New outreach grants promote partnerships

The Office of University Outreach is accepting applications through Feb. 1, 2004 for a new "Excellence in Engagement" grants program. A total of $200,000 is available, with the maximum amount of each grant set at $100,000 with a 50 percent match required.

Grants are designed to support interdisciplinary teams to build upon their academic/research excellence and to establish an innovative, creative outreach and engagement initiative that will give the team, college/regional campus and university recognition both regionally and nationally for its partnership with the community.

For more information or to apply, visit the Web at http://outreach.osu.edu/.

USAC hosts annual Hidden Benefits Fair

The University Staff Advisory Committee will present its ninth annual Hidden Benefits Fair from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 17 in the French Field House. The event features more than 50 vendors from across campus and beyond, offering a wide variety of services, benefits and discounts to university staff members. Admission to the event is free and parking is available at the French Field House for all OSU parking permit holders. Discounted stadium-style lunch items will be offered as well.

For more information, call 688-USAC, e-mail usac@osu.edu or visit http://usac.osu.edu.

Changes in grade turn-in procedures

To maintain the tradition of distributing live diplomas at the commencement ceremony -- being moved from Friday to Sunday -- faculty are encouraged to follow some changes in grade submission procedures. Finals will run from Monday through Thursday, as in the past, but finals initially scheduled for Thursday evening will be held earlier in the week. The deadlines to submit grades for autumn quarter are as follows:

• Grades for graduating students in courses for which the final is scheduled on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday will be due no later than midnight on Dec. 11.

• Grades for graduating students in courses for which the final is scheduled on Thursday will be due no later than noon on Dec. 12.

• 999 grades for Ph.D. candidates must be submitted at the time the candidate submits his or her dissertation to the Graduate School.

• 998 grades for master's candidates must be submitted at the time the candidate submits his or her thesis to the Graduate School.

• Grades for non-graduating students may be turned in at the same time as those for graduating students, but are not actually due until Dec. 15, the Monday after finals week.

Construction prompts road closure

Beginning Dec. 15, 19th Avenue from Neil Avenue to Magruder Avenue will be closed to all traffic for approximately two months while a utility tunnel is reconstructed. Access to the post office will be maintained. The entire project will be complete by the end of April 2004. Additional closures and detours in this area will be identified as the project moves forward. This restoration project will also force the temporary cancellation of the CABS Core Circulator route beginning Dec. 15 through spring quarter.

For general up-to-date information, visit the Transportation and Parking Services Web site at www.tp.ohio-state.edu.

Registration underway for online W-2 forms

W-2 forms will again be available online this year to faculty and staff who register prior to Jan. 9, 2004. The W-2 will be posted on a secure Web site in late January. Employees will receive an e-mail notification when their W-2 is available, along with instructions for retrieval. They also will receive a confirmation e-mail when they enroll for online delivery as well as confirmations of any changes they have made to their contact information.

Information from online W-2 statements can be imported into "Turbo Tax" tax preparation software. Details and free training are available online. Anyone who registers through December is eligible to win a free copy of the software.

To register, visit www.theworknumber.com or call (800) 996-7566.

Donated items needed for fundraiser

The Mount Leadership Society, a scholars' program at Ohio State designed to show students the value of leadership and service, is sponsoring a Bucks for Hearts Silent Auction on Feb. 28, 2004, at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Proceeds of the auction will go toward the expansion of the Unverferth House, which allows families to stay for free while their loved ones are in University Hospitals waiting for transplants.

Faculty and staff may support this initiative by donating items for the silent auction by Jan. 15, 2004. Donations are tax-deductible.

For more information, contact Susan Parks at 795-7308 or by e-mail to parks.126@osu.edu.

Mershon Center seeks grant proposals

The Mershon Center is requesting proposals for its annual faculty grant competition. The Mershon Center strives to advance the scholarly study and intellectual understanding of national security in a global context and requests proposals from faculty interested in working in areas that address this theme. Faculty projects may involve research, seminars, conferences, interviews, laboratory experimentation and policy relevant workshops.

Proposals should be received by Jan. 16, 2004. For details and proposal submission guidelines, visit www.mershon.ohio-state.edu and click on the grants section.

Reese Center hosts holiday luncheon

Reservations are now being accepted for "A Taste of the Holidays from Around the World," the first annual holiday luncheon at the John Gilbert Reese Center at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 17. An education and conference facility located on the Ohio State Newark campus, the Reese Center opened its doors in September.

The center's gourmet chef will be preparing a selection of holiday dishes with desserts from France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Live music during the luncheon will create a festive atmosphere of celebration for the season.

Admission is $18 per person. For reservations, call the Reese Center at (740) 366-9339. Charitable gifts and donations will be accepted for New Beginnings Women's Shelter.

Human Resources Web link updated

The Office of Human Resources' "For Managers and HR Contacts" Web site, located at http://hr.osu.edu/hrpmgr2.htm, has posted the following information under the "What's New" heading:

• The employment verification phone numbers that verifiers call has been changed from a 900 number to (800) 367-5690. See the Work Number/Employment Verification site for more.

• Self-service site links are now available on the medical, dental and vision plan sites and on the benefit administrator contact information sites. Employees can find claims and eligibility information there.

• A revised version of the Notice of Reduction in Workforce form.

• The Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award and Distinguished Staff Award brochures -- copies can be downloaded from the Special Events Web site.

• 2003 Annual Diversity Data -- reports that detail diversity data universitywide and by department or college.

• The 2003-04 Affirmative Action Plans for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

Sea Grant has holiday gift subscriptions

Ohio State's Sea Grant is offering specials on publications for holiday shoppers. The Guide to Fishing in Central Lake Erie and the Guide to Fishing Reefs in Western Lake Erie feature maps, charts and other condition information, as well as tips on how to catch the sport fish found in each area. Cost is $3 each. The Lake Erie Fish Cookbook also costs $3. The cookbook offers more than 100 kitchen-tested recipes to help you add Lake Erie fish to your diet.

Subscriptions to Twine Line, a bimonthly, 12-page educational newsletter developed by Ohio Sea Grant featuring issues and research related to Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, is now buy one subscription, get a second one free. Cost is $6 a year for six issues. The sale runs through Dec. 15 for mail orders or to Dec. 22 at the Ohio Sea Grant office, 1314 Kinnear Road.

For details, call 292-8949.

Diversity awards deadline extended

The nomination deadline for the 2004 Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Awards has been extended until 5 p.m. Dec. 15. The awards program criteria, nomination guidelines and nomination form can be found on the Web at http://hr.osu.edu/special/ddea.htm.

For more information, contact Ned Cullom at 292-4341 or cullom.1@osu.edu, or Nancy Ettlinger at 292-2573 or ettlinger.1@osu.edu.