The James, Medical Center among nation's best

By DAVID CRAWFORD, Medical Center Communications

U.S. News & World Report magazine has again ranked the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute and Ohio State's Medical Center among the nation's best hospitals. In the rankings, Ohio State has a number of medical specialties listed as among the best in the country.

The survey of the nation's public and private hospitals is widely considered to be among the most comprehensive and influential survey of its type. The rankings appeared in the July 28 issue of the magazine.

The James was ranked among the 25 best cancer hospitals in the country. In addition, OSU Medical Center's programs in psychiatry, rehabilitation, hormonal disorders, kidney disease, and ear, nose and throat were all ranked as among the best in their respective categories.

David Schuller, director of The James, said cancer programs at The James are gaining national prominence as indicated by the rankings over the past several years.

"The James prides itself on high-quality patient care and its ability to give patients access to the most recent breakthroughs in cancer treatment," Schuller said. "These are some of the benefits one finds only at a hospital where its staff devotes its total resources and energy to treating cancer."

Kam Sigafoos, executive director of University Hospitals, said it's a source of pride for Ohio State's programs to be included in the list of best hospitals.

"It takes a tremendous amount of work by staff on all levels to build successful programs, and I'm pleased for them and our patients," Sigafoos said.

Hospitals selected for the magazine's rankings are institutions of varying sizes around the country. Measurements such as mortality data, staffing levels and technology are considered to compile the final lists.

The James is the only free-standing cancer hospital in the Midwest. It is a national leader in translational research and clinical care, and is one of the charter members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

The Medical Center has one of the largest and most complete health-care programs in Ohio, with an emphasis on patient care, research and training of medical professionals.

At the Medical Center, health and medical care is provided to patients by University Hospitals, The James, University Hospitals East, OSU and Harding Behavioral Healthcare and Medicine, and at more than 35 primary and specialty care sites throughout central Ohio. In 2004, the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital also will open on the medical center campus.

OIE implements new status-tracking system

By JONI BENTZ SEAL, onCAMPUS staff

Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) established new requirements for universities and colleges to track the status of international students and visiting scholars.

To comply with these new requirements, the Office of International Education (OIE) at Ohio State has worked for the past seven months to implement an electronic reporting program called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The new system will affect more than half a million international students and scholars in the United States, including more than 5,500 at Ohio State.

SEVIS preparation

John Greisberger, director of OIE, said his office was ready when the SEVIS deadline rolled around Aug. 1.

"Because of the planning and cooperation with other university offices, we were able to meet our objectives and are now prepared for the quarterly electronic reporting of all individuals with F-1 and J-1 visas," he said.

The Offices of Admissions and the Registrar collaborated with OIE to select the software to manage the program -- choosing FSA Atlas, which has been adopted by most of the larger universities around the country, and by most in the Big Ten -- and to create new procedures and communications to automate the sharing of information.

They then addressed the challenge to make sure files of current students and scholars were accurate. For the past several months, OIE advisers and staff personally met with every individual in the two visa categories to ensure their file information is current and to inform them of the new reporting procedures. The process, Greisberger said, initially was a significant challenge to the staff, but project funding allowed for the hiring of one new staff member and another to maintain the system.

"Our advisers need to focus on the services and programs we've provided to international students for more than 50 years here," Greisberger said, "By the start of the academic year, we'll have the staff in place to not only comply with SEVIS, but to continue to provide outstanding service to our international students and scholars."

OIE will submit its report before the 30th day of each quarter by downloading the SEVIS database to the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE). OIE also will be required to submit changes of address or major, applications for employment or transfer, and changes in enrollment status of students as they occur, with information verified by the registrar.

"In the past, we've never had to report all individuals at one time," Greisberger said. "Requests by the INS usually were fulfilled on an individual basis, so the initial preparation was critical."

Greisberger said it's imperative that students follow the new regulations. He said current students have kept abreast of the rules for SEVIS compliance, and that OIE hopes to make new students clear on visa and SEVIS requirements through their initial advising interview, student e-mails, group meetings and other forms of communication.

Students who fail to maintain their immigration status -- by violating any one of several requirements that include dropping to less than full-time enrollment, failing to obtain authorization for a reduced course load, or failing to notify appropriate offices of address or name changes -- may be asked to leave the country by BICE and would then have to apply for another visa to re-enter, which Greisberger said would be difficult because of the record of violation. However, he said students may apply to the INS for reinstatement if the violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond their control, such as illness, injury or natural disaster.

"Advisers -- and indeed anyone who works with international students and scholars -- need to be aware of the consequences of noncompliance and, in addition, the effect that changes in enrollment could have on a student's ability to remain in this country," Greisberger said.

As for the big picture, Greisberger said universities that don't comply with SEVIS could lose their ability to admit and enroll international students. "At Ohio State, we've invested the necessary resources to meet and maintain full compliance," Greisberger said. "The international student body contributes tremendously to the diversity of the Ohio State community, both inside and outside the classroom, allowing domestic students -- who may not have the opportunity to study abroad -- to have an international experience and gain the perspective from a different culture on their home campus."

Greisberger said that while some feel it's an intrusive system and question its effectiveness in enhancing national security, most students were pleased that OIE took an interest in making sure their records were up-to-date, and have come to realize that increased government monitoring is a fact of life for the opportunity to study in the United States.

"Our mission is to help international students and scholars when they first arrive and to help them throughout their stay," Greisberger said. "We know we have to deal with SEVIS, but our focus is to assist this large population in accomplishing both their educational and personal goals while in this country."

Policy to enforce alcohol laws on game days

By ELIZABETH CONLISK, Media Relations

In an effort to improve the safety and enjoyment of all who attend Buckeye football games, police will be enforcing state laws related to open containers of alcohol, underage drinking and public decency both on campus and on Lane Avenue.

The move is the result of discussions between Ohio State and City of Columbus officials about the need to reduce the problems associated with the behavior of those who become publicly intoxicated before, during and after football games. In addition, the Task Force on Celebratory Riots, which President Karen Holbrook and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman established late last year, identified alcohol as one of the largest contributors to celebratory riots.

Vern Baisden, assistant vice president for public safety, said that, in recent years, the excessive consumption of alcohol on football Saturdays has contributed to an unsafe and sometimes threatening environment for fans and visitors to Columbus.

"While the majority of the over 100,000 people who come to home games conduct themselves with dignity and class, a smaller group consumes excessive amounts of alcohol," he said. "These individuals then exhibit unruly and potentially dangerous behavior, and become a safety hazard to themselves and to others."

Baisden said teams of officers will focus on several problem areas where problems have occurred over the last several years: The Northwest/Tuttle Parking Garage, the Northwest Stadium Parking Lot and the South Field House Parking Lot. Excessive alcohol consumption in those areas has fueled lewd behavior, public indecency and verbal abuse to others, among other actions, he said.

"Our fans ought to be able to park in those areas without being subjected to this kind of behavior," Baisden said.

Officers also will monitor the actions of people who are heading toward the stadium from Lane Avenue, where Columbus Police have jurisdiction.

Bill Hall, vice president for student affairs, said enforcing laws will help contribute to an environment that sets a better example for Ohio State students.

"This is one positive step that we can take to change the culture for our students over the long term," Hall said. "This environment was created over many years, and we expect that it will take several years to change it.

"At the same time, most of our fans are responsible and good sports -- as our students are. It is the behavior of the few who are not responsible that we are seeking to change," he said.