Ohio State to unveil new majors, programs and facilities this fall - 09/10/07

COLUMBUS – A host of new academic and co-curricular programs, events and facilities will accompany the start of Ohio State University's 2007 academic year which begins next Wednesday (9/19). Ohio State, recently ranked as one of the top 10 public research institutions in the country, will also welcome its best and brightest freshman class for the 13th consecutive year.

Beginning autumn quarter, students can major in Radiation Therapy or minor in Popular Culture; get their laptop tip-top at the BuckeyeBar, and enjoy the new disc golf course.

First year students are still required to take a first-year writing course, but the program is completely revamped. And those studying biology – the university's most popular major – will enjoy state-of-the-art teaching labs and classroom space in newly-remodeled Jennings Hall.

A complete listing follows of new academic programs, events, initiatives and facilities. The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story.

Trends

•Tech-savvy students. Today's technology-driven breed of student is part of the up-and-coming "right here, right now" generation. Always connected via cell phones, laptops or other devices, these students can communicate with anyone, anytime of the day or night, and complete a variety of tasks within seconds. They expect immediate results, often to the chagrin of faculty and administrators who may prefer to interact via a less tech-centric, traditional method. These students can be seen crossing the street while talking on the phone or listening to music, oblivious to the world around them. CONTACT: Mabel Freeman, (614) 247-6281 or freeman.9@osu.edu

•Different approaches to admission. Incoming students are taking on the college admissions experience in a noticeably different way. After receiving their admissions letters, many students are riding out their final high school semesters, resulting in a rude awakening once they start their college classes and reenter rigorous academic life. Students also tend to be more selective in their college choices, applying to a relatively few schools. This has translated to an increase in the use of private advisers and consultants to assist in the admissions process. CONTACT: Mabel Freeman, (614) 247-6281 or freeman.9@osu.edu

•Students are more stressed, success driven than ever before. The pressure to excel in college and careers is creating a higher level of stress in contemporary students. According to Connie Boehm, director of OSU's Student Wellness Center, this pressure further fuels and reinforces the high-stakes, high-stress lifestyle of an already aggressive, hyper-competitive generation. Finances can also contribute to the stress students experience. Ohio State has launched several initiatives to assist students, which include healthy eating, proper exercise, and online educational tools. CONTACT: Connie Boehm, (614) 292-1052 or boehm.19@osu.edu

•More international students attending Ohio State. Student diversity is a vital asset in higher education and Ohio State is makinggreat strides in bringing more international students to its campus. Anticipating a 40 percent increase in freshman international student enrollment this year, the Office of International Affairs offers a wide variety of incentives, including opportunities for leadership and to conduct world-class research. In autumn quarter 2006, there were 3,650 international students at Ohio State, including 91 new first quarter freshmen, 995 undergraduates, 2,518 graduate and 46 professional students. CONTACT: Maureen Miller, (614) 247-2462 or miller.4468@osu.edu

New academic majors, courses and research

•First year writing program curriculum is re-written. More Ohio State undergraduates than ever are conducting research, and a new first-year writing curriculum provides students instruction and practice in writing and communicating about their findings. Also, the program is integrating the use of digital media throughout the curriculum that asks students to produce a variety of different texts about their research topic. Students will write an academic research paper, produce a digital media message about the topic, and finally write a short magazine-style feature essay about the research to a public audience. CONTACT: Scott Lloyd DeWitt, associate professor of English, dewitt.18@osu.edu SEE:http://english.osu.edu/newsEvents/features/yr2007/08-20_fywp_unveil3.cfm

•Coming winter quarter: the "new, improved" most popular major at OSU. Biology is the most popular undergraduate major at Ohio State. In January 2008, the College of Biological Sciences will roll out a revised major program, based on the latest studies of the most effective ways of teaching biology. This will include a new set of core courses that, among other things, will use a case-studies approach and will apply key concepts from math, physics and chemistry. The new Center for Life Sciences Education is at the heart of the renovation of Jennings Hall, consolidating most of the components of undergraduate education in biology, including the Introductory Biology Program, which teaches several thousand Ohio State students each quarter. The Center will provide one-stop shopping for all students (majors and non-majors alike) studying biology: classes, labs, workshops, tutoring, advising, and information on scholarships and undergraduate research opportunities. CONTACT: Caroline Breitenberger, Biology, (614) 292-1704 or breitenberger.1@osu.edu

•Ohio State now offers Bachelor's degree in Radiation Therapy. Starting this fall with an inaugural class of 42 students, Ohio State will become one of only 15 programs nationally to offer a bachelor's degree in radiation therapy through a program that is housed and integrated at a university. The School of Allied Medical Professions, in collaboration with the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, is offering a new baccalaureate degree program in radiation therapy. With this change, Ohio State joins a national movement that is replacing certificate programs with a more extensive two-year curriculum. CONTACT: Beth Bohlander, (614) 688-4347.

•New minor: Popular Culture studies. Students interested in developing an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Popular Culture can now do so this fall. The 24-credit-hour minor will increase students' knowledge of the connections between the popular, public, and material cultures of their daily lives and the cultures that are the traditional areas of study of the university. CONTACT: Jared Gardner, gardner.236@osu.edu www.popularculturestudies.osu.edu/

•New Minor in Public Policy: Social and Behavioral Sciences Perspectives. The program focuses on understanding social and behavioral science issues of real world significance combined with internships with government agencies, advocacy groups and other various organizations involved in public policy. CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•New Graduate Level Program: Singing Health Specialist. This unique, interdisciplinary program integrates music, medicine and speech & hearing science. It emphasizes practical healing and health maintenance for the professional voice. The 23-hour curriculum will be offered beyond the master's degree program, or within the musical arts or speech and hearing science doctoral degree programs. CONTACT: Victoria Ellwood, (614) 292-6299 or osuarts@osu.edu

•Moritz welcomes first LL.M. Class. The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law has welcomed its first class of students working toward earning a Masters in Law (LL.M.). The students come from around the globe and all earned their juris doctor degrees from non-U.S. law schools. Two of the program's primary goals are to immerse foreign lawyers in a year of U.S. legal education and to foster interaction between American J.D. students and the LL.M. students. CONTACT: Barbara Peck, (614) 292-0283.

New courses:

•Greater focus placed on relevance of studies to careers. Today's students commonly base their choices of majors on the career it will prepare them for, oftentimes in hopes of living out careers that are showcased in popular culture. For example, there has been a noticeable upswing in the level of interest in forensic science studies, a field glamorized in the hit television program "CSI." In response to the heightened interest in this field, Ohio State has created a new Anthropology Field School and Forensic Archaeology Cold Case Team, which give students an opportunity to learn an array of archaeological and forensic investigation techniques in a unique, hands-on setting. CONTACT: Sam Stout (614) 247-7466 or stout.126@osu.edu

•Political Science offers "The Politics of Gun Control." Students will examine different views on laws regulating the private ownership and usage of firearms, to what extent firearms ownership influences crime, and how best to achieve a balance of power between the individual and the state. CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•Economics offers "Population Economics." The economic consequences of marriage, fertility, mortality, and immigration will be examined. For example, how should the government design policy to deal with changes in the family? Why are people today having fewer children than in the past? Why are more people having children outside of marriage? CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•Economics offers "Economics of the Internet and Media." This course will help students learn essential economic principles using cutting edge examples from the Internet and media and how both are shaping our lives. CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•Political Science offers "The Death Penalty in the United States: Beyond the 'Just Punishment or Barbaric Revenge' Argument." Taught by practicing lawyer, this course will focus on topics addressing the current use of the death penalty in the United States, including: race, age, gender, mental health, cost, innocence, socio-economics, religion, international perspectives, reform, clemency and alternative punishments. CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•Psychology offers "Historical Development in Psychology." The class will focus on the development of psychology from the 19th century to present and includes a trip to Germany and Austria over spring break in March 2008. CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•Service-learning courses take physical therapy students to Mexico; examine Bono's socially conscious T-shirt company. The Service-Learning Initiative, which combines community service with classroom instruction, offers two new courses. Students enrolled in the Physical Therapy program can expand their community practice experience through an elective service learning course to Yucatan, Mexico. The one-week course exposes students to children and adults with disabilities in a variety of settings.
A shirt-distribution company is expanding it's campus program to Ohio State. Edun LIVE, founded by singer Bono, is a socially conscious T-shirt distribution company that provides employment in sub-Saharan Africa. In conjunction with Edun LIVE, the Department of Consumer Sciences is offering a course where students will learn about and discuss the ethical production and consumption of goods.

Facilities

•New Urban Arts Space in Downtown Columbus. Hammers are banging and walls are going up at the College of the Arts new Urban Arts Space in downtown Columbus. This 10,000-square-foot studio and exhibition space in the former Lazarus building is slated to open in mid-January. CONTACT: Victoria Ellwood, (614) 292-6299 or osuarts@osu.edu

•Renovated Jennings Hall Opens Autumn Quarter. Formerly known as the Botany & Zoology (B&Z) building, Jennings Hall has undergone a three-year renovation and is ready to serve new generations of undergraduate biology students, both majors and non-majors. The "new" Jennings Hall is student-centered, featuring modern teaching laboratories and classrooms, a living-learning courtyard, a student lounge, and window seating in building hallways. The renovation preserves the architecturally and historically significant parts of the building, while upgrading the mechanicals and reconfiguring existing space. A free-standing 250-seat auditorium also has been added. The dedication of the building renovation is scheduled for May 2008. CONTACT: Richard Hall, (614) 292-4793 or hall.32@osu.edu.

•New Schoenbaum Family Center. Co-located with the Weinland Park Elementary School, Ohio State has opened the Schoenbaum Family Center at Weinland Park, 175 E. Seventh Ave. The center is a new early care and education program of excellence for a culturally and economically diverse community of children and families in the Weinland Park neighborhood, just east of campus. The new $10 million facility provides opportunities for collaboration across programs for children birth through 5th grade. Ohio State is collaborating with the Columbus Public Schools Pre-Kindergarten program, the Child Development Council of Franklin County Head Start, and the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. The College of Education and Human Ecology facility features a family advocacy office, onsite health center, and facilities of teaching nutrition to families while providing teacher training and research opportunities of faculty and students. The early childhood laboratory school housed in the Family Center is will provide high quality care and education to young children and their families. CONTACT: Janet Ciccone, (614) 292-5338.

•New disc golf course. The Department of Recreational Sports will open the campus' first disc golf course on Sept. 19. Located on West Campus, the course features 18 holes, totaling more than 1,500 yards. The game is played with a Frisbee-like disc that players aim toward elevated metal baskets. CONTACT: Bryan Bansbach, (614) 688-4185 or bansbach.1@osu.edu.

•The BuckeyeBar offers technology service. At the BuckeyeBar, Ohio State students, faculty, and staff can get consultation and service for technology needs. Services include helping configure a laptop to the OSUWireless network, setting up Anti-Viurus software, advising on technology purchases, or showing how to install a new program. The goal is not just to put a human face on the issue, but to actually give human intelligence to the solution. BuckeyeBar is open 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in 512 Baker Systems, 1971 Neil Ave. CONTACT: Cathy Bindewald, Office of the Chief Information Officer,bindewald.2@osu.edu

Initiatives

•Keeping Ohio State Scarlet, Gray & Green Ohio State's Scarlet, Gray & Green sustainability program is expanding this year to include more recycling. The university is instituting a recycling program for all seven home games at Ohio Stadium. In addition to recycling inside the stadium, recycling will be encouraged at selected surface lots. The program is expected to divert an estimated 16 tons of recyclable materials from landfills this fall.
The program is also providing recycling bins on every floor in residence halls this fall. In several halls, a pilot program will provide individual recycling bins for each room.
Since the university's recycling initiative began with a nine-building pilot program in November 2006, over 61 tons of recycling has been diverted from landfills.
Additional Scarlet, Gray & Green efforts include Flexcars and vanpooling, the conversion of all campus diesel fuel pumps to soy bio-diesel fuel, idling guidelines for university vehicles, plans to increase zccess to "green" office supplies, and expansion of a pilot project to use energy saving lights in campus parking garages. CONTACT: Libby Eckhardt, (614) 292-1477, eckhardt.12@osu.edu

•Extreme room makeover. Students can enter for a chance for an extreme room makeover through the online "Rock Your Room" promotion. The Department of Recreational Sports, in partnership with University Housing, will select the winner on Sept. 21. The winner takes home more than $1,000 dollars in prizes from Apple, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Raising Cane's. Other prizes are up for grabs as well during RPAC Open House activities from 4-6 p.m. on Sept. 20. CONTACT: Bryan Bansbach, (614) 688-4185 or bansbach.1@osu.edu.

•Wexner Center Student Council: Launching this fall, the Wexner Center Student Council is an initiative intended to engage Ohio State students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the contemporary arts and the mission of the Wexner Center. Council members will help plan events for fellow students, meet artists and art professionals, get a behind-the-scenes look at Wex events and exhibitions, and provide a voice for the OSU student community.

News and Events

•Free Speech and Hearing Screening Services for undergraduate students. The Speech Language Hearing Clinic (Department of Speech and Hearing Science) will be offering free speech, language, and hearing screenings throughout the quarter for all undergraduate students. CONTACT: Liz Alcalde, (614) 247-4462.

•College of the Arts celebrates 40th anniversary. The Ohio State University College of the Arts was formed as one administrative unit in January 1968 to give more attention and focus to the arts. The college was comprised of Art, Art Education, Dance, Design, History of Art, Theatre and Music, with the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) being named an independent unit within the college later. CONTACT: Victoria Ellwood, (614) 292-6299 or osuarts@osu.edu

•"An Evening with Sidney Poitier" – Oct. 3. The College of the Arts welcomes Academy Award winning actor, director, author and diplomat Sidney Poitier. Best known for his many movies, including The Blackboard Jungle, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and To Sir, With Love, Poitier will share the uplifting and inspiring story of his life at a public event at 7:30 pm on Oct. 3, in Mershon Auditorium. Prior to the evening event, Poitier will meet with invited students at a forum that afternoon. Poitier is visiting Ohio State as a Barnett Distinguished Visiting Lecturer. CONTACT: Victoria Ellwood, (614) 292-6299 or osuarts@osu.edu

•Theatre production staged completely in Spanish – October 12. New York City's Repertorio Español makes its Columbus debut October 12 at Mershon Auditorium, when it presents Gabriel García Márquez's Crónica de una Muerte Anunciada (Chronicle of a Death Foretold). The production brings to life one of García Márquez's best known works, Chronicle of a Death Foretold," a murder mystery that also explores human nature and the power of the collective over the individual. The recipient of the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature, García Márquez is one of the leading Latin American authors of our time.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold will provide a unique opportunity to enjoy a live theatrical performance in Columbus staged completely in Spanish, with an audio English translation available with special headphones, which can be requested at the time of ticket purchase. The production company, Repertorio Español, includes actors with roots in Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
The event is organized by the Hispanic/Latino community at The Ohio State University in an effort to provide diverse Latino experiences for the university community and Central Ohio. CONTACT: Joel Díaz, (614) 292-9840 or diaz.62@osu.edu; or Victor Mora, (614) 292-6582 or mora.1@osu.edu