University pursues strategy for technology enhanced learning

Ohio State is striving to maximize its potential with the creation of a Universitywide technology enhanced learning strategy.

A Distance Education Committee appointed in April recently presented the Board of Trustees with an institutional vision to use learning technologies to enhance, support and expand the research, teaching and service mission of the University.

Bobby Moser, vice president for agricultural administration and University outreach, said that the bottom line is that Ohio State is doing a lot more with learning technologies than many people realize.

"What separates Ohio State from other schools is that we are working to blend technology with the University's traditional mission," Moser told trustees on June 29. "We want to set the standard for the 21st century land-grant institution and maximize the intellectual capital of Ohio State by using learning technologies to enhance, support and expand our research, teaching and outreach missions."

Many colleges at Ohio State are involved in delivering online degrees and courses. For example, the College of Nursing has developed four specialty options in the master's program now available in an online format, and the College of Pharmacy provides an online doctorate in pharmacy. The College of Humanities has created a Web-based American history course, and the Fisher College of Business uses online course materials in the Executive MBA program.

"What has emerged from the committee's evaluations is that there are a lot of excellent initiatives at Ohio State using learning technologies," said committee member Alice Stewart, director of strategic analysis and resource planning. "What we're trying to create is an institution where technology enhanced learning becomes the norm. We're working to find ways that the University can support faculty and encourage the application of technology as a natural extension of other tools to disseminate knowledge."

The presentation to trustees completed Phase I of the committee's work, which examined the status of technology enhanced learning and distance education at Ohio State, benchmarked against other institutions, and prepared a vision and conceptual model. The strategy being developed would:

• Place emphasis on faculty knowledge, the core asset of the University;

• Use technology to bring research and teaching closer together; and

• Provide faculty with tools that facilitate the teaching process, similar to the way e-mail has facilitated communication.

Phase II will consist of moving technology enhanced learning into a more prominent role that supports the goals of the Academic Plan, Stewart said. It also will help assess the market and identify the means for effectively reaching students on campus and beyond.

"If you think about what the technology support in the classroom was like 10 years ago, we've made a quantum leap at Ohio State," she said. "Technology is evolving in ways that enable us to dramatically change how we provide instruction."

Chief Information Officer Ilee Rhimes said that approximately 80 percent of the colleges currently use basic communication technology such as e-mail, threaded discussions and live chat rooms, and use the Web to post announcements and course syllabi.

Rhimes said Ohio State will benefit tremendously from the expanded use of information technology to enhance learning. Besides supporting the goals of the Academic Plan, the model will align faculty goals with new opportunities and distinguish Ohio State with its "knowledge first" approach.

New department status, transfer

The board approved the establishment of a Department of Comparative Studies in the College of Humanities. Department status was granted to the former Division of Comparative Studies in the Humanities in recognition of its expanded scope since its 1990 formation as a tenure-initiating unit. Since that time, the number of faculty has increased, and undergraduate major and minor programs and a graduate MA program have been developed.

The transfer of the Hospitality Management Program from the Department of Human Nutrition and Food Management to the Department of Consumer and Textiles Sciences in the College of Human Ecology was also approved by the board. The move reflects a change in focus in the program from food preparation to managing resources in the hospitality industry.

Endowed funds accepted by trustees

Trustees accepted nearly $450,000 in gifts to the University to establish named endowed funds:

• The Keenan-Slettebak Reading Room Fund in Astronomy, $56,000.

• The Helen Strow International Programs Fund in the College of Human Ecology, $52,455.

• The Bill Myles Athletic Scholarship Fund, $50,000.

• The Ohio State University Military Dependents Merit Scholarship Fund in Social and Behavioral Sciences, $29,842.

• The Conrads College Gifts Athletic Scholarship Fund, $28,798.

• The Ohio Fruit Growers Society Fred O. Hartman Endowment Fund, $27,265.

• The Norman M. Stanley Scholarship Fund, $26,920.

• The Gordon C. and Susan K. Warnes Memorial Scholarship Fund, $25,328.

• The Mary Plummer Memorial Scholarship Fund, $25,250.

• The Craig Cooley Graduate Student and Alumni Award Fund in Statistics, $25,235.

• The Henry C. Gelbke Endowed Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

• Guernsey County Alumni Scholars Fund, $25,000.

• The David D. Moon University Scholars Fund, $25,000.

• The Roberta Elliott Wantman Endowment Fund in the Department of Greek and Latin in the College of Humanities, $25,000.

Board OKs progress on four projects

The Ohio State Board of Trustees, meeting at the new Parker Food Science and Technology Building on June 29, approved the employment of architect/engineering firms, employment of construction managers and request for construction bids for the following projects:

• Construction of a 200,000-square-foot Biomedical Research Facility for the College of Medicine and Public Health, with funding provided by University bond proceeds and other sources.

• Reorganization of University Hospitals clinical services space in Rhodes and Doan Halls. The total estimated cost of planning and schematic design is $1 million, with funding provided by University Hospitals. A number of projects will be developed over the next three to seven years, with a total estimated construction budget of $20-$25 million. Each will be brought before the board for approval to request construction bids.

• Construction of a 650-space parking garage on Neil Avenue adjacent to the current Larkins Hall soccer field. The total estimated project cost is $11.8 million.

• Installation of an Automated Transport System for the University Medical Center in two phases. The total estimated project cost is $11.5 million, with funding provided by University Hospitals.

Trustees authorize retirement plans

The board authorized the establishment and amendment of several supplemental retirement plans. The Ohio State University's Aetna Deferred Compensation Plan, the Supplemental Qualified Retirement Plan and the Supplemental 415(m) Retirement Plan were established, and the Ohio State University VALIC Deferred Compensation Plan and the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan were amended. Those affected by these changes will be individually notified.

Chairs, directors appointed

The board approved a number of appointments and reappointments for department chairs and directors. They are:

• Wayne E. Carlson has been named interim chair of the Department of Industrial, Interior and Visual Communication Design, effective through June 30, 2002.

• Loren V. Geistfeld has been named interim chair of the Department of Consumer and Textile Sciences, effective through June 30, 2003.

• Beverly J. Moss has been named director of the Center for the Study of Teaching and Writing, effective through June 30, 2003.

• Maria Palazzi has been named director of the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design, effective through June 30, 2005.

• Lesley K. Ferris has been reappointed chair of the Department of Theatre, effective through June 30, 2005.

• Charles C. Capen has been reappointed chair of the Department of Veterinary Biosciences, effective through Dec. 31, 2001.

• Michael S. Beattie has been reappointed interim chair of the Department of Neuroscience, effective through June 30, 2002.

• Ronald St. Pierre has been reappointed interim director of the School of Public Health, effective through June 30, 2002.

• Dimitros Spigos has been reappointed chair of the Department of Radiology, effective through June 30, 2002.

• Richard M. Bednarski has been reappointed director of the Veterinary Hospital, effective through June 30, 2002

• Jerry R. Mendell has been reappointed chair of the Department of Neurology, effective through June 30, 2004.

• David E. Schuller has been reappointed chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, effective through June 30, 2004.

• Stephen L. Wilson has been reappointed director of the School of Allied Medical Professions, effective through June 30, 2005.

• Robert S. Livesey has been reappointed director of the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture, effective through June 30, 2005.

• John N. Reeve has been reappointed chair of the Department of Microbiology, effective through June 30, 2005.

• Larry J. Copeland has been reappointed chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, effective through June 30, 2005.

• Daniel D. Sedmak has been reappointed chair of the Department of Pathology, effective through June 30, 2005.

• Patrick S. Osmer has been reappointed chair of the Department of Astronomy, effective Oct. 1, 2001, through Sept. 30, 2005.

• Paul A. Weber has been reappointed chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, effective Jan. 1, 2002, through June 30, 2002.