TRUSTEES

The Ohio State Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Oct. 4 in 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.

Gifts result in new named endowed funds

A new endowed fund at Ohio State will help women who have had to interrupt their education because of other responsibilities. The Ralph Irwin and Julia Winter Cohen Critical Difference for Women Re-Entry Scholarship Fund is among four endowed funds established Oct. 4 by the University's Board of Trustees. The income from the $851,000 gift will provide scholarships for women at the undergraduate, graduate and professional level who need financial support to re-enter the educational process. The gift from the A.B., Dolly and Ralph Cohen Foundation was designated by Susan Winter Ward and Marilyn Winter-Tamkin to preserve the memory of their mother and stepfather.

Trustees also accepted the following named funds:

• The Frank S. Meszaros Memorial Fund, $25,000

• The Manuel Tzagournis, M.D., and Madeline Tzagournis Medical Research Fund, $25,000

• The Gene Wittmeyer Vegetable Scholarship Endowment Fund, $25,000

The board also accepted 286 new research grants and contracts totaling $33.5 million awarded to the University during August.

Announced at the University's Sept. 6 trustees meeting was a $1.5 million gift from Frank Stanton of Boston, that will establish the Ruth Stanton Chair in Veterinary Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Stanton, former president of CBS, gave the gift in memory of his late wife, Ruth, and the Boston terrier they shared. The gift is among the $3.4 million in funds donated to Ohio State during the month of June. Additional named endowed funds from the Sept. 6 meeting are:

• The Excellence in Radiology Endowment Fund, $581,111

• The George A. and Jean M. Madden Parkinson's Disease/Movement Disorders Endowment Fund, $504,913

• The Fultz Family Athletic Scholarship Fund, $102,720

• The Novice G. Fawcett Scholarship Fund in Educational Administration, $100,000

• The Marjorie Weaver Endowment Fund for Human Cancer Genetics Research, $52,315

• The Dr. Arthur G. and Mildred C. James Professorship in Surgical Oncology Fund, $49,069

• Richard D. Johnson Leadership Endowment Fund, $45,648

• The Helen, Joseph, Lynne and Steve Skilken Athletic Scholarship Fund for Wrestling, $40,000

• The Franz T. Stone Laboratory Research Endowment Fund, $38,765

• The Honorable Robert M. Duncan Scholarship Fund, $38,000

• The Dr. and Mrs. Richard O. Hecker Dentistry Scholarship Fund, $35,000

• The Porterfield-Dickens SPA Assistantship Fund, $34,962

• The Christopher and Suzanne Widing Athletic Scholarship Fund, $30,000

• The Wastewater Treatment Research Endowment Fund, $28,250

• The Steven Douglas and Alison Lanza Falls Agricultural Vice President's Fund, $27,500

• The John L. Crites Fellowship at Stone Laboratory Fund, $26,290

• The A. Louise Gerbig Memorial Fund in Cancer Research, $26,000

• The Robert L. Baker Scholarship Fund, $25,004

• The Galloway Family Athletic Scholarship Fund, $25,000

• The Gross Family Scholarship Fund in Pharmacy, $25,000

• The Gustav W. Huhn Endowed Scholarship Fund, $25,000

• The Margaret E. Love Endowment Fund for Cancer Research Education and Outreach, $25,000

• The George A. Krieger University Scholarship Fund, $15,000

• The Seubert Family Chadwick Arboretum Guest Lecturer Endowment Fund, $5,500

Changes in named funds

• The William Ray Flesher Professorship in Educational Administration Fund is now The William Ray and Marie Adamson Flesher Professorship

• The Thomas A. and John E. Hamrick Pickaway County Scholarship Fund is now the Thomas A. and John E. Hamrick Memorial Scholarship Fund for Pickaway County

• The Secrest Arboretum Director's Fund is now The Secrest Arboretum Founders Endowment Fund

• The Medical Research Facility Grant Fund is now The Huntington National Bank Medical Research Fund

Construction projects approved

The board authorized the employment of architectural/engineering firms for the following:

• Design of a facility to house the Early Childhood Development Center at Weinland Park. The existing childhood laboratory housed in Campbell Hall will be relocated to this new facility with expanded services for additional infants, toddlers and preschool age children. Preliminary project cost estimate is $5 million to $10 million with the design costs being funded by the College of Human Ecology.

• Renovation of the Biological Sciences Building and construction of an additional mechanical room for the installation of a Bio-Containment Lab that meets Level 3 standards of the Centers for Disease Control. Preliminary project cost estimate is $1.8 million with design costs being funded by the College of Medicine and Public Health.

• Replacement of the eastern elevated walkways at Lincoln and Morrill Towers. Preliminary project cost estimate is $600,000 with design costs being funded by House Bill 748.

• Renovation of the elevated and at-grade walkways adjacent to Lincoln and Morrill Towers and the Drake Union pedestrian bridge crossing the Olentangy River. Preliminary project cost estimate in $350,000 with the design costs being funded by House Bill 748.

The board also authorized the University to enter into construction contracts for the following:

• Demolition of the existing Woody Hayes Drive bridges over the Olentangy River and Olentangy River Road and replacement with new bridges and installation of a high-pressure steam line under the bridge structure connected to existing lines. Total estimated project cost is $9.9 million with funding provided by future University bond proceeds.

Library renovation plans outlined

Joseph J. Branin, director of University Libraries, told the board about plans for the renovation and reconstruction of the William Oxley Thompson Library, the University's main library. Built in 1913, with additions in the 1950s and 1970s, the structure is on track for an eight-year, $75 million to $125 million facelift and modernization.

The project will be financed by a major fund-raising campaign, now underway, and state capital funding.

University Systems update report heard

William Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, and Ilee Rhimes, chief information officer, reported on the progress of the University's major systems projects, which include Human Resources, the Financials Upgrade Project, the Grants Management System Project, the IMPACT system, the Student Information System Project, a University-wide business continuity plan and the strategic plan for information technology in support of the University's Academic Plan. The seven major systems are in various stages of installation, upgrading or planning.

Personnel appointments

• Martha A. Belury has been named associate professor and holder of The Carol S. Kennedy Professorship in Human Nutrition, through Sept. 30, 2007. Prior to her appointment, she served as affiliate associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Washington and associate member of the Department of Molecular Medicine, Northwest Hospital, Seattle, Wash.

• Linda L. Harlow has been named interim associate provost for Honors and Scholars in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Oct. 1.

• Karen A. Holbrook, president of Ohio State has been named professor in the Departments of Physiology and Cell Biology and Internal Medicine/Division of Dermatology in the College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Oct. 1.

• Thomas M. Rieland has been named general manager of WOSU Stations in the Office of University Relations, effective Nov. 12. He is currently director and general manager of the Center for Public Television and Radio at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

• Larry S. Schlesinger has been named to The Samuel Saslaw Professorship in Infectious Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Public Health, through June 30, 2006.

Reappointments

• Albert J. Davis, chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Human Ecology, through June 30, 2003.

• Ferdinand A. Geiger, director of athletics and assistant vice president for student affairs, through June 30, 2006.

• Gary Bos, Frank J. Kloenne Chair in Orthopedic Surgery, through June 30, 2006. This is a change in term from that approved at the May trustees meeting.

• Russell H. Fazio, Harold E. Burt Chair in Psychology, through June 30, 2007.

• William J. Napier, acting vice president for government relations in the Office of the President, effective Sept. 6.

• Thomas A. Schwartz, Willard M. Kiplinger Chair in Public Affairs Reporting, through June 30, 2003.

• Jose S. Villa, assistant vice provost in the Office of Minority Affairs, effective July 1.

• David Winwood, associate vice president for knowledge transfer and commercialization in the Office of Research, effective Oct. 15.

• Robert A. Bornstein, senior associate dean for academic affairs and secretary of the College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Sept. 1.

• Susan F. Jablonski, associate vice president/chief communications officer in the Office of Health Sciences in the College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Sept. 1.

• Joan E. Patton, associate vice president and chief operating officer/chief financial officer in the Office of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Sept. 1.

• Robert F. Lawson, director of the School of Educational Policy and Leadership, through June 30, 2006.

• Michael S. Beattie, chair of the Department of Neuroscience, through June 30, 2006.

• Radu V. Saveanu, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, through June 30, 2006.

• Robert L. Kaufman, chair of the Department of Sociology, through June 30, 2006.

• Richard M. Bednarski, director of the Veterinary Hospital, through June 30, 2003.

• James W. Altschuld, interim director of the School of Educational Policy and Leadership.

• Alan J. Randall, chair of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, through Sept. 30, 2006.

• David W. Andrews, dean of the College of Human Ecology, through June 30, 2008.

Service appointments

• George Skestos, appointed as citizen member of the University Hospitals Board for a three-year term.

• R. Reed Fraley, Ohio State vice president for health services, will serve on the board of directors of AccessHealth Columbus.

• Appointed to three-year terms on the Engineering Experiment Station Advisory Council are: Cheena Srinivasan, professor of mechanical engineering; Dhabaleswar Panda, professor of computer and engineering science; and James C. Williams, dean of the College of Engineering.

Emeritus titles granted

Emeritus titles granted at the Sept. 6 trustees meeting, effective Sept. 1 are:

• Harisios Boudoulas, professor emeritus in internal medicine; Stephen A. Buser, professor emeritus in finance; Walter D. Burnside, professor emeritus in electrical engineering; Thorwald Herbert, professor emeritus in mechanical engineering; Vernon C. Stevens, professor emeritus in obstetrics and gynecology; W. Bruce Walsh, professor emeritus in psychology; John L. Robinson, associate professor emeritus in internal medicine; Richard K. Russell, associate professor emeritus in psychology; David A. Jones, assistant professor emeritus in OSU Extension; Carolyn B. McKinney, assistant professor emeritus in consumer and textile sciences; and Joyce A. Smith, assistant professor emeritus in consumer and textile sciences.

Emeritus title granted at the Oct. 4 trustees meeting, effective Oct. 1:

• Jean T. Snook has been named professor emeritus in the Department of Human Nutrition.

Property sold

Trustees authorized the University to sell 50,000 square feet of improved property known as the Busch Boulevard Centre, a retail shopping center in northwest Columbus. The property is appraised at $2.25 million and will be sold to S.L. Yassenoff of Columbus for $2.3 million. Net proceeds will be reinvested in the University's endowment. The sale is part of the University's liquidation of certain real estate holdings held by the endowment as a matter of routine review and improvement of its portfolio.

Competitive bidding waivers accepted

The board accepted the quarterly report on waivers of competitive bidding requirements, which are granted in the event of an emergency, when a sufficient economic reason exists or when the goods or services can be purchased from only a single source. During the period of April to June 2002, the senior vice president for business and finance granted 76 waivers for annual purchases totaling approximately $13 million and the vice president for health services granted 31 waivers for annual purchases totaling approximately $8.5 million.

Study Abroad Program plans heard

John Greisberger, director of the Office of International Education, updated trustees on the University's five-year plan for its Study Abroad Program. In 2001-2002, about 1,300 students studied abroad. The Office of International Education currently has 120 programs in 50 countries for students. As a part of the five-year plan, which will end in 2005, Greisberger said the office is working to double the amount of financial assistance for students, to raise the number of study abroad programs to 150 and to increase the number of resident faculty directors.

Building named

Trustees approved the naming of the Gene and Dorothy Wittmeyer Conference Room in the Waterman Headquarters Building, 2490 Carmack Road. The action occurred at the Sept. 6 meeting. Gene Wittmeyer served on the Ohio State Extension faculty for many years and is a member of the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The Wittmeyers were involved with the Ohio and Franklin County Vegetable and Potato Growers Associations for more than 50 years.

Trustees hear various progress reports

Trustees heard a report on the Faculty Cohort Project, and various reports at the Sept. 6 meeting.

The Faculty Cohort Project is an initiative of The Women's Place and the President's Advisory Council on Women's Issues to improve retention of women faculty members. The cohort project consists of 50 women professors -- 38 percent of the Ohio State faculty hired between November 2000 and October 2001. During that time period, 16 of Ohio State's 19 colleges hired a woman. The project is collecting quantitative and qualitative data to identify potential issues affecting the retention of women faculty.

• Trustees accepted the final report of the Presidential Commission on the Regional Campuses and endorsed the recommendations and the plan for their implementation. The yearlong study focused on issues relating to mission and governance, admissions and enrollment, students and student services.

• An update on the progress of the Student Housing Legal Clinic was heard by trustees. The clinic was created in July 1999 to assist and maintain a safe residential environment for students living off-campus. A supervising attorney and legal interns work with students on problems ranging from condition of property to how to deal with threats of eviction. As of July 1, more than 4,000 students have been assisted and nearly 1,500 cases have been handled. More than $140,000 has been recovered and saved for clients.

• A presentation was heard on two of Ohio State Extension's new outreach and research programs for the state of Ohio: the Buckeye Sports Turf Initiative and the Ohio Geospatial Program for Agriculture/Natural Resources Applications.

• Trustees heard a presentation by Dean Glen Hoffsis on the College of Veterinary Medicine's student body, programming and strategic planning.

• The president of the Undergraduate Student Government spoke to the trustees about the importance of faculty-student interaction. As the University's academic standards improve, the students will expect more services, including interaction with faculty members, which helps build a sense of community at Ohio State.