Regional spotlight

	Courtesy of Ohio State Marion
This aerial view captures the beauty of the 184-acre campus at Ohio State Marion, where enrollment continues to increase. The regional campus master plans are intended to enhance the natural beauty of the regional campuses and sustain continued growth.

Trustees approve regional campus master plans

While meeting at the Eisenhower Memorial Center on the Mansfield campus April 4, Ohio State's Board of Trustees adopted proposed master plans for the Mansfield, Marion and Newark campuses.

The planning and design guidelines will be folded into the Ohio State Master Plan, created in 1995, which calls for the university to prepare district plans for all the areas of the university, including the regional campuses. The individual master plans were previously adopted by the trustees of each regional campus, and were recommended by the University Trustees Regional Campus Committee at the February 2003 meeting.

The regional master plans establish a framework and long-range vision for the future of each campus, and are designed to be a working document for the growth, development and improvement of the campus. The plans serve as a blueprint for decision-making regarding the buildings, landscape, infrastructure, circulation, parking and community interaction.

Each plan focuses on future growth and development, establishes priorities for improving the appearance of campus and provides a basis for determining resource needs and raising funds, while outlining specific goals that reinforce the four general goals established for the Columbus campus master planning process. Those goals are: conserve the university's finite resources; unify and integrate campus development; improve the quality of the campus environment through a long-range commitment to strong design principles; and strengthen linkages with the community.

While each plan varies, common features include the addition of more welcoming gateways to campus; central pedestrian-oriented green space and gathering spaces that provide intimate opportunities for student, faculty and staff interaction; expanded student housing, student services and recreational opportunities; and new academic, student and administrative facilities.

Freeman named director, dean for Mansfield campus

By Rodger C. Smith, Mansfield Communications

At the April 4 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Evelyn B. Freeman as dean and director of Ohio State Mansfield, effective Aug. 1 through June 30, 2008.

Freeman, director and professor of the School of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education at Ohio State, will succeed John O. Riedl, who retires June 30 after 16 years as dean and director.

Evelyn Freeman

"Dr. Freeman brings extensive experience in both the academic and administrative worlds,"said Executive Vice President and Provost Ed Ray. "She has a well-respected scholarly record with numerous publications and has gained broad experience in various administrative roles. She is a warm and engaging colleague who will reach out to the community."

"I've worked with Evie for some years, while she was director of the School of Teaching and Learning, and am confident she will do an excellent job as dean and director of Ohio State Mansfield,"Riedl said.

Freeman's experience includes serving as the program coordinator for early and middle childhood education on both the Marion and Newark campuses; as the regional campus coordinator for the Department of Educational Theory and Practice; and as the acting coordinator of early and middle childhood education in the Department of Educational Theory and Practice, Columbus campus. She also served as the section head of Integrated Teaching and Learning on the Columbus campus; as associate dean for the College of Education; and as the director of the School of Teaching and Learning.

Earning her doctorate in early and middle childhood education at Ohio State in 1978, Freeman has taught on the Mansfield, Newark, Marion and Columbus campuses. In addition to her scholarly record, she has garnered significant research funding through the United States Department of Education, as well as other funding sources.

University appoints Snyder to head Lima campus

By Pam Joseph, Lima Communications

John R. Snyder, a former associate director in Ohio State's School of Allied Medical Professions, has returned to the university as dean and director of Ohio State Lima.

The Board of Trustees approved Snyder's appointment, effective July 1 through June 30, 2008, at the recommendation of President Karen Holbrook at the April 4 meeting. Snyder, dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, will succeed Violet I. Meek, who retires June 30, after 12 years as dean and director.

John Snyder

"Dr. Snyder brings extensive administrative experience in strategic planning, faculty governance, the creation of promotion and tenure standards and guidelines, and development activities,"said Executive Vice President and Provost Ed Ray. "In addition, he has been active and productive in the larger community having, for example, worked with more than 600 clinical education affiliation agreements with community health care institutions."  

"With his considerable experience in both the academic and administrative worlds, Dr. Snyder will make an excellent leader for Ohio State Lima as it continues to expand its program offerings and bring the mission of Ohio's only land grant institution to west central Ohio,"Meek said. "His academic background and past experience with Ohio State make him the perfect choice for Ohio State Lima and the greater community."

Snyder has worked in the allied health field throughout his career. Prior to joining Louisiana State in 1996, he served in similar positions at the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Ohio State's College of Medicine, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and College of Medicine. During his previous tenure at Ohio State, Snyder served as the associate director of the School of Allied Medical Professions and director of Allied Medicine Graduate Studies. He held a dual appointment as an associate professor of allied medical professions and in the Department of Pathology.

"I am delighted to be coming to Lima to work with the outstanding faculty, staff and students at The Ohio State University. As a former Ohio State faculty member in Columbus, I already know much about this magnificent institution. Ohio State Lima affords access to the same high quality education,"Snyder said.

"Ohio State Lima has wonderful physical resources, accomplished faculty who are focused on meeting the needs of students and the community, and dedicated staff. I am truly impressed with the focus of the campus to make a difference in individuals' lives and careers, and in being a force for positive change in the community."

Newark campus marketing staff wins Paragon Award

The Newark Campus Marketing Department, serving Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark, was presented with both a gold and a silver award for marketing entries in the poster category at the 18th annual National Paragon Awards ceremony in Las Vegas March 15.

Bestowed by the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), the Paragon awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications materials produced by two-year colleges in the United States and Canada. This year, more than 1,700 entries competed for bronze, silver and gold awards in various print media categories.

The poster was designed by Leslie Lenzo McLaughlin, graphic designer, and written by Teri Holder, director of marketing and public relations at Newark.

Racing to learn

By Randy Gammage Education Outreach Coordinator Sara Newman, left, watches for safety violations as students Laina Wireman, center, and Hannah Hefner change a tire on a NASCAR race car.

Lima campus outreach program combines science, math and NASCAR

By Randy Gammage, onCAMPUS staff

Middle school students are revving their engines at the opportunity to learn about math, science and language arts through an Education Outreach activity offered by Ohio State Lima.

Students travel to the Girl Scouts of Appleseed Ridge's Camp Woodhaven in Lima, where an authentic 1998 Bill Elliot show car from the NASCAR racing circuit awaits them as they become part of the professional racing world for the day. Working in teams, students create a financing package and marketing campaign for the car; design their own car, change the specifications and test it on a computer simulation; and experience the rigors of a pit crew on race day.

The Car is the newest Education Outreach activity offered by Ohio State Lima. Currently, seven outreach programs serve youth in second through 12th grade in a 10-county service area, said Lynn Sametz, director of education outreach.

"Last year alone we reached more than 7,000 children as well as their teachers and parents, and in each instance we bring a little bit of Ohio State Lima to the community,"Sametz said.

She created The Car outreach activity for seventh- and eighth-graders after noticing a high level of interest in NASCAR racing in the area.

On a warm, sunny day in late March, eighth-grade students from Waynesfield Goshen School in Auglaize County traveled to Lima to experience The Car firsthand. They were divided into three groups and rotated through each activity -- The Money Trail, Tricks of the Track and The Pit Stop.

As one group assumed pit crew responsibilities for Bill Elliot car No. 94, Education Outreach Coordinator Sara Newman critiqued their efforts. "Safety violation,"she called out as two crew members struggled to change a 60-pound tire. "Safety violation,"Newman called out again as two students operated the car jack. The phrase became a constant. But, as the session progressed, teamwork improved dramatically, which is the point of the exercise.

Newman paused for praise. "You're already pulling together as a team,"Newman said to the pit crew. "You've gone from a Laurel and Hardy team where you broke safety violation records, down to five violations, which is pretty good."

Later, during a break for lunch, students agreed they enjoyed the pit crew exercise.

"It was pretty cool," Wes Hicks said.

"It's much harder to complete a pit stop than it looks," said Laura Crabtree, adding that replacing the tire was particularly challenging.

During the Tricks of the Track workshop, Education Outreach Program Coordinator Dawn Wingate showed students how Newton's Laws of Motion impact racing. They then designed their own car and determined how banking (sloping of the track), force, velocity and other concepts affect the results of a race.

"A lot of racing has to do with physics,"Wingate said. "You have to have a lot of brainpower to know how to win the race."

Social Studies came into play when they searched a map of the many NASCAR racing circuit tracks across the country to find one with banking similar to the one they computer simulated.

"You have to have a multi-curricular activity to draw in all the interests of the students,"Wingate said. Next up was The Money Trail, where Education Outreach Coordinator Virginia Korte revealed to students the price to finance a car on the NASCAR circuit: $20 million per year. Students learn team building and financing skills as they negotiate with sponsors to complete the financial package for their car and design advertising plans and a car logo. They also learn to work fast.

"Everything is timed," Korte said. "They're in the corporate world now, so everything operates on deadlines."

The students later learned a little about the noise level surrounding NASCAR racing. Throughout the field trip facilitators took random decibel measurements of noise levels to be used as a comparison to the noise created when the show car's mighty engine was revved up.

As part of the outreach program, pre- and post-activity modules are developed for teacher use in the classroom. All activities are aligned to state grade level curriculum content standards.

Sametz said that plans are under way to also offer The Car as a corporate team-building activity as early as this summer.

The program was initiated as a result of an OSU Outreach and Engagement seed grant. The actual car was purchased through a grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Miami Valley.

The cost is $100 per classroom visit. However, Sametz said sponsorships by OSU Outreach and Engagement, Ford Motor Company, Dana, Premcor, BP Chemical and Metokote have funded scholarships for 2002-03.

For details about The Car, contact Sametz at sametz.1@osu.edu.

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