Meeting request Web site established

Because of the volume of calendar requests that President Karen Holbrook receives, a Web site has been created where all event and meeting inquiries should be submitted. The Office of the President believes that this process will allow them to respond more quickly. To submit a request, go to http://president.ohio-state.edu/ and click on "Meeting/Speaking Engagement Request Form." When you complete the form, click on the "Send this Form" button. An acknowledgement of the request will be sent.

Lane Avenue widening underway; traffic maintained

Dramatic improvements to one of the major gateways to campus remain on schedule as the new Lane Avenue Bridge nears completion and the Lane Avenue widening project gets underway.

While the bridge is expected to remain closed until Nov. 14, traffic will be maintained on the remainder of Lane Avenue throughout the widening work, which began July 8. However, the Tuttle Park Place/Lane Avenue intersection will be closed until further notice, according to Transportation and Parking Services. Access to Tuttle Lots 3 and 4 from Tuttle Park Place will be maintained.

The Lane Avenue project calls for widening to five lanes in sections starting this summer from the river east to Tuttle Park Place, Neil Avenue and eventually to High Street. The paving work is expected to be completed in one year, with new traffic signals, landscaping and sidewalks to be installed after that.

• Cannon Drive is reduced to one lane (southbound only) from south of John Herrick Drive to King Avenue, until the end of July to accommodate construction of on- and off-ramps between state Route 315 and the Medical Center. For more information, contact Lindsay Mendicino at 644-6584 or Michelle May at 644-8309.

Women's Council seeks nominations

The President's Council on Women's Issues is seeking nominations for members for the 2003-04 academic year.

The council, composed of 22 faculty, staff and student members, is a mechanism for assisting the president with identifying and addressing policies and practices critical to the success of women at the university.

Individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by others. President Karen Holbrook will select 10 new members to fill vacancies left by term expirations. The deadline is Aug. 1.

For more information about the council or for a nomination form, contact The Women's Place at 292-3960, or visit http://womensplace.osu.edu.

TELR event to highlight BBC online conversion

Nigel Paine, head of the people development operation of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will present "Moving from Content Delivery to Knowledge Management: Building an Online Learning Environment that Works" at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 in 302 Pfahl Hall. Technology Enhanced Learning and Research (TELR) is hosting the event.

Paine will describe the BBC's journey to move a massive training and development infrastructure online while retaining knowledge management and intranet coherence. The BBC is among the world's largest broadcasters, reaching millions of people worldwide through television, radio, the Web and magazines.

The presentation is free, but reservations are required. R.S.V.P. to Teri Ryan, at 292-7429 or ryan.129@osu.edu by July 28. For details, visit http://telr.osu.edu/news/paine/.

Volunteers sought for Welcome Week event

Organizers are seeking faculty, staff and students to volunteer for the Sept. 23 Community Commitment, part of Welcome Week activities and one of the nation's largest one-day community service projects on a college campus. Volunteers are to report to the Oval at 8 a.m., are transported to a work site at 9 a.m., and are finished by noon.

Breakfast, lunch, transportation and a T-shirt are provided. Last year, more than 1,500 volunteered their time at more than 80 different sites around Columbus.

To volunteer, e-mail name, address, phone number and OSU title or affilliation to bossard.5@osu.edu or damon.7@osu.edu by Aug. 8.

Mobile health screenings offered

The University Faculty and Staff Wellness Program is offering free health screenings to OSU faculty and staff this summer. The screening includes total cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure.

Additional free services available include osteoporosis bone density screening (please wear a removable sock), chair massage therapy and body fat composition. Appointments are not required. Dates and locations are:

• July 30, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Baker Systems Engineering (room TBA). Contact Richard Wofford at wofford.1@osu.edu.

• Aug. 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wooster campus, Fisher Auditorium. Contact Adrienne Davis at davis.1822@osu.edu.

• Aug. 18-22 (Staff Appreciation Week), University Health Connection. Contact Peg Cook at 688-0703 to make an appointment for a health risk assessment.

Free screenings are available to all faculty and staff throughout the year at various times and locations. Participants are asked to complete an online confidential health screening questionnaire no earlier than 30 days prior to the event. To complete the questionnaire or for an updated schedule, visit the Web at www.osumhcs.com/wellness.

Astronomy presents Perkins lecture series

Professors in Ohio State's world-class Department of Astronomy serve as guest lecturers for "New Vistas in Astronomy," a series that meets one Thursday each month at Perkins Observatory, located 10 miles north of Columbus on state Route 23. The astronomy mini-course allows participants to learn about the latest discoveries by astronomers and to observe a variety of celestial objects with the 32-inch Schottland reflecting telescope.

To purchase tickets or for directions, call (740) 363-1257 or visit the Web at www.perkins-observatory.org.

Workshop to explain home-buying options

Ohio State Extension and the Columbus Housing Partnership will present a four-part workshop on how to buy and maintain a home, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26 at Godman Guild, 303 E. Sixth Ave.

In addition to information on mortgages, insurance and home maintenance, the workshop will explain the university's Faculty and Staff Neighborhood Homeownership Incentive Program -- money toward the down-payment on a home is available to university employees who are interested in buying a home in portions of the University District, the Columbus Empowerment Zone and other areas of Columbus -- and other programs which provide direct assistance in purchasing a home.

To register for the workshop, call Columbus Housing Partnership at 221-8889, ext. 123.

Gateway information session set for July 30

The University Area Commission and Campus Partners will host a public gathering at 6:30 p.m. July 30 in the Campus Partners office, 1824 N. High St., to explain the architecture, construction timetable and leasing plans for the South Campus Gateway project being built on High Street in the area of 11th Avenue. Terry Foegler, president of Campus Partners, will provide an update and answer questions about the Gateway project. Neighborhood civic leaders and residents are invited to attend.

South Campus Gateway will be a three- to five-story blend of entertainment, retail, offices and housing and a 1,200-space parking garage. The project is scheduled to open in August 2005.

For details, contact Campus Partners at 294-7300 or visit the Web at www.osu.edu/CampusPartners/.

Deadline nears for research papers

Patti Lather, professor of social and cultural foundations in the College of Education, will be the opening keynote speaker at the 22nd Annual Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing and Community Education Oct. 8-10 at the Fawcett Center. Her speech, "Paradigm Proliferation: A Good Thing to Think With," will highlight the opening session, from 9-10 a.m. Oct. 9 in the auditorium.

The conference will give graduate students and faculty across the Midwest and Southeast an opportunity to share their research findings with other educators of adults. The deadline for final copy is Aug. 1.

For details or early registration discounts, visit the conference Web site at www.alumni-osu.org/midwest.

Web site offers advice on chemical safety

"ChemWatch," a new chemical safety database and resource located on the Office of Environmental Health and Safety's Web page at http://www.ehs.ohio-state.edu/chemwatch, assists faculty and staff with compliance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and Lab Standard.

The extensive database includes both laboratory and commercial products, as well as information on safe handling, storage, hazards, health effects, emergency procedures, first aid and other safety concerns. Material Safety Data Sheets containing basic, moderate and extensive information can be printed directly from the database.

For details, contact Tim Govenor, industrial hygienist, at 292-1284.

Newark campus jazz concert is Aug. 1

The warm mellow sounds of Dwight Lenox and his Lenox Avenue Express Jazz and Dance Band will drift across the Newark campus of Ohio State on Aug. 1 as the second performance in the campus' Summer Concert Series kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Martha Grace Reese Amphitheatre.

BBQ ribs will be on sale at the event and everyone is encouraged to bring picnic meals and lawn chairs.

For more information, contact Teri Holder at (740) 366-9420 or holder.20@osu.edu.

Meeting request Web site established

Because of the volume of calendar requests that President Karen Holbrook receives, a Web site has been created where all event and meeting inquiries should be submitted. The Office of the President believes that this process will allow them to respond more quickly. To submit a request, go to http://president.ohio-state.edu/ and click on "Meeting/Speaking Engagement Request Form." When you complete the form, click on the "Send this Form" button. An acknowledgement of the request will be sent.