Diversity Lecture Series

Ronald Takaki, professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, spoke on "Why Multiculturalism Matters in America" on Oct. 22 as part of the President and Provost's Diversity Lecture Series. The next lecture, at 9 a.m. Nov. 14 in the Ohio Union Conference Threatre, will be "Multiculturalism as a Dynamic in the Lives of Elementary Teachers and Students: Effective Policies and Procedures" by Henry Griffith, principal of Deer Run Elementary School in Dublin.     By Nathan Robinson

Retention hits all-time high

Upward trends continue; Columbus enrollment reaches 48,477

Years of activity directed at enhancing the undergraduate student experience at Ohio State are showing a number of measurable results in this year's autumn quarter enrollment report, which includes several record-breaking features.

The percentage of students who returned for their second year has reached an all-time high rate of 86 percent, marking the continuation of an upward trend that began in 1995, when the percentage of freshmen returning for their sophomore year stood at 77.7 percent.

Similarly, the percentage of students returning for their third year has hit a record, reaching 75.8 percent -- compared to 66.1 percent in 1996.

"The fruits of these intensified efforts focusing on undergraduate life are showing up now," said James Mager, associate vice president for enrollment services. "The retention we're seeing now relates to the quality of students we're bringing in, but also to the heightened attention we're paying to undergraduates, and especially to freshmen and sophomores. There are many new programs and enhancements to existing programs in academic departments and the Student Affairs division that are clearly leading to increased student progress and success, ranging from restructured advising and programming offered in the Younkin Success Center to Welcome Week expansions, increased Honors and Scholars and living-learning opportunities, and programming related to the First Year Experience."

The University also is reporting an all-time high enrollment of African American (3,780), Hispanic (969) and American Indian students (225). Contributing to the minority record is recruitment of the most diverse freshman class ever, in which African Americans account for 9.9 percent of the class, Hispanics account for 2.8 percent and American Indians account for 0.7 percent of the entering class -- each figure an all-time high percentage.

Officials confirm that the freshman class also was the most academically prepared group of first-year students ever, with an average ACT score of 25.2 (up from 24.9 last year), 245 high school valedictorians, 104 National Merit Scholars and 32 percent coming from the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

The number of new freshmen stands at 5,894 on the Columbus campus. Total Columbus campus enrollment increased this year, to 48,477, a 1.1 percent increase over last year's enrollment of 47,952. Total University enrollment also increased, from 55,043 in 2000 to 55,737 this year, a 1.3 percent increase. Graduate student enrollment in Columbus increased 0.7 percent, from 9,382 last year to 9,452 this autumn, as did graduate professional student enrollment, rising 5.5 percent to 2,976, up from 2,821 last year. Professional student enrollment figures apply to those pursuing advanced degrees in dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.

"Overall, it's a very strong enrollment year," Mager said. "Some figures came in higher than we expected, and we're particularly gratified to see the record highs of retained students and minority students."

Mager identified two "megatrends" that have become more evident each year, one of which illustrates the increased retention.

The number of freshmen and sophomores decreased by about 4,000 between 1990 and 1995. This was an intentional reduction as part of a strategic plan to downsize the Columbus campus enrollment to enhance the undergraduate experience and strengthen admission standards. Since 1996, however, the number of juniors and seniors has increased by more than 1,800. Mager said the numbers speak to the success of the strategy: Better retention resulted from the combination of admitting freshmen under stronger admission standards and then providing them with enhanced undergraduate student experiences once they were here.

He also said the number of part-time students has declined steadily over the past 10 years, and attributed that trend in part to the tuition reductions at two-year institutions resulting from the state's Access Challenge program, which likely made those institutions more convenient and appealing to part-time students.

Regional residents: Student housing projects in motion

As enrollment continues to grow at Ohio State's regional campuses, features that enhance the quality of life outside the classroom -- such as residence halls and expanded student services -- will become a common sight.

And as the traditional commuter schools continue to draw from a bigger geographical area, there is a significant demand for on-campus student housing on these campuses, located in smaller communities that have a shortage of apartments.

To help meet that need, several campuses have been given the green light to build on-campus student housing. The Ohio State Board of Trustees on Nov. 2 granted approval to Ohio State Marion and Ohio State Newark to hire architects for the design of such facilities; approval was given at the Aug. 29 trustees meeting to Ohio State Lima to proceed with a residence hall.

At Marion, a $7.4 million facility will be built that will provide on-campus student housing for between 150 and 250 students. The residence hall will include rest rooms and kitchens, common living areas, a main lobby, a recreation room, a computer center, classrooms, support offices and apartments, parking and laundry facilities. Construction is expected to begin during the summer of 2003, and be completed during the summer of 2004. Funding is provided by University bond proceeds.

Dean Dominic Dottavio said there is a significant proportion of students interested in student housing as the geographic reach of Ohio State Marion expands. Currently, 35 percent to 40 percent of students are from Marion County, with students from eight different states and 39 Ohio counties making up the rest of Ohio State Marion's student enrollment.

"Student housing is important both for the growth of the campus and as an opportunity to better serve the students," Dottavio said.

In the spirit of serving the students, Ohio State Marion also is expanding its offering of four-year degree programs and upper-level courses, and is offering two intercollegiate sports -- golf and basketball -- this year. It also is expecting to open a new Student Services Building by autumn 2003 that will house admissions, financial aid, academic advising and career counseling.

"It will offer the services that students rely on outside the classroom for a successful education," Dottavio said.

He said the enhancements are just the beginning.

"This is a small step in the transition from a 45-year history of a commuter campus to one with a resident population," Dottavio said.

At Ohio State Newark, a $9.9 million, 240-bed facility will be designed to provide on-campus housing that includes four-person suites with similar features to the Marion residence hall. Funding is provided by University bond proceeds.

Ohio State Newark also received approval from trustees to seek construction bids for the John Gilbert Reese Center. The information technology center will include high-tech classrooms, expanded distance learning capabilities, World Wide Web access and e-mail stations for students. The 70,000-square-foot facility will also house a conference and performing arts center. Funding for the $13.4 million facility comes from a combination of gifts to the University, future capital appropriations and funds from Central Ohio Technical College, which shares the campus.

Meanwhile, a 120- to 240-room residence hall at Ohio State Lima will serve not only Ohio State Lima students, but also the Lima Technical College, said Dean Violet Meek. Ohio State Lima has nearly 1,400 students, most of whom come from a 10-county area surrounding Lima.

Meek said student housing on the regional campuses is part of a larger issue addressed in the Academic Plan that calls for finding more ways to provide access to an Ohio State education.

Ohio State Lima has been offering more four-year degree programs in recent years. As it begins to develop a resident student population, already flourishing programs, such as the arts and student activities, will be further enhanced, Meek said. Plans also call for living/learning sections in the residence halls.

While deans at the regional campuses have previously indicated a need for on-campus student housing, they are now able to proceed with plans after the Ohio Board of Regents lifted a moratorium on new housing at the regional campuses this summer.

Currently, three regional campuses have student housing. Ohio State Mansfield has had privately owned apartments for student housing since 1998, with a total of 126 available beds. In January 2002, construction will start on three more buildings offering at least 50 more beds, which will bring the total number of beds to around 180. The units are two- and five-bedroom apartments that are fully furnished and may be leased for nine or 12 months.

A privately owned, 130-bed apartment complex called Campus View Village, located just north of the Ohio State Newark campus, has maintained a rather lengthy waiting list over the past few years. The Office of Student Affairs is currently negotiating to purchase this housing complex, said Diane Whitbeck, assistant vice president for hospitality and conference services. She handles student housing on the regional campuses.

The Agricultural Technical Institute at Wooster offers a residence hall with 90 rooms and a student apartment village, with 112 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The residence hall was originally built by a private developer in the late 1970s, Whitbeck said, and was subsequently purchased and managed by the University in 1983. The apartment complex was built by the Division of Student Affairs in 1997.

It's official

By Kevin Fitzsimons President Brit Kirwan and Michael Moritz, accompanied by Law Dean Nancy Hardin Rogers, unveil a plaque during an Oct. 26 event celebrating the naming of the Moritz College of Law. The ceremony, recognizing Moritz's $30 million gift to the college, took place in Drinko Hall.