Graduate students new onCampus readers

onCampus is now being delivered to the university mailboxes of nearly 4,600 graduate teaching and research associates.

The university believes graduate associates are an important part of the Ohio State employee community, and may pursue faculty and research positions with the university after their education is complete.

onCampus will keep graduate students abreast of the number of people "doing something great," the breadth of research accomplishments, and the culture and benefits of being a faculty/staff member of the university community -- all of which are featured regularly in the paper.

If graduate students in your area are not receiving copies of onCampus, e-mail Karen Patterson at patterson.118@osu.edu.

Provost addresses senate Jan. 15

Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara Snyder will deliver the annual State of Academic Affairs address to the University Senate at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15 in Ballroom C of the Blackwell.

The university community is invited to attend. Refreshments will be available during the meeting.

For a complete senate schedule, visit the Web at http://senate.ohio-state.edu/.

Diversity Lecture series continues in January

Lee Jones, associate dean for academic affairs and instruction in the College of Education at Florida State University, and Shirley Malcom, head of the Directorate for Educational and Human Resources Programs of the American Association of the Advancement of Science, will be the featured speakers in January as the 2003-04 President and Provost's Diversity Lecture series continues.

Jones will present "If Martin Were Here Today, What Would He Say?" at 4 p.m. Jan. 13 in the Ohio Union Main Lounge. Malcom, who also is chair of the Committee on Capacity Building in Science of the International Council for Science, will present "Next Generation Science, Next Generation Scientists" at 9 a.m. Jan. 21 in 130 Drinko Hall.

Also included as part of the lecture series is a cultural performance by the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, a group of performers from Trinidad that plays a repertoire of music ranging from classic to rock and roll on oil drums, at 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Hale Center.

The lectures and cultural performance are free and open to the public.

For details, contact Frank Hale at 688-4255 or visit the Web at www.osu.edu/diversity/buffer2.html.

St. Pierre to address Lunch Bunch session

Ronald L. St. Pierre, associate vice president and special assistant to the senior vice president for health sciences, will discuss "Helping Children Grow Healthier" at the Jan. 12 University District Lunch Bunch meeting, from noon-1:30 p.m. at Campus Partners, 1824 N. High St. (Parking is available across the street in the Ohio Union parking garage.) St. Pierre is involved in a variety of projects where university and community partners are working together to improve health and prevent chronic childhood diseases. An open forum will take place after the panel discussion.

Bring a brown bag lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided. R.S.V.P. to Barbara Millisor at 688-3041 or e-mail millisor.1@osu.edu.

CURA seeks research proposals

The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA) is accepting proposals relating to issues and problems that apply to Ohio's urban and metropolitan areas, rural areas and related regional issues. CURA and its advisory committee welcome proposals on a wide variety of urban and regional topics. Research focused outside Ohio should be linked to its potential impact for Ohio's cities and regions.

There is no restriction to specific topics, but proposed projects should be directed toward either the enhancement of knowledge and understanding of significant urban, rural or regional issues and/or a solution to current urban, rural or regional problems.

For full details, visit the Web at http://cura.osu.edu.

Orientation leaders needed for 2004

The First Year Experience staff is looking for orientation leaders to assist in the transition to Ohio State of first year and transfer students, serving as official university representatives to students and their guests, facilitating small group interactions and helping with the academic advising process. Faculty and staff who know of any student who would be a potential fit for the position are encouraged to share this opportunity with them.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 28. Applications are available online at www.orientation.osu.edu or in 120 Enarson Hall.

For details, call 247-6412, e-mail crawford.303@osu.edu, or visit the Web site, www.orientation.osu.edu.

Arboretum to host ash borer program

Ohio State's Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens is sponsoring "Invasive Plants and Destructive Insects: Economic and Ecological Impacts of Gypsy Moth, Invasive Plants, and Emerald Ash Borer" from 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 10 in Kottman Hall Auditorium.

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) has already infested and killed more than six million ash trees in southeast Michigan in the last two years and was recently found in Franklin County.

The program is open to the public, with a $5 admission payable at the door. Parking is available in lots adjacent to Kottman Hall.

For details, contact Mary Maloney, education and volunteer coordinator, at 688-3479.

Jesse Jackson Jr. to lead MLK celebration

U.S. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., currently serving his fifth term as a member of Congress, is the keynote speaker for Ohio State's 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration, beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 in the main ballroom of the Ohio Union. Sponsored by the Office of Minority Affairs, the event is free and open to the public.

"Celebrating the Legacy: Social Justice for All" is the theme for the 2004 observance that will culminate on Jan. 19 with participation in a citywide march through downtown Columbus. Marchers should meet at 2 p.m. at the Hale Center.

Other King holiday events are:

Jan. 12 -- Martin Luther King Jr. blood drive with the American Red Cross, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Hale Center.

Jan. 19 -- Project Community Martin Luther King Jr. "Day of Service." Ohio State student volunteers will engage in community service projects throughout the morning.

For more information, call 292-4355.

W-2 information can be received online

The Office of Human Resources is offering Ohio State faculty, staff and student employees the opportunity to register to receive their W-2 Wage and Tax Statement online. Information can be found online by visiting the OHR Web site at http://hr.osu.edu/payroll/taxw2online.htm.

Employees who have previously registered at any time in the past to receive their W-2 information online do not need to do so again and will continue to receive their forms electronically. In late January, the W-2 information will be posted on a secure Web site, and employees who have registered will then receive an e-mail notification when their W-2 becomes available, along with instructions for retrieval.

FAES hosts diversity training series

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences is offering "We Are All People: Understanding Heterosexism and Homophobia" on Jan. 27, one of a series of diversity training sessions scheduled for 2003-04. These sessions, which are free of charge and open to faculty, staff and students, are two and a half hours in length and are offered twice, from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Sessions are limited to a maximum of 25 participants and a minimum of 10, and will be held in the college's auditorium at 2120 Fyffe Road.

The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Student Services will conduct this session. Participants will be introduced to concepts and strategies to help develop an understanding of heterosexism and homophobia. The training also provides strategies on how to be allies to people who are GLBT.

For details or to register, call Kathy Lechman at 247-7176 or e-mail lechman.1@osu.edu.

ARP vendor deadline extended

The Office of Human Resources has extended the Dec. 15 deadline for changing your Ohio Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP) vendor. An ARP Change of Vendor form can be obtained from the Office of Human Resources or online at http://hr.osu.edu/forms/benarpvendorchg.pdf. The vendor list is available online at http://hr.osu.edu/benefits/retirevendors.pdf.

While the Dec. 31 deadline for biweekly paid employees has passed, monthly paid employees have until Jan. 16 to return completed forms.