U.S. News ranks Ohio State programs among nation's best

Graduate programs ranked best in Ohio

By Elizabeth Conlisk, Media Relations

Graduate programs at Ohio State are ranked among the nation's best, as well as Ohio's best in every category, according to the U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of America's Best Graduate Schools released April 4.

Among the ratings, the College of Education is recognized for producing some of the nation's best-qualified teachers, counselors and administrators in the nation. The Fisher College of Business is ranked 19th in the nation, up from 24th last year. The College of Medicine and Public Health demonstrated the most marked improvement in the university's graduate programs ranked this year, rising to number 37 from 44th place last year.

The ratings show that Ohio State offers Ohio's best public higher education. Ironically, the rankings come as state lawmakers consider proposals to reduce the state subsidy for graduate students.

President Karen Holbrook said the high marks "are a clear indication of the quality of our graduate programs at this university, hence the quality of our faculty and our academic programs as recognized by peers. Top graduate students join a university because of its academic reputation. We can be genuinely proud of this national recognition.

"Ohio State's research and graduate programs also play an important role in enhancing the state's economy," Holbrook said. "In addition to the jobs created from research revenue, graduate students bring millions of
ars into the state through research grants and contracts from government, industry, foundations and donors."

Holbrook said there is a strong relationship between the academic reputation of graduate programs and the ability of a university to attract research support, which in turn feeds the state's economy.

"For every dollar that the state invests in graduate education, Ohio State students generate more than $2 in external support," she said. "Last year, more than 2,000 Ohio State graduate students were employed in cutting-edge research that brought in almost one-third of all external research funding. And, our students make very important contributions to our academic programs and to the community while they study."

Programs in eight Ohio State colleges are rated in this year's publication: Arts, Business, Education, Engineering, Medicine and Public Health, Nursing and Veterinary Medicine. Graduate programs in every single category received the highest marks among Ohio public colleges and universities.

The College of Education is recognized for elementary and secondary teacher education programs that are among the nation's top three. The curriculum ranked 17th overall, with programs in six specialty areas named in the top four nationally. The vocational/technical program is first in the nation for the eighth year in a row.

The U.S. News rankings are based on a formula that weighs several criteria, including how selective a program is in admitting applicants, faculty resources, institutional reputation and research activity. A ranking in the top tier can mean more success for institutions as they recruit graduate students in a highly competitive environment.

Rankings of graduate schools and doctoral programs released for 2003-04 cover only a small portion of the programs offered at Ohio State. Five programs are ranked each year; others are ranked every three or four years. In addition to annual rankings in business, education, engineering, law and medicine, the magazine offers new rankings for programs in fine arts and health sciences. However, the magazine reprints earlier years' ratings in some fields that note previous high marks to Ohio State's graduate programs in audiology, clinical psychology and speech/language pathology. Here are graduate program rankings (information on the number of programs in comparison pool is included where provided by U.S. News):

• College of the Arts: ranked best in Ohio and 28th in the nation among 213 institutions with master of fine arts programs in art and design. The sculpture program is rated seventh and the ceramics program is eighth in the nation.

• Fisher College of Business: ranked best in Ohio and 19th in the nation out of 365 institutions with MBA programs, climbing from number 24 last year. The supply chain/logistics program is rated eighth best in the nation.

• College of Education: Overall, the college is best in Ohio and 17th nationally among 188 graduate programs surveyed. Specialty programs in voc-ational/technical program ranked first; elementary education, administration/super-vision, and counseling/ personnel services ranked second; secondary education ranked third, and the curriculum/instruction program is fourth.

• College of Engineering: ranked best in Ohio and 24th nationally, out of 185 graduate engineering programs surveyed.

• Moritz College of Law: ranked best in Ohio and 38th in the nation out of 177 ABA-accredited law schools. The College of Law program in dispute resolution ranked 4th.

• College of Medicine and Public Health: ranked best among Ohio public institutions and 37th nationally among 125 accredited medical schools. The program in Health Services Administration was ranked 13th in the nation.

• College of Nursing: ranked best among public universities in Ohio and 19th overall.

• College of Veterinary Medicine: ranked best in Ohio and 6th in the nation.

Medical college makes big jump in rankings

By David Crawford, Medical Center Communications

Ohio State's College of Medicine and Public Health jumped over seven other schools to take 37th place in the most recent U.S. News & World Report magazine's "Best Schools of Medicine" issue. The leap was one of the most dramatic improvements of any institution among the nation's 144 medical schools.

In addition, the latest rankings put Ohio State 17th among the top 20 public medical schools in the nation.

Fred Sanfilippo, senior vice president for health sciences and dean of the College of Medicine, credited the jump in the rankings to a strong push to increase research funding, the elevation of the college's reputation and the recruitment of top students to Ohio State's medical programs.

"The rise in the rankings parallels the significant achievements taking place here in medical education, research and patient care," Sanfilippo said. "We're attracting some of the best and brightest students and faculty, and this adds to the value of the medical education experience at Ohio State."

The magazine's rankings are based on a formula that weighs several criteria, including how selective a program is in admitting applicants, faculty resources, institutional reputation and research activity.

In last year's ranking Ohio State was 44th. Indiana University's medical school showed the most improvement in the 2003 rankings, rising eight places to 39.

Ohio State's College of Medicine and Public Health is widely recognized for its curricular innovation, renowned faculty, pioneering research and patient care. The Medical School receives more than 3,000 applications but selects only 210 students for admission annually. Approximately 520 medical residents and fellows participate in more than 60 residency programs. The college also has one of the largest medical alumni networks in the world, with more than 12,000 graduates spanning 32 countries.

Task force on celebratory riots delivers report

Search for solutions requires long-term commitment from all involved

By Shannon Wingard, Media Relations

and Joni Bentz Seal, onCAMPUS staff

Four months of intensive study into the causes and possible solutions to the kinds of celebratory riots, which have occurred at Ohio State and in other communities around the nation, have found some disturbing trends and hopeful signs. What is clear is that solving the problem will take a long-term, comprehensive approach led by students, and supported by the university, the city and the community.

That's the conclusion of the Task Force on Preventing Celebratory Riots, a group convened by President Karen Holbrook and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman in December 2002 in response to disturbances following the Ohio State-Michigan football game.

Holbrook and Coleman were briefed on the task force's findings April 7, and are expected to charge an implementation team within the next few weeks to follow through on the recommendations.

David Andrews, dean of the College of Human Ecology and chair of the task force, said that completing the report signals the next phase in the effort to understand and seek solutions to the root causes of celebratory rioting that occurred in the neighborhoods near campus.

"The task force report outlines a need for both short-term and long-term strategies in preventing riots," Andrews said. "It recommends 13 actions to minimize the likelihood of riots in the near future."

The report also calls for a long term, multi-year comprehensive campaign to prevent riots by capitalizing on some of the positive aspects associated with being a good citizen and good student.

"The long-term campaign will require buy-in from everyone, and we hope faculty and staff will be represented on the implementation team at some level," Andrews said. "We also want to integrate the recommendations into on-going activities, so as we look at projects students are involved in, we'll want to shape those projects around the campaign."

The task force consisted of working groups that focused on four distinct elements thought to be related to celebratory riots. These are alcohol consumption and high-risk and binge drinking; the role of community, culture and media in either facilitating or inhibiting the events; the overall risk-taking characteristics of young adults seeking independence; and best practices in celebration management.

The working groups gathered information from existing research, expert testimony, student interviews and focus group data. But task force members said they were often frustrated by the lack of research and documentation on issues related to riots.

Andrews said it became apparent early on that the group was investigating a problem that has received very little research-based attention.

"As we looked for models and solid research in this area we saw a clear need for a better understanding of what leads to riotous behavior, and the strategies that can be used to prevent such behavior," he said. "Any new approaches that are adopted as a result of our recommendations should be measured and tracked so we can ultimately share them with other institutions facing the same challenges."

While the riots have several common elements, he said, there is no single strategy that is identified as effective in deterring them. Prevention efforts will include a comprehensive, long-term approach aimed at changing behavior, coupled with effective law-enforcement, student connection to the university and community, and improvements in entertainment options.

The task force presented two sets of recommendations: a long-term comprehensive campaign that emphasizes the positive, proactive community involvement of students, faculty, alumni, staff, community members and city officials; and a near-term campaign.

One of the key components of the long-term campaign will provide an opportunity for the university and city to work together, with students in a lead role, to build a supportive, civil, caring environment based on mutual respect and the highest displays of character.

The near-term campaign will implement "immediate prevention actions" to have the highest possible impact on preventing disturbances in spring 2003.

Careful not to be hindered by funding restrictions, Andrews said the task force focused on developing recommendations and didn't define specific funding sources. But, in addition to stating the need for new funds, the report suggests the university take a close look at where it currently is investing in prevention and alternative activities to measure the return on investment, and redirect those funds if necessary.

"Obviously, if there were no budget deficits, we would be moving forward much more aggressively," Andrews said. "As it stands, we'll have to prioritize the recommendations and see what we can accomplish first, weighing both feasi

Andrews said it will take a sustained commitment by both the university and the city to change behavior that leads to these disturbances. But most importantly, students will have to be the major contributors of generating solutions and implementing the plan: "They really need to own it," he said.

Task force recommendations

Long-term strategy:

Launch a long-term comprehensive campaign that emphasizes the positive, proactive community involvement of students, faculty, alumni, staff, community members and city officials. The goals of the campaign will be to:

a. Instill pride and enhance the positive engagement of students in both their university and their community.

b. Promote safety and health within the student body.

c. Reduce illegal and irresponsible behavior within the student body.

Near-term strategy:

Implement "immediate prevention actions" to have the highest possible impact on preventing disturbances this spring:

a. The university and the city should clearly communicate the consequences of illegal and dangerous behavior and should be visible before and after sanctions have been imposed.

b. Appropriate officials should consistently enforce underage drinking laws through the OSU campus and University District neighborhoods.

c. Appropriate officials should consistently enforce open container laws.

d. The university should mail letters to parents spelling out consequences for alcohol and riot behavior, and expand parental notification of alcohol related infractions.

e. The city should invest in creative surveillance measures in riot areas for the purpose of making identification.

f. The university and the city should publish video tapes of riot behavior on respective Web sites for identification.

g. Appropriate officials should consider establishing a municipal court near site on nights of potential riots.

Additional short-term recommendations are in the full report, available online at http://hec.osu.edu/taskforce/FinalReport.pdf.