REGIONAL spotlight

Regionals expanding student services to keep pace with demand

By RANDY GAMMAGE, onCAMPUS staff

A wide array of services ranging from athletics to mental health counseling is emerging as the regional campuses strive to create the full collegiate experience offered at the Columbus campus.

Even more services are on the horizon.

As a result of a charge to enhance student services on regional campuses made in the final report of the Presidential Commission on Regional Campuses issued in September 2002, Student Affairs established a committee to review and make recommendations to enhance student services on the regional campuses. The committee issued recommendations this summer that included 24-hour security, student health insurance, expanded athletic and recreational facilities, student unions, full-time directors of student affairs, mental health counseling and wellness education, and staff to promote educational diversity.

They also looked at the potential costs and funding of those services, and called for a cross-collaboration network between like functions at all OSU campus locations. That network is already proving fruitful, said Diane Whitbeck, assistant vice president for student affairs and chair of the committee.

"This collaboration is working on two fronts," she said. "They meet as a group and make that face to face connection, and then as particular needs arise they are calling on each other for advice and consultation. To me, that's the best of both worlds, and it costs the university nothing."

The collaborative model also provides many opportunities for joint purchasing agreements, and other means for capitalizing on the economies of scale that the entire Ohio State system can bring to solving issues, she said.

Changes in student services have already occurred or are underway as the needs of the student population evolve. John Berry, director of student affairs at Ohio State Newark, said the campus continues to expand traditional educational, social and recreational programs. With an enrollment of 2,200 students -- 180 of them living on the Newark campus in university owned housing -- he said the demand for student services is high.

OSU Newark has 38 student organizations, and offers nine intercollegiate teams -- men's and women's basketball, volleyball and cross country, men's golf and baseball, and women's softball -- all competing in the Ohio Regional Campus Conference. They also have four intramural programs ranging from flag football to Frisbee golf.

The Newark campus enjoys continued financial support from the community, Berry said, which has allowed them to expand their physical facilities. Financing is already secured and planning is underway for a John and Christine Warner Library and Student Center, which the campus expects to open in about five years. The campus recently dedicated the John Gilbert Reese Center, a new high-tech learning and conferencing facility, during Technology Days Oct. 14-15.

Berry said a pivotal recommendation from the student services committee is the call for administrative staff to promote educational diversity and create a welcoming environment for all students.

"The question is 'how do we get the community to embrace the diversity issue?' -- that is a key to expanding the role of the regional campuses," Berry said.

To help promote diversity, OSU Newark has hosted fashion shows, debates and panel discussions, and cultural shows that share the food and culture of various countries.

With new student housing on hold, the focus for the past two years has been on meeting the growing needs of current students at Ohio State Marion while also preparing to provide services for residential students, said Kim Ferguson, director of student affairs.

OSU Marion has experienced increased enrollments from 1,276 in 2000 to 1,576 in 2003. At the same time they have expanded facilities to include the Delaware Center and will break ground in spring 2004 on a new student services building that will house admissions, financial aid, career services, academic advising, campus retention and diversity, in addition to expanding the availability of space for various student services initiatives.

Ferguson said OSU Marion began allocating funds in 2003 to provide budgeting for student organization programming and leadership and service initiatives.

"Our goal was to increase student involvement on our campus," she said, adding that from 2000 to 2003 the number of student organizations has grown from five to 18.

Additionally, a pilot program through the Marion General Hospital Enrichment Center will allow all students to participate in the Student Assistance Program. The program will provide assessment, referral and counseling to students with emotional problems, substance abuse, relationship problems, and/or other issues related to behavioral health.

Ferguson said they are currently developing a council of student services similar to what the Columbus campus offers.

Other enhanced or expanded student services either implemented or in development at the Marion campus include:

• An expanded campus orientation program to provide an institutional perspective on Marion and Columbus campus' academic programs and available student services.

• A number of intramural, intercollegiate and club sports have been added. They now have men's basketball, women's volleyball, golf and cheerleading.

• A full-time director of safety, security and traffic will be hired by spring quarter.

• A full-time position to enhance retention and diversity initiatives through the development of the Diversity Leadership Council that represents the business and surrounding communities serviced by the Marion campus.

Conversations have also begun with the Columbus campus dining services to provide food services on the Marion campus in support of the anticipated residential operations.

"These enhanced services help the community see us as the Ohio State University with comprehensive academic and support services, and a viable campus life experience," Ferguson said.

OARDC offers science column for kids in Spanish

Firefly or luciérnaga? Children of all ages can now learn about the most fascinating facts of science, nature and agriculture in both English and Spanish thanks to a weekly science column produced by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension.

"Cosas Curiosas con Juan Palitos" is the Spanish-language version of the popular "Smart Stuff with Twig Walkingstick," a column hosted by a friendly and witty cartoon walkingstick. Published by newspapers, magazines and online publications around the United States and Canada, "Twig" has been teaching kids about plants, animals, food, farming, the environment and many other interesting topics since 1994.

Twig's counterpart, "Juan," made its debut last July in several Ohio Spanish-language publications with a pilot column on fireflies. Since Sept. 21, the column has been released on a weekly basis along with Twig. The moniker Juan Palitos comes from juanpalo (literally, "johnstick"), a common name for walkingsticks in Latin America.

The column's goal is to become a valuable educational resource for school-age children (and other readers) whose native language is Spanish.

Twig and Juan also can be combined to serve as language-learning materials. The English-language column is already used by many educators in Ohio and elsewhere to teach their students about science.

Editors, educators and other individuals interested in receiving Twig and/or Juan can contact Kurt Knebusch at (330) 263-3776 or knebusch.1@osu.edu or Mauricio Espinoza at (330) 202-3550 or espinoza.15@osu.edu. Columns also can be found online at http://fusion.ag.ohio-state.edu/news/twigspanish.asp (Juan) and http://fusion.ag.ohio-state.edu/news/twig.asp (Twig).

Outreach program motivates youth to pursue higher education

By WAYNE ROWE, Marion Campus Communications

Eighty Marion County high school juniors recently visited the Ohio State Marion campus to participate in a day long conference hosted annually by I CAN GO TO COLLEGE, a college access program developed to motivate area K-12 students to view higher education as necessary, desirable and obtainable.

The purpose of the event was to increase exposure to post-secondary education, enhance leadership skills in participating high school students, and encourage students to spread the word about the program and its benefits.

The conference offered the juniors the opportunity to experience a tour of a college campus; tips on choosing a career; information on college admissions, financial planning and goal setting; as well as the chance to participate in an in-depth student panel discussion to share ideas with youths from different schools.

Tei Street, a motivational speaker based in Columbus, delivered the event's keynote address. Director of the Village to Child Program at Ohio Dominican University, Street shared a message to motivate youth and inspire them to "step to the plate" and lead America boldly in the new millennium.

Her fundamental belief that youth are the key to much of what ails America, resonated well with the students, according to Dave Haberman, program coordinator of I CAN GO TO COLLEGE.

"After the program was over, I was impressed that three or four of the students said thank you for showing me college is possible for everyone. That is the essence of why our program is in existence and what we are all about," Haberman said.

The participants, who were chosen by their respective guidance counselors in spring 2003, represented students from Elgin, Marion Harding, Pleasant, Ridgedale and River Valley schools.

Although the goal of the event was to empower the youths of all Marion County schools to overcome the barriers many students face when choosing the route of higher education, the practical benefits of the annual conference are even more far reaching.

"We introduce the idea that attending a two- or four-year college after high school is a possibility and follow that up with support in applying for grants and financial aid, as well as providing last dollar grants to students in need," Haberman said.

The program has provided 47 grants since 1999, totaling $101,025 for students who otherwise couldn't afford a higher education.

Haberman said the most important part of the message the program conveys to youth, parents, teachers and guidance counselors is that kids that can go to college need to go.

"Although they are juniors, students may have not begun planning for college. We are just trying to get them to start aiming in that direction," he said.

I CAN GO TO COLLEGE began in 1998 as a partnership between Ohio State Marion and the Marion Rotary Club. The goal of the program was to increase college access to all Marion city youth. In 2001, the program expanded that mission to include all Marion County schools.

The program is administered through volunteer advisers in the high schools who work in cooperation with high school guidance counselors. The volunteers also work with seniors and juniors one-on-one to provide financial aid information and encourage continuing education.

For more information on I CAN GO TO COLLEGE, contact David Haberman, OSU Marion program coordinator, at (740) 389-6786, ext. 6272 or haberman.3@osu.edu.

Courtesy of Ohio State Marion The Ohio State Marion Scarlet Wave basketball team with new head coach Larry Jones.

Former NBA/ABA All-Star hired to lead Scarlet Wave hoopsters

After an extensive regional search, Ohio State Marion has hired Larry Jones, former NBA/ABA player, coach and sports announcer, as its head men's basketball coach.

Jones was hired a short time before the Scarlet Wave of Ohio State Marion kicked off their 2003-04 season on the road against Georgetown College Nov. 2. The team competes in the Ohio Regional Campus Conference Basketball League and is 3-1 at home, 5-7 overall (as of Dec. 8).

Athletic Coordinator Bruce Creasap served in the role of interim coach throughout early autumn practices.

A resident of Columbus, Jones has been involved with basketball in some form or fashion for the past 30 years. He is a graduate of Columbus East High School and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo in Comprehensive Science and Physical Education. Jones earned a Master's in Guidance Counseling from Ohio State and is currently working toward his Ph.D. in Guidance Counseling.

Jones feels the important message to impart to his players at Ohio State Marion is maintaining their commitment to education.

"I have a passion for coaching," Jones said. "Trying to help kids, not just on the court but off the court, trying to help them build their lives. In the long run they will have more time off the court than on the court."

Jones has always emphasized the importance of education with his players because education is something that can't be taken away.

"You can get kids to continue to play basketball," he explained, "with the main goal of getting their education and return to their respective community and be productive."

Jones played for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, and the ABA's Denver Rockets, Miami Floridians, Utah Stars and the ABA franchise in Dallas, which later became the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. He earned All-Star and All-Pro status and set many scoring records. During his career, Jones was instrumental in starting a players association with the ABA.

Jones is retired from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, where he spent the past 20 years in charge of institutional programming.

Jones seeks community involvement in athletics at OSU Marion.

"I hope that as the community embraces me and the team that I have the opportunity to get the community to become a stakeholder in the program."

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