in this area, it is imperative that sites are reserved now for new parking facilities, or the University not only will experience a severe parking shortage, but also will be unable to effectively remedy the situation, Chance said.

South campus is defined as the area east of Neil Avenue, south of South Oval Drive, west of High Street and north of West 10th Avenue. The Health Sciences area is roughly defined as lying west of Neil Avenue, north of King Avenue, east of the river and south of the recreation fields and tennis courts.

The parking plan recommends three different garages in that area: near Rhodes Hall (for patient and medical staff, freeing up spaces in other areas); behind Cunz Hall in the vicinity of the Larkins addition (for permit holders); and directly behind the 11th Avenue garage, on 10th Avenue (which could incorporate housing for medical students), Chance said. It recommends phased construction of garages at Lane Avenue (across from the Fisher College of Business), the Rhodes Hall lot, and the Cunz Hall lot "as quickly as possible,"with later construction of the Tenth Avenue garage.

Funding would come from resources already available to Transportation and Parking Services.

The draft South Campus/Health Sciences District Parking Plan was prepared by a consultant team led by CHANCE, after an exhaustive study which included interviews with Health Sciences faculty and deans; University Senate leadership; and staff, student leaders and community representatives, including the city of Columbus and Campus Partners. It is in step with a five-year Transportation and Parking Master Plan approved by trustees in 1998, which addresses the need for additional parking garages and permit fee increases over the next three years, among other items.

The draft was presented to the board for review and comment. It will be presented at a later date for action.

The entire parking plan can be accessed via Transportation and Parking's Web site at www.tp.ohio-state.edu., which includes a bulletin board for posting comments.

Endowment earns 20 percent return

University Treasurer James L. Nichols updated trustees on the University's endowment, which stands at $1.31 billion.

In his quarterly report, Nichols stated the endowment stood at $1.29 billion as the quarter ended June 30. In comparison, the endowment was $345 million in 1990, Nichols said. The total number of funds now exceeds 2,838.

The return for the fiscal year ending June 30 was 20 percent, while the five-year rate of return was 18.3 percent. Nichols said the University's 20 percent rate of return was significantly greater than the 7 to 8 percent for the average college or university.

The amount distributed to colleges and departments last year was $45.7 million.

Strategic investment fund approved

Trustees approved a proposal for the establishment of a Strategic Investment Fund allowing for flexible allocations of cash to implement the Academic Plan. Initially, the fund will be comprised annually of $5.5 million in general funds freed up by making the Office of Development self-supporting (approved by trustees in July), $3 million in Research Challenge funds already appropriated, and additional funding sources as approved by the board. The account can be increased to up to $25 million annually.

The Strategic Investment Fund may be expended at the discretion of President William E. Kirwan, in consultation with Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray, for one-time investments related to strategic goals, including but not limited to facilities, start-up packages, equipment and professional development. The Research Challenge funds used will support only investments related to research in consultation with the vice president for research and consistent with all applicable state laws and policies.

The amount of money available in the account will be included in the annual budget process.

Trustees authorize construction work

Trustees authorized the University to hire architects and engineering firms and to seek construction bids for three projects, and approved contracts awarded for five others.

• Designers will be hired and bids sought for a $1 million theater addition to Reed Hall on the Lima campus. Funding is provided by donations to the Lima campus.

• Renovation of the primary teaching auditorium used by the College of Veterinary Medicine, room 1067 of the Veterinary Hospital, will proceed at a projected cost of $684,000.

• A new vibration monitoring system for the backpressure turbine generator in the McCracken Power Plant will be installed. The estimated cost is $300,000.

Trustees also heard reports of contracts awarded for:

• Replacement of the 1957 and '59 sections of Sisson Hall for the College of Veterinary Medicine, expected to be completed by April 2003. The total cost is $26 million.

• Renovation of Medical Parking Garages H & J at a cost of $11 million, to be completed by November 2001.

• The addition of two cardiac catheterization labs in Rhodes Hall at a cost of $3.1 million, funded by University Hospitals, to be completed this fall.

• Construction of a 52-stall barn and associated space for the Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, to be completed this fall. The projected cost is $1.1 million.

• Upgrades to restrooms, elevators, hallways and corridors are under way at Campbell Hall. The $1 million project is expected to be completed this fall.

Transfer of property, easement approved

Trustees also approved the transfer of property at 1900, 1960 and 1991 Kenny Road, from the University Endowment to the General Fund. The land will continue to be used by the University and will be maintained by the Department of Physical Facilities.

Columbia Gas of Ohio Inc. was granted an easement across University property located along West Lane Avenue near the intersection of North Star Road to install a gas line.

Research funds accepted

Trustees accepted new research funds that will enable the University to pursue new frontiers in technology and cancer research, among numerous other projects. Trustees accepted 239 new research contracts and grants for a total of $24.1 million awarded to the University during August.

On the medical front, Young C. Lin, professor of veterinary biosciences, and his research group are conducting a project to evaluate the potential utility of gossypol (GP), a compound found in cottonseed oil, as a dietary chemo-preventive agent for breast cancer. Research findings have shown the natural form of GP in the oil to be more potent than the chemically purified pharmaceutical form. Funded by a $330,000 grant from the Army Medical Command, the project will study whether the consumption of foods containing cottonseed oil can provide sufficient GP to achieve desired biological effects without toxicity.

Another Army Medical Command grant of $437,000 is funding a study by Charis Eng, associate professor of internal medicine, and her colleagues at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center, on the PTEN gene, a tumor suppressor gene. A PTEN mutation causes Cowden Syndrome, an under-diagnosed hereditary cancer syndrome, and the Ohio State researchers are looking for the gene's effect in noninherited cancers. If the molecular genetic study determines that the PTEN gene is a new breast and thyroid cancer gene, then early detection screening for the gene could provide patients with a greater chance for survival.

Campaign figures highlight development report

Final figures on the Ohio State "Affirm Thy Friendship"Campaign highlighted the report by Vice President for University Development Jerry May to trustees Oct. 6. The five-year campaign officially closed June 30, and raised more than $1.23 billion for important University programs and priorities.

Development efforts will now focus on the University's future, including a number of major building and endowment projects as well as scholarships, fellowships and annual giving support.

In further business, trustees accepted seven new named endowed funds, totaling $1.05 million. Topping the list was a $750,000 gift from the estate of well-known realtor A. Robert Kent, establishing the Mary Jo and A. Robert Kent Ophthalmology Research Fund. The annual income from the fund will support medical research on diseases of the eye, with particular emphasis on macular degeneration.

Other funds established are:

• The Bacome Family Endowment Fund, $100,000.

• The Samuel B. and Shelia S. Davis Athletic Scholarship Fund, $100,000.

• The Forrest Walker Huff Agricultural Vice President's Fund, $27,750.

• The Barbara S. Stein Memorial Scholarship Fund, $25,055.

• The Kathryn Johnston Equine Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

• The Diana and Gary K. Sims Endowment Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

Office created, provost approved

Trustees approved the creation of the Office of International Affairs and the appointment of the office's associate provost, Jerry Ladman. The office will improve coordination among international programs throughout the University; enhance access to these programs for students, faculty, staff and the broader community; and provide the stimulus for expanding and enhancing the University's international presence. This will include exploring the possibility of a degree-granting School of International and Public Affairs.