Ohio State faculty, staff tour state in traveling seminar

One of the wonders of the ancient world and a "dandelion on steroids" that could be an alternative source of rubber are some of the highlights of Ohio State University's 2007 Roads Scholars Tour, April 12-13.

Forty faculty and administrators from 14 colleges and offices as well as student leaders will embark on this traveling seminar. The annual event takes newly hired and newly tenured faculty into communities throughout Ohio for a firsthand look at Ohio State's involvement in collaborative research, economic development, and education that benefit the citizens of the state. The 2-day bus tour, which is sponsored by the Office of University Outreach and Engagement and supported OSU Extension and the Office of Continuing Education, also offers faculty a chance to get to know their colleagues from across the university.

Bobby Moser, vice president for University Outreach, and Keith Smith, director of OSU Extension, will lead participants to a variety of business and educational sites in six Northeast Ohio counties, including Ohio State's Mansfield campus, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, a Massillon high school, a business and research partner in Amish Country, and the newly established Newark Earthworks Center.

Ohio State began conducting Roads Scholars tours in 1997. Since then, the program has taken more than 500 new faculty to all corners of the state. The tour gives faculty an opportunity to meet and interact with business and community leaders, educators, alumni, students, and prospective students.

*To arrange interviews with faculty on the tour, media should contact Sandra Kerka, University Outreach and Engagement, Service-Learning Initiative, and P-12 Project, at (614) 247-4429.

WHAT:Ohio State University's 2007 Roads Scholars Tour.

WHEN: Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13.

WHERE: Mansfield, Wooster, Canton, Massillon, Coshocton and Newark.

WHY: To learn more about the university's statewide impact and its role in the state's agriculture, education and business sectors.

2007 Roads Scholars Tour Itinerary (times are approximate)

THURSDAY, APRIL 12
8:30 a.m.: depart from Mount Hall, West Campus

9:45 – 11 a.m.: College of Dentistry's OHIO (Oral Health Improvement through Outreach) Project, Third Street Family Health Services Dental Clinic 600 West Third Street, Mansfield
The group will learn about health needs in Ohio and how this outreach work is integrated into the graduate curriculum, meeting community needs while training socially aware dental practitioners.

11 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.: travel to OSU Mansfield campus
Dean Evelyn Freeman will give an overview of the role of regional campuses and the relationships among regionals, the Columbus campus, and technical schools located by the regional campuses. She will discuss this in the context of access to higher education.

11:20 a.m. - 1:40 p.m.: OSU Mansfield
Faculty and student panel and community panel will demonstrate the scope of programming offered by the regional campuses and their relationship with the community. The group will tour the campus.

2:20 - 4:40 p.m.: Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster
The group will see a interdisciplinary research project and learn how faculty are connecting their research to the broader community. Visit includes an overview of OARDC and the Agricultural Technical Institute; presentation on a Third Frontier-funded research project to develop an alternative natural rubber, conducted by OARDC, Delta Plant Technologies, University of Akron, Oregon State, Washington State, and the Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center; overview of the Molecular and Cellular Imaging Center; tour Secrist Arboretum.

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: dinner/reception at the McKinley Grand Hotel, Canton
A panel of Young Scholars, Ohio State undergraduates, and 4-H Club members will provide an overview of precollegiate programs and present perspectives and concerns of current and potential college students.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13
8:30 – 10 a.m.: Jackson High School, Massillon
The group will learn about issues affecting high schools today; interact with students, administrators, and teachers; learn about university-high school interactions and Ohio State's admissions process.

10 – 11 a.m.: Travel through the Sugar Creek Watershed area
Richard Moore, associate professor at OARDC and director of The Sugar Creek project, will describe this partnership of researchers, farmers, and industry and explain how the research was developed with community partners, including the Alpine Cheese Company. The Sugar Creek project is a grassroots effort partnering Ohio State scientists with area farming communities that has led residents to work together to monitor and remediate the water in their stream. The group will visit the Alpine Cheese factory.

11 - 11:30 a.m.: Travel through Amish Country
Sharon Strouse, director, OSU Extension, Holmes County office, will talk about Ohio State's collaboration with Amish communities (in genetics research, vehicle safety, and water quality) and how to develop trust with diverse community partners.

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: lunch in an Amish home (Raber's Home Cooking)

1:50 – 3 p.m.: Coshocton Village Inn
Paul Golden, OSU Extension, and community partners will describe an 18-month community strategic planning process funded by the Schooler Family Foundation that resulted in a land use plan and economic development plan focused on economic recovery. The group will learn about issues affecting rural Ohio communities, how communities are addressing access to higher education, and Ohio State's role in community development.

3:45 – 5 p.m.: Newark
At the Octagon Earthworks (weather permitting), Dick Shiels, associate professor of history, will describe the work of the new Newark Earthworks Center, including its oral history project. The earthworks in Newark have been named one of the 70 wonders of the ancient world.
At OSU Newark campus, the group will learn about ways in which arts and humanities faculty are engaged with communities and involved in teacher education, through such projects as History Works.

6pm: Return to Mount Hall, Columbus