TRUSTEES

The Ohio State Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting March 5 in the Longaberger Alumni House. Ohio State is governed by a board of 11 trustees (including two nonvoting student members) who are responsible for oversight of academic programs, budgets and general administration, and employment of faculty and staff. The governor annually appoints one voting member to a nine-year term and one nonvoting student member to a two-year term.

University compares favorably with peer institutions

Ohio State continues to provide a quality educational experience at a reasonable cost, especially when compared with top public institutions in other states and other universities in Ohio, Senior Vice President for Business and Finance William J. Shkurti told the University's Board of Trustees March 5.

The annual financial benchmark report measures the University's revenues and spending compared 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 approximately 16 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 students and the taxpayers of Ohio.”

While the report does not reflect the impact of FY 2002 and FY 2003 budget reductions, the information still provides useful comparisons, he said.

The University still trails the benchmark institutions in major categories of current funds revenue per student, except in tuition and fees, but has improved significantly in most areas, Shkurti said. At $31,109, Ohio State has 16 percent fewer resources per student than the $37,130 benchmark average. Yet resident undergraduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are 4.8 percent below the benchmark average while new student tuition and fees are 3.9 percent above. Ohio State's resident undergraduate tuition and fees is the lowest among Ohio's public four-year universities with selective admissions.

Compared to benchmark institutions, Shkurti said that Ohio State spends above the average for instruction, public service and -- for the first time this year -- student services, but well below the average for most other noninstructional services. The University spent 126 percent of the benchmark average for public service, 115 percent of the average for instruction, and 105 percent of the average for student services. Significantly less than the average was spent on support services -- such as for physical plant expenses and student support services -- outside the classroom. In conclusion, Shkurti said that Ohio State has made significant progress since the early 1990s. Despite budget challenges, Ohio State continues to improve the quality of its academic programs and the quality of the student experience. To make progress, the University will need to continue to manage its existing resources effectively, assure continued state support, and expand and develop its revenue base.

He also reminded the board that national rankings provide another indication of the value -- in both academic and financial terms -- of an Ohio State education. Ohio State was ranked 42nd in academic reputation by U.S. News & World Report in 2003 and has an annual in-state tuition of $5,660 for the 2002-03 academic year, while Miami University was ranked 60th with tuition of $7,600. Ohio University was ranked 78th and had tuition of $6,330, the University of Cincinnati ranked 142nd with tuition of $6,930, and Kent State University was ranked 159th with tuition of $6,370

Strategic plan reviewed

Trustees heard a report on the Office of Student Affairs Strategic Plan and its upcoming external review. The plan aligns Student Affairs priorities and programs with the University's Academic Plan and Diversity Plan.

A three-person panel of experts from other universities will be on campus April 28 to May 1 to review the plan and meet with students, faculty, staff, trustees and other key University personnel to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the plan.

Center highlighted

Christine Ballengee-Morris, director of Ohio State's two-year old Multicultural Center, updated the board on the center's progress and initiatives planned for the next three years.

The center, a collaborative effort of the offices of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, has brought together a number of services for under-represented students into a central organization while maintaining each group's historical office traditions and programming.

SI awards report heard

Trustees heard reports on three of the University's 13 Selective Investment Award recipients. Faculty representatives from the departments of history, physics and the Moritz College of Law spoke on the impact the awards have had on their programming, faculty recruitment and academic reputation.

The Selective Investment Awards go to University units that hold the most potential to propel Ohio State into the highest ranks of public research institutions. Winners receive $500,000 in continuing University funds to be matched with $500,000 from their own departments or colleges. The funds received by the three presenting academic units have primarily been used to hire outstanding scholars, who in turn have attracted talented students and contributed to their programs' increase in national academic reputation.

Outreach update heard

Trustees heard an update on initiatives sponsored by Ohio State's Office of Outreach and Engagement. Among its charges, the office distributes information on University outreach initiatives and creates awareness with internal and external audiences of Ohio State's programs. In addition, the office is beginning an internal and external review process that will begin in March. A strategic plan will be presented to the trustees in May.

Land principles adopted

Trustees adopted a series of proposed principles and processes relating to the development of University land, ensuring that any land assets will be used and developed in a manner that supports the University Master Plan, adopted in 1995, and the University's Academic Plan.

The principles will be incorporated into the updated University Master Plan, which will be presented to the board later this year.

Lab project approved

Trustees authorized the University to request construction bids for the renovation of Dreese Lab. The construction document project cost is $210,000 with funding provided by House Bill 808.

Contracts awarded

The board approved the awarding of contracts for the rehabilitation of Hagerty Hall, including building system replacement and interior redesign of space to house the College of Humanities. Total project cost is $24.4 million, with funding provided by House Bills 850 and 748, central University funds and gifts to the College of Humanities.

Estimated completion date is March 2004. Architect of record is Wandel & Schnell of Columbus and general contractor is Miles McClellan Construction of Columbus.

Regional plans read

Trustees were presented with the master plans for the Mansfield, Marion and Newark regional campuses for a first reading. They will be asked to approve the plans at the April board meeting.

The three master plans address planning and design issues specific to each campus, including campus context, location of future facilities, open space, natural features, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, parking and signage, and design and development guidelines for future facilities and open space improvements.

Student recognized

Cullen Buie, a senior majoring in engineering, received the board's Student Recognition Award. In high school, he was selected for Ohio State's Pre-Freshman and Cooperative Education (PREFACE) Program, which gives academically talented minority students a head start in engineering.

As a part of the University's Freshman Engineering Honors (FEH) Program, he developed a special robot that was created from "shape memory alloy” that can literally walk, based on a computer program that he helped his engineering professor develop. He won the Outstanding Sophomore Award for his project at the 2001 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and won the Outstanding Junior award at last year's forum.

Endowed funds named

• Ice Core Research Endowment Fund, $61,300.

• The Paul G. Althouse Endowment Fund, $30,190.

• Undergraduate Physics Research Endowment Fund, $28,909.

• The Edward J. "Ned” Taaffe Memorial Fund in Geography, $26,747.

• Frederick Ives Chair's Scholarship Fund, $26,281.

• The Ruth and Jesse Owens Endowed Scholarship Fund, $26,000.

• The David J. Ryan Scholarship Fund in Metals Casting, $25,510.

• The R. Kirby Barrick Agricultural Education Fund, $25,043.

• The General Dynamics Land Systems Science and Engineering Scholarship Fund, $25,000.

Changes in the description were made to the following named endowed funds:

• The W. Keith Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund.

• The Bernard V. Fultz Family Scholarship Fund.

• Mager Family Scholarship Fund.

Changes in the name were made to the following named endowed funds:

• The Marshall Cox Fund for the Center for Socio-Legal Studies is now the Marshall and Nathalie Cox Fund for Socio-Legal Studies.

• Ohio Eminent Scholar in Protein Engineering is now the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Macromolecular Structure and Function.

• The Billy Joe Armstrong Football Scholarship Fund is now The Greer Steel Company Athletic Football Scholarship Fund.

Personnel appointments

• Edward B. Foley has been named to the Robert M. Duncan/Jones Day Designated Professorship in Law in the Moritz College of Law, through March 4, 2008. Foley, who earned his B.A. at Yale University and his J.D. at Columbia University, worked as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun and practiced law in Washington, D.C., before joining Ohio State's faculty in 1991, becoming full professor in 1997. His areas of expertise include constitutional law, election law, and education law.

• Peter M. Shane has been named to The Joseph S. Platt-Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur Professorship in Law and Director of the Center for Law, Policy and Social Science in the Moritz College of Law, effective Aug. 16, 2003, through Aug. 15, 2006. Shane, who received his A.B. and M.A. from Harvard University and his J.D. from Yale University, is currently professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

• Peng G. Wang has been named the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Macromolecular Structure and Function in the Department of Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, effective Oct. 1, 2003. Currently a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University, Wang received his B.S. degree from Nankai University in China and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has published more than 140 research papers, reviews, and book chapters, and has submitted several patent applications.

• Richard Davis has been appointed interim chair in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures in the College of Humanities, effective through Dec. 31, 2003.

Memoriam resolutions

• Jacob E. Davis, former member of the Board of Trustees, who died Feb. 28, 2003.

• David L. Moffatt, professor emeritus in the Department of Electrical Engineering, who died Jan. 18.

• John M. Muste, professor emeritus in the Department of English, who died Sept. 5, 2002.

• Gus C. Pappas, professor emeritus in the College of Dentistry, who died Jan. 10.