Holbrook sworn in at ceremony

Trustee Chairman Zuheir Sofia presents President Holbrook with the medallion of office. The medallion was first worn by Harold Enarson. It was struck to commemorate the university's centennial in 1970, and has since been bestowed on each president as a symbol of the office. Photos by Kevin Fitzsimons

Investiture offers community a chance to welcome new president

By JONI BENTZ SEAL, onCAMPUS staff

Beneath the backdrop of the university seal, and amid an assembly of fellow administrators, trustees, faculty, public officials and colleagues, students, alumni, family and friends, Karen A. Holbrook was installed as the 13th president of Ohio State May 29 in Mershon Auditorium.

After public greetings from several constituent leaders, a poem by Poet Laureate David Citino and remarks by James F. Patterson, past chairman of the Board of Trustees and head of the presidential search committee that recruited her, Holbrook was sworn in and presented with the presidential medallion by Trustee Chairman Zuheir Sofia, who presided over the investiture.

She then shared her priorities with the university community in an address titled "Accepting the Kellogg Commission Challenge: Good Enough to Lead, Strong Enough to Change, and Competent Enough to be Trusted with the Nation's Future."

Connecting with our past and future

Holbrook began her speech by recognizing the size, scope and longevity that Ohio State has achieved and sustained. She said she wondered whether those who crafted the legislation establishing land-grant universities ever imagined how far Ohio State would come in building connections that span continents and two centuries, "and whether we can envision how far and in what ways those who come after us will go in connecting Ohio State with the people throughout the state, our nation and the world."

Holbrook addresses the community during her speech at the investiture May 29.

Directly addressing the future for Ohio State, Holbrook said her agenda is the Academic Plan, which represents the university's collective vision, and that among the principles that will guide her as she leads the Plan's implementation will be:

• embracing change;

• taking reasonable risks;

• focusing on public purposes and societal goals;

• making diversity a reality;

• valuing and sustaining respect for each other;

• believing in ourselves; and

• distinguishing Ohio State as one of the world's great institutions

The last principle, she said, is key. Referencing the opening sentence in the preface to the Academic Plan, which states "The Ohio State University aspires to become one of the world's great public research and teaching universities," Holbrook said, "It is our research activities that impart distinctiveness to Ohio State. I am committed to research as one of my highest priorities."

Calling attention to the order of those two adjectives, she said the conscious selection of that wording was an unusual -- and bold -- move for a university. "I do not believe Ohio State was simply emphasizing research over its other missions," she said, but suggested that the implication is that research is the common thread linking learning, outreach and engagement, opportunity, distinction and foundation for the future.

"Simply put, research underpins academic excellence and builds the reputation of Ohio State and Ohio's future," she said. "Research connects Ohio State, period."

Connecting to the people of Ohio

"Outreach and engagement connect the power of Ohio State's research and academic programs to support the people of Ohio," Holbrook said.

She cited the common misperception that the responsibility of Ohio State begins and ends with an individual's tenure as a student. "We have a far broader impact on education than this image," she said. "We are involved in education that spans a lifetime, but the pre-collegiate, collegiate and post-collegiate segments are not always well-connected. Innovation, improvement and efficiency can help eliminate barriers among these segments along the educational continuum.

"We will be more effective in transferring university research and educational programs to better serve our citizens if we can get our arms around all that we do and gain some synergies among the many, many programs we have created. Better coordination of these programs would attract external support and statewide and national visibility to better serve our citizens and our state, and enrich the learning experience of our own students as they become engaged citizens." Holbrook pledged enhanced resources to further promote outreach and engagement objectives, following a review of the initiative that is currently underway.

Returning to the title of her speech, Holbrook questioned how the mission of such an important entity would make the state view financial support as anything other than a top priority.

"The Kellogg Commission challenges us ‘to persuade the American people that we are good enough to lead, strong enough to change, and competent enough to be trusted with the nation's future,'" she said. "The Ohio State University can meet this challenge."

Ray named president of Oregon State

Executive Vice President and Provost Edward Ray has been appointed the new president of Oregon State University. The Oregon State Board of Higher Education announced June 5 that Ray will take the helm of the 19,000-student institution in Corvallis, Ore., effective Sept.1. Ray succeeds Timothy White, who has been serving as interim president since the departure of Paul Risser, who left in January to become chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. White will return to his position as provost and executive vice president of Oregon State.

"I am very excited about being named president of Oregon State University," Ray said. "Oregon State is a land-grant university. It is a culture that I understand, with a mission that I care about passionately. Oregon State University is facing serious financial challenges and is trying to plan strategically to continue to move the institution forward to better serve the people of Oregon. These are tasks that I have been well schooled in at Ohio State University. And, I look forward to working with colleagues at Oregon State University to help them be successful."

Edward Ray

Ray has been a member of the economics faculty at Ohio State since 1970, and is currently a professor of economics in addition to executive vice president and provost responsibilities. He served as chair of the department from 1976 to 1992, and received the University Distinguished Chairperson Award in 1989. He served as an associate provost from May 1992 until May 1993, senior vice provost and chief information officer from 1993-1998, and acting and then interim senior vice president and provost from December 1997 to December 1998.

"I think it will take a while for me to realize how significant it is to leave Ohio State," Ray said. "It has been such an important and valued part of my life. There are so many wonderful colleagues and friends here at Ohio State and so many special experiences that my family and I have shared with others at Ohio State. It is difficult imagining being anywhere else. But, I will do my very best at Oregon State

University and hope I can make the Buckeyes proud of what I do at Oregon State. It feels like graduation!"

Ray received his B.A. degree in mathematics from Queens College (CUNY) in 1966, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Stanford University in 1969 and 1971, respectively. Ray and his wife Beth have three children and two grandchildren.

"Ohio State is losing an outstanding leader," said President Karen Holbrook. "Ed has served this institution so well in many capacities, and especially as provost. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him, but knew it was only a matter of time before he was recruited to become a president. He has vast experience and is extremely well-qualified. Oregon State is getting an excellent leader and he and Beth will contribute to the community in many meaningful ways. The 'other OSU' is very fortunate."

Trustees approve tuition and fees hike

Increase expected to help enhance student experience

By DAVID BHAERMAN, University Relations

Ohio State's Board of Trustees have approved a plan to increase selected student fees, including graduate and professional student tuition and other fees for undergraduates, and earmarked an amount for new students that will help fund student activities that enhance and improve the student experience. Trustees approved the plan at their regular meeting on May 30.

"Ohio State continues to compete effectively with the top public universities in the country with respect to academic excellence, however, relatively low levels of state support means we are increasingly at risk of falling behind in providing students with a truly outstanding education," William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, told trustees. "The fee increases that we have called for will help the university maintain a competitive position financially."

Instructional and general fees for graduate students will increase 9 percent, or $594 per year, for continuing students, and 9.7 percent, or $639 per year, for new graduate students, including an additional $15 per quarter to help fund student activities. Non-resident graduate students will pay an additional 6 percent surcharge, or $636 per year. The current annual resident graduate tuition of $6,612 is 3.2 percent less than the university's benchmark institutions.

Tuition for students in the professional colleges -- dentistry, law, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine and selected graduate programs in business and medicine -- will undergo a base increase of 6 percent and differential fee increases of varying amounts ranging from 2.5 percent to 6 percent in each of the colleges. The differential fee hikes above the 6 percent base will be used to improve services to students in those colleges inside and outside the classroom. The surcharge for non-resident professional students will also increase 6 percent.

For new undergraduates, $15 per quarter of the previously approved instructional and general fee will be earmarked for student activities. In three years, the student activity fee will be rolled in for all students, and is expected to generate approximately $2 million a year to promote outside-the-classroom activities that enhance student learning. A three-tiered structure for undergraduate tuition at the Columbus campus was approved by trustees last month. Trustees also previously approved regional campus undergraduate tuition and an undergraduate non-resident surcharge.

"Over half of the student activity fee will support campus-wide programming, such as concerts, films and other activities chosen by the Ohio Union Activities Board, a student group," said William Hall, vice president for student affairs. "The fee will also provide funds for student organizations, student government and discounted tickets for students to community cultural and entertainment events."

The allocation of funds will be administered by the Council on Student Affairs, a subcommittee of the University Senate that has representation by students at the undergraduate, graduate and professional level. The fee is needed so that Ohio State students can have access to high quality, desirable events and activities. Most other universities have activity fees that support such programming.

"The lack of such a fee has made it difficult for student organizations and activities to operate at a level one would expect at a university of Ohio State's size and academic quality," Hall said. "Our students have strongly indicated that there is need for more and better entertainment and activity programming on campus and that they are willing to pay a modest fee to get that programming."

Learning technology fees in the colleges of arts, business and nursing will have increases ranging from $7 to $18 to help fund the additional technology needed to remain competitive within their fields.

The total cost for an undergraduate from Ohio to attend the Columbus campus and live in university housing will increase approximately $946, or 7 percent, for a three-quarter academic year for a continuing student, and $1,288, or 9.2 percent, for a new student. Among the costs, room and board for an average undergraduate room plus a 10-meal plan, will increase 3.7 percent, or $231, student health insurance will increase 23.7 percent, or $204, parking on the main campus and bus service will increase $9, and season football ticket prices will increase $5.

Fees for applying to the university and accepting admission also will increase, as will the fee to order a transcript. Parking for faculty and staff will increase 4 percent to 5 percent, and the cost of the university's primary health care plan for most faculty and staff will increase 19 percent. At the University Medical Center, average price increases will be 11.6 percent.