Ohio State trustees accept funds, approve university matters - 10/03/03

COLUMBUS – A newly established endowed chair at The Ohio State University will enable the university to pursue in-depth studies of non-violent resolutions to conflict as well as other peace-related issues. The Chair in Peace Studies, an initiative of the Ohio Council of Churches, was established with $1.25 million in gifts to the university from Erie and Orlyss Sauder and Sauder Woodworking Co. of Archbold; the Southern Ohio Episcopal Diocese Procter Fund; congregations of Church of the Brethren, Mennonite and Friends; and faculty, staff and numerous friends. A national multi-disciplinary search is underway for a senior faculty member, who will join the university’s Mershon Center as chairholder.

At their monthly meeting Friday (10/3), trustees also accepted another $1,574,129 in gifts that establish nine new endowed funds. In addition, the board accepted The Ohio State University Research Foundation report for August 2003, outlining 549 new research grants and contracts awarded to Ohio State totaling $54.6 million.

In other business, the board approved a variety of university-related fiscal, construction and personnel matters.

Named endowed funds
• The Barbara C. Joslin Endowed Scholarship Fund, $109,932, provided by a gift from the estate of Barbara C. Joslin of Miami, Fla., to provide scholarships for Ohio State students pursuing D.V.M. degrees in the College of Veterinary Medicine

• The Rural Family Medicine Endowment Fund, $31,050, provided by gifts from individual, corporate and foundation donors to support teaching, research and special programs related to rural family medicine in the Department of Family Medicine

• The Family Medicine Medical Student Education and Support Fund, $29,100, provided by gifts from alumni, friends, colleagues and staff of the Department of Family Medicine to support programs in the Department of Family Medicine that encourage medical student interest in this specialty

• The Family Medicine Residency Support Fund, $27,600, provided by gifts from alumni, friends, colleagues and staff of the Department of Family Medicine to support the residency training program in the Department of Family Medicine

• The Urban Family Medicine Endowment Fund, $26,100, provided by gifts from individual, corporate and foundation donors to support teaching, research and special programs related to urban family medicine in the Department of Family Medicine

• The Manuel Tzagournis, M.D., and Madeline Tzagournis Diabetes Research and Education Endowment Fund, $25,100, provided by gifts from Manuel Tzagournis, M.D., (B.S., 1956; M.D., 1960; M.S., 1967) and Madeline Tzagournis (B.S. 1957) of Columbus to support research and education related to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes

• The Excellence in Family Medicine Fund, $25,100, provided by gifts from alumni, friends, colleagues and staff of the Department of Family Medicine to enhance the ongoing programs and strengthen special initiatives in the Department of Family Medicine

• The Frances Todd Walther Memorial Scholarship Fund in Advanced Practice Nursing, $25,000, provided by a gift from Frederick S. Walther of Dayton to support scholarships for master’s degree students in the College of Nursing

• The Elizabeth J. Watters Endowment Fund for Alumni Relations and Development, $25,000, provided by a gift from Elizabeth Jean Watters (B.A., 1987; J.D., 1990) of Columbus to support alumni relations events at the Moritz College of Law

Change in name and description of named endowed fund
• The Dr. Bernie A. and Dona L. McConnell Pediatric Dental Education Fund is now The Dr. Bernie A. and Dona L. McConnell Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Suite Fund

• The Richard and Margaret Knowlton Scholarship Fund is now the Dick and Peggy Knowlton Scholarship Fund

Change in name of named endowed fund
• The Kenneth A. Zeisler Scholarship Fund in the College of Law is now The Kenneth and Paula Zeisler Real Estate Scholarship Fund

Personnel actions
• Louis F. DiMauro has been named professor with tenure and holder of The Dr. Edward E. and Sylvia Hagenlocker Chair in Physics in the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences’ Department of Physics, effective Oct. 1, 2003. Prior to this appointment, he was senior scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y. DiMauro earned a B.S. in chemistry from Hunter College in 1975, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Connecticut in 1977 and 1980, respectively.

• M. Ronald Glaser has been named director of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research in the Office of Health Sciences, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2007. He holds a concurrent position as professor and holder of The Gilbert and Kathryn Mitchell Chair in the College of Medicine and Public Health. Glaser, who joined the Ohio State faculty in 1978, has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, a master’s degree in zoology from the University of Rhode Island and a doctorate in virology from the University Connecticut.

• Samson T. Jacob has been named professor and holder of The William C. and Joan E. Davis Cancer Research Professorship in the College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2007. Jacob holds a doctorate from Agra University in India and did post-doctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

• James C. Schroeder has been named vice president for development and president of The Ohio State University Foundation, effective Nov. 1, 2003. Schroeder currently is chair of the Department of Development for the Mayo Foundation in Rochester, Minn. A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Schroeder holds a master’s degree in political science and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Toledo.

• Ming-Daw Tsai has been named the Charles H. Kimberly Professor in Chemistry, effective Oct. 1, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2010. A recipient of Ohio State’s Distinguished Scholar Award, Tsai received his B. S. degree in chemistry from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 1972, and his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1978.

• Jerry R. Ladman has been reappointed associate provost for international affairs in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2003, through Aug. 31, 2006.

• Andreas F. von Recum has been reappointed director of the Biomedical Engineering Center in the College of Engineering, effective Oct. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2006.

• Charles R. Hille has been appointed interim chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, effective Oct. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.

• Prabir K. Dutta has been named chair of the Department of Chemistry, effective Oct. 1, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2007.

Regional Campus board appointment
• Christen Daniel has been appointed to a one-year term as a student representative on The Ohio State University Lima Campus Board, effective July 1, 2003

Emeritus title
• Dennis L. Elliott, assistant professor emeritus in The Ohio State University Extension, effective Oct. 1, 2003

Resolutions in memoriam
• Franklin D. George, instructor emeritus in the Ohio State University Extension, who died Aug. 1, 2003

• Orena M. Haynes, professor emeritus in the Ohio State University Extension, who died Sept. 14, 2003

• Thomas E. Shaffer, M.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics, who died July 31, 2003

Construction projects approved
The board authorized the university to select qualified architectural/engineering firms for the following:

• Renovation of 30-year-old laboratory space on the 6th floor of the Biological Sciences Building. Preliminary cost estimate is $1.07 million to $1.08 million with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Continuation of the upgrade of the ceramics facilities in the lower level of Hopkins Hall. Preliminary cost estimate is $1.3 million to $1.4 million with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Addition of chiller capacity to the McCracken Chilled Water Plant to support the increased cooling load associated with new campus construction. Preliminary cost estimate is $8 million with funding to be provided by future university bond proceeds with debt service paid by an increase in the central utility assessment.

• Repair and redesign of major components of the McCracken Power Plant Coal Boiler to improve reliability and performance. Estimated project cost is $3 million with funding to be provided by future university bond proceeds with debt service paid by an increase in the central utility assessment.

• Renovation of the roof, HVAC, lighting and related improvements at the OSU Ice Rink. Estimated cost is $874,000 to $975,000 with funding to be provided by the Athletic Department.

The board authorized the university to request construction bids for the following:

• A biomedical research facility to house biomedical research programs, faculty and staff. Construction document project cost is $120 million with funding to be provided by research development funds and future university bond proceeds, with debt service to be paid by indirect cost recovery generated by new research grants and other sources.

• An addition to Wiseman Hall for the Laboratory Animal Resources Department. Construction document project cost is $15.7 million with funding to be provided by House Bill 675 and future university bond proceeds, with debt service paid by the Laboratory Animal Resources Department.

• Renovation of the old laundry building at 2560 Kenny Road as part of the Physical Facilities shop relocation. Construction document project cost is $875,683 with funding to be provided by university central funds.

• Construction of a training and development center at OARDC in Piketon. Trustees approved the project in May 2003 for $3,090,000, but construction document project cost has risen to $3.7 million due to higher than expected construction bids. Funding will be provided by federal grants, House Bill 675 and OARDC local funds.

Property purchase approved
Trustees authorized the purchase of improved real property at 1365 and 2131 Springmill Street in Mansfield for $5.2 million. The property is located on the eastern boundary of the Mansfield Regional Campus, identified in the campus’ Master Plan as a site for student housing. The Office of Student Affairs will be responsible for all acquisition, operating and improvement expenses of the property.

Master Plan update approved
Trustees adopted an update to the University Master Plan, created in 1995 to guide future Ohio State facilities and physical environment planning. A recent review of the plan by external and internal committees suggested incremental revisions rather than a major update. The first revision, already completed, is a supplement that aligns the policies and principles of the plan with the strategies and initiatives of the Academic Plan.

Budget implications presented
Trustees heard a report from William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, on the financial implications for the FY 2004 operating budget.

Long-term financial goals, Shkurti said, must be structured to assure the continued flow of resources to the activities and functions of the Academic Plan. Goals include an operating margin of between 0.5 percent and 1 percent in the general fund; a rainy day fund of 1 percent of the total operating revenues; targeted reserves in selected areas; at least 30 days of operating cash; debt service of no more than 5 percent of annual operating expenditures and a bond rating of at least AA; and multi-year commitments of general funds that do not exceed 1 percent of current-year revenues.

Shkurti also presented financial objectives and strategic financial issues for FY 2004, along with five-year revenue and expense trends. He stressed that strategic management of financial risk will become increasingly important as Ohio State becomes more entrepreneurial and more diverse in its revenue sources.

Welcome Week highlighted
Trustees heard a report on Ohio State’s Welcome Week, which took place Sept. 21 to Sept. 28. Following Residence Hall Move-In on the 21st, a variety of traditional events, including President’s Convocation, Community Commitment Day and the Scarlet Fever Pep Rally, combined with new events such as Creating a World of Difference welcomed students back to campus.

Student receives board recognition
Scott W. Davis, a third-year student in the Moritz College of Law, received the board’s Student Recognition Award. Davis, who was nominated by Dean Nancy Rogers, completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering at the University of Cincinnati and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mauritania, West Africa. He has served as president of the Black Law Students Association, coordinated the Minority Law Outreach Program and is a member of the new Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, which will publish its inaugural issue next month. He has been awarded the Emerging Ethnic Engineers Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Cincinnati and the Moritz Leadership Award for exemplary leadership.

e-Learning strategies outlined
Chief Information Officer Ilee Rhimes provided an overview to the board on the university’s technology strategic planning process, and Susan Metros, deputy chief information officer and executive director for e-learning, reported on ongoing e-learning and distance-learning strategies. The primary goal of the strategic plan, scheduled for completion in February 2004, is to create a unified vision for information technology at Ohio State and develop initiatives in line with the Academic Plan.