Ohio State trustees meet, approve university matters - 02/01/06

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees and its committees met today (2/1) to conduct university business, approving fiscal, personnel and construction-related matters. In addition, the board heard a variety of reports and presentations from university faculty and administrators.

Capital projects report heardTrustees heard a report from William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, on the status of capital projects completed during 2005. Of the 23 projects with budgets greater than $1 million, 96 percent were completed on time, and 96 percent were completed on budget. In total, these projects finished 4.4 percent under budget.
Of the 26 projects with budgets over $200,000, but under $1 million, 85 percent were completed on time, and 92 percent were completed on budget. In total, these projects finished 9.5 percent under budget.

Budget report heard
Shkurti told the Fiscal Affairs Committee that the university's finances remain stable, and significant progress has been made in reducing operating deficits in several areas. He noted higher than expected research grants for the current fiscal year. So far, new grants and contracts are up 4.7 percent from last year, and accompanying indirect cost recoveries are running 10.1 percent higher.
Actual enrollments on the Columbus campus are slightly higher (0.1 percent) than budget projections for combined summer, autumn and winter quarters. The university's freshman enrollment for Autumn 2006 is running approximately 5 percent ahead of the projected goal of 5,800 students.
The Board of Regents finished the FY 06 State Share of Instruction calculations in November, 2005 and Ohio State's final share was about $1 million, or 0.3 percent below July projections. Trustees were asked to approve a resolution authorizing adjustments in general funds spending allocations to reflect the change and, upon board approval, college and university allocations will be reduced by an amount reflecting their proportional share of the $1 million.

Athletic ticket prices approvedThe Fiscal Affairs Committee approved the 2007 athletic ticket prices and golf course membership fees. Football and men's basketball ticket prices will increase by $1.00. There will be no increase on women's basketball and men's ice hockey tickets. There will be no increase in annual membership cost at the university's golf course since the Scarlet Course will not be open for play by members until June. However, beginning this year, new members will pay a one-time initiation fee of $1,000 for alumni memberships and $800 for faculty and staff memberships.

Undergraduate Research Office establishedThe board approved the establishment of the Undergraduate Research Office, which will encourage and coordinate research opportunities for undergraduate students. The office will help students find rewarding research experiences, faculty mentors and funding opportunities for their research projects. It will be overseen by a collaborative effort of the Office of Enrollment Services and Undergraduate Education and the Office of Research.

Competitive bidding requirements waivedThe board accepted the quarterly report on waivers of competitive bidding requirements granted for the period of October to December 2005. During this time, the senior vice president for business and finance granted 67 waivers for annual purchases totaling approximately $10.7 million and the vice president for health services granted 46 waivers totaling approximately $12.8 million. Waivers of competitive bidding may be granted in case of emergency, when a sufficient economic reason exists or when the goods or services can be purchased from only a single source.

Library renovation highlightedTrustees heard a status report on the renovation of Thompson Library. Originally built in 1913, the structure has had several additions over the years. Plans to renovate, modernize and transform the library to better serve student learning and research include incorporating energy efficiencies and "green" technology when possible. Feasibility studies and design work for the $100 million, nine-year effort are complete, and one-phase construction is set to begin this year. Swing space for ongoing library services will be located in Sullivant Hall, the Ackerman Road facility and other campus libraries during construction, projected for a 2009 completion. Funding will be provided by state capital funds and private fund-raising.

Medical Center Affairs Committee meetsThe Medical Center Affairs Committee heard reports from Dr. Fred Sanfilippo, senior vice president and executive dean of health sciences, dean of the College of Medicine and CEO of The Ohio State University Medical Center, and John Stone, chief financial officer of The Ohio State University Medical Center, as well as a first reading of a proposed long-term lease of property at the Dublin Innovation Center for relocation and expansion of the JamesCare Dublin Clinic. The Fiscal Affairs Committee also heard the lease proposal during their meeting.

Property gift ratifiedThe board ratified the university's acceptance in December of a gift of approximately 31.6 acres of unimproved property adjacent to the Mansfield Regional Campus owned by the Mohican Construction Company.

Interim authorization grantedThe board accepted the report of the chair of the Fiscal Affairs Committee regarding authorization of projects during the period between the December and February board meetings. Authorization was granted for the following during that period:
•Increase of $300,000 in the golf course renovation budget due to field conditions.
•Life-safety repairs to university property at 650 Ackerman Road. Estimated cost is $716,058.

Timeline given for undergraduate curriculum changesRandy Smith, vice provost for academic programs, provided an update on the timeline for implementation of changes to the undergraduate curriculum. The changes, which are contained in a study conducted by the Committee for the University-wide Review of Undergraduate Education, would repackage the current general education curriculum, reduce the number of credit hours needed to graduate from 191 to 180, introduce freshman clusters into the curriculum and reduce GEC credit hours by 25%. Faculty, staff and students are asked to review the report and provide feedback by March 15, 2006. The recommendations will go through routine curricular review processes and then to the Council on Academic Affairs, with University Senate action expected by November 2006. Under the proposed timeline, the new requirements would take effect in Autumn 2007.

Student residential experience highlightedSteve Kremer, assistant vice president for student affairs, provided an historical overview of university student housing, including changing expectations of students regarding campus housing and how those expectations challenge the university. Kremer said the university strives to reduce density in student housing and also maintain affordability.

Report heard on new instituteRobert McGrath, senior vice president for research, and Steve Ringel, professor of electrical and computer engineering, reported on the newly formed Institute for Materials Research. As an integral part the proposed OSU Advance Materials Initiative, the Institute is an umbrella for the diverse community of materials research resources at Ohio State, including research facilities and more than 130 faculty conducting materials research.

Student receives board recognitionMiranda J. Fields of Columbus received the board's Student Recogntion Award. Nominated by Dean Nancy Rogers of the Moritz College of Law, Miranda will complete her juris doctor degree in May. She graduated cum laude from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations. After completing her undergraduate program, she worked as a senior mutual fund accountant for Investors Bank & Trust Company in Boston. She then enrolled in the Moritz College of Law. Miranda currently maintains an academic average of 93.7%. She has received numerous honors from the College of Law, including the 2005 Moritz Leadership Award, the Dean's Merit Award, and the Academic Promise Award. In addition to her academic achievements, she serves as a member of the Business Law Society Executive Board and as an Executive Justice for the Moot Court. She is the founder and editor of the Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal.

Construction projectsThe board authorized the university to enter into feasibility study contracts for the following:•Modification of Evans Laboratory to meet the current and future needs of the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Estimated study cost is $250,000 to be provided by college funds.The board authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following:•Upgrade of the Doan Hall Pharmacy, Room 377, to clean room conditions. Estimated project cost is $499,801 to be provided by hospital operating funds.
•Renovation of the second floor of Johnston Laboratory to accommodate research labs and related office space in support of the Department of Chemistry's Eminent Scholar program. Estimated project cost is $1.74 million to be provided by state and college funds.
•Renovation of an existing television studio into a 120-seat multi-media tiered classroom in the Journalism Building for the School of Communication. Estimated project cost is $491,730 to be provided by College of Social and Behavioral Sciences funds.
•Renovation of the first floor classroom in Galvin Hall on the Lima Campus. Estimated project cost is $231,511 to be provided by state and Lima Campus operating funds.
•Renovation of 1,000 square feet in Pressey Hall to accommodate a new gas-fired boiler and steam piping to support the West Campus Biocontainment Laboratory. Estimated project cost is $284,410 to be provided by College of Medicine funds.The board authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following:•Renovation of space in the Aeronautical and Astronautical Research Laboratory to accommodate two new compressor units. Estimated project cost is $558,582 to be provided by a Wright Center of Innovation grant.
•Reorganization of clinical space in Doan Hall. Estimated project cost is $1.01 million to be provided by hospital operating funds.
•Renovation of second and third floor classroom corridors in Drinko Hall. Estimated project cost is $561,346 to be provided by College of Law general funds.
•Replacement of the original 1976 boiler and chiller in Adena Hall on the Newark Campus. Estimated project cost is $261,047 to be provided by state and Newark Campus operating funds.
•Upgrade of the interior lighting in Gerlaugh and Williams Halls on the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center campus. Estimated project cost is $109,827 to be provided by state funds.
•Renovation of 1,920 square feet on the first floor of Postle Hall to provide modern clinical bays for patient screening. Estimated project cost is $330,000 to be provided by College of Dentistry funds.
• Two-story addition to the Ross Heart Hospital to provide an additional 60 patient care beds and required support spaces. Estimated project cost is $32.35 million to be provided by 2007 university bond proceeds.
•Improvements to the Schottenstein Center loading dock area. Estimated project cost is $344,370 to be provided by Office of Student Affairs and operating funds.The board authorized the university to increase construction contracts for the following:•Renovation of the corridor restrooms in Bradley and Paterson Halls. Revised estimated project cost is $3.7 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Replacement of Larkins Hall with an all new recreation center. Revised estimated project cost is $154 million to be provided by state, Athletics operating, college operating, Student Affairs development and central operating funds and 2005 and 2007 bond proceeds.
•Construction of a new Physical Sciences Research Building. Revised estimated project cost is $61.84 million to be provided by state, college development and central funds.
•Renovation of space for the Center for Fuel Cell Research. Revised estimated project cost is $1 million to be provided by a Wright Center of Innovation grant.The board authorized the university to enter into a joint use agreement for the following:•Renovation of clinical space at the Third Street Family Health Services Clinic on the Mansfield Campus to increase treatment space available for OSU dental student rotations. Estimated project cost is $234,000 to be provided by state funds.

Named endowed funds acceptedTrustees accepted 26 new named endowed funds, totaling $2.12 million, donated to the university during the month of December:
•The Howard G. Roshon and Eldora G. Roshon Memorial Endowment Fund, $818,933, provided by gifts made in memory of Eldora G. Roshon and her brother, Howard G. Roshon, through an estate gift from the late Eldora G. Roshon of Baltimore, Ohio. The fund will support educational scholarships for deserving medical students who are in need of financial assistance to continue their medical education.
•The David A. Rismiller Chair in Finance Support Fund, $312,500, provided by gifts from David A. Rismiller (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1958) to house the additional gifts needed to transform the David A. Rismiller Professorship in Finance into the David A. Rismiller Chair in Finance
•The Fifth Third MBA Fellowship Fund, $150,000, provided by gifts from the Fifth Third Foundation to provide a graduate fellowship to a first-year MBA student at the Fisher College of Business
•Margaret R. Hidy Fund in School Counseling, $108,446, provided by gifts from the estate of Margaret R. Hidy (M.A. Education, 1940) to support students, faculty and programs in school counseling in the College of Education
•Margaret R. Hidy Fund in School Psychology, $108,446, provided by gifts from the estate of Margaret R. Hidy (M.A.Education, 1940) to support students, faculty and programs in school psychology in the College of Education
•The Gatorade Athletic Training Scholarship Fund, $60,000, provided by a gift from the Gatorade Company/Quaker Oats Inc. to supplement the grant-in-aid scholarship costs for graduate and/or undergraduate athletic training students
•The Robert E. Kibler and Doris R. Kibler Scholarship Fund, $50,000, provided by gifts from the estate of Doris R. Kibler of Circleville, Ohio, to provide a scholarship for tuition to a needy student from Pickaway County
•The Rotary District 6690 Fund for Cancer Research, $44,325, provided by gifts from Rotarians from District 6690 to support cancer research
•Alpha Zeta Partners Leadership Fund, $33,176, provided by a gift from members and friends of the Alpha Zeta Fraternity to support international study and leadership training offered through the Alpha Zeta Partners Leadership Training Program in The College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
•The Richard W. Heckman Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, $31,055, provided by gifts from family, friends and colleagues in memory of Richard W. Heckman (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1983) to support scholarships for students in the Fisher College of Business who are majoring in aviation management
•The Thomas Jeffrey Applegate Memorial Scholarship Fund, $29,536, provided by gifts from Thomas N. Applegate (B.S.Ed. 1968; M.A., 1972), Linda Applegate, Jennifer Applegate (B.S.H.E., 1994) and Jeromy Applegate (B.S.Nat.Res., 2000; M.S., 2002) in memory of their son and brother, Thomas Jeffrey "Jeff" Applegate (B.S., 1996). The fund will be used to support educational diversity at the university with particular attention to male graduate students in the College of Education who are studying elementary education.
•Warren County 4-H Endowment Fund, $28,264, provided by gifts from friends of Warren County 4-H to provide a sound source of program funding for the 4-H youth and volunteers of the Warren County 4-H
•The OSU Newark Faculty and Staff Scholarship Fund, $25,739, provided by gifts from faculty and staff of the Newark Campus to provide OSU Newark scholarships for partners, children and grandchildren of OSU Newark permanent tenured or tenure track faculty, staff and cost-shared staff
•The Donald W. Thomas FFA Foundation State Officer Scholarship Fund, $25,175, provided by gifts from Donald W. Thomas (B.S.Agr., 1960; M.S., 1961) to provide a scholarship to incoming undergraduate students in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who are current or past officers of Ohio State FFA with exemplary service
•Irene Rosenfeld Scientific Achievement Award Fund, $25,000, provided by a gift from the estate of Irene Rosenfeld (B.A., 1935; M.S., 1936; Ph.D., 1942) to provide an award to a student majoring in biochemistry in the College of Biological Sciences
•The John A. and Kathryne S. Esselburn Dean's Innovation Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from Kathryne S. Esselburn of Naperville, Ill., to be used by the dean of the Fisher College of Business to support activities of the faculty, students and staff in accordance with the strategic plans of the college
•Stanley D. Gottsegen Award Endowment Fund, $25,000, provided by a gift from Stanley D. Gottsegen (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1954) of Boca Raton, Fla., to be used as an annual award to recognize an undergraduate junior or senior who is outstanding in campus-wide extracurricular activities in one of the following student organizations: Undergraduate Student Government, the Ohio Union Activities Board, the Greek Governing Councils, Makio or the Ohio Staters Inc.
•The Dariel and Luther Greenawalt Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund for the Graduate Entry Program, $25,000, provided by gifts from Beverly Greenawalt Hampton (B.S., 1958) of McKinney, Texas, to support nursing scholarships for graduate students pursuing a master's degree at the College of Nursing with preference given to students planning to practice, specialize or conduct research in the area of oncology or adult health
•The K.C. Hines Cancer Research Endowment Fund, $25,000, provided by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. John G. Hines of Jupiter, Fla., to support cancer research with preference given to research being conducted in pediatric oncology
•The Sergeant Justin "Fen" Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from Gerald Fels on behalf of Carole Hoffman in memory of her son Sergeant Justin "Fen" Hoffman to provide need-based scholarships to first-year undergraduate students
•The Dr. Lawrence Jurkowitz Endowment Fund for Leukemia Research, $25,000, provided by gifts from Amy and Daniel Jurkowitz of Greenwich, Conn.; Francesca and Edward Jurkowitz of Chicago, Ill.; and Margot Fox and David Jurkowitz of Boston, Mass., in memory of their father, Dr. Lawrence Jurkowitz, to support leukemia research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center – The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute
•The Edward Sawyer Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by a gift from Edward Sawyer to provide need-based scholarships to medical students at the end of their first year who show promise as clinical practitioners
•Ted and Karen Short Intern Scholarship Fund in Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, $25,000, provided by a gift from Ted (B.Agr.E., 1965; M.S., 1966; Ph.D., 1969) and Karen Short to provide incentives and financial support to undergraduate engineering students seeking summer internships
•The WOSU Digital Media Center Fund for Outreach and Education, $25,000, provided by a gift from Shirley D. Bowser (B.S.Ed., 1956) on behalf of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support outreach and education programs for K-12 students and interactive exhibits at WOSU's digital media center at COSI Columbus
•The Albert Warren Scholarship Fund in Communication, $25,000, provided by a gift from Albert Warren (B.A., 1942) to provide need-based annual renewable scholarships for excellent graduate students in the School of Communication who are pursuing degrees in journalism and mass communication
•Wyandot County 4-H Endowment Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from friends of Wyandot County 4-H to provide a sound source of program funding for the 4-H youth and volunteers of the Wyandot County 4-H Youth Development Program
Change in description of named endowed funds•The Dr. Boong Youn Cho Endowed Fund in Physics
•The Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation Postdoctoral Endowed Fellowship Fund in Pediatric Brain Tumor Research
•The Virginia Hull Research Award
•The Phi Delta Gamma Graduate Scholarship Fund
Change in name of named endowed fund•The Advancement of Diversity, Outreach and Engagement Endowment Fund is now the Honda/TRC Advancement of Diversity, Outreach and Engagement Endowment Fund
Change in name and description of named endowed fund•The "Someone Cares" Mansfield Campus Scholarship for Women is now The Fran Rupp Christian Mansfield Campus Scholarship Fund
•The Gloria Brothers Endowed Scholarship Fund for Student Exchange between Ohio State and Universitè de Rennes 2, Rennes, France is now the Paula and Fred Brothers Endowment Fund for Breast Cancer Research

Research grants and contracts acceptedTrustees accepted 243 new research grants and contracts received by the university during the months of November and December 2005, totaling nearly $23 million, in support of research, instructional activities and service.

Personnel Appointments•Annette L. Beatty has been named professor and holder of The Deloitte and Touche Chair in Accounting in The Max M. Fisher College of Business' Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems, effective Feb. 1, 2006. Prior to this appointment, he was The Deloitte and Touche Account Professor.
•Richard A. Hollingsworth has been named interim vice president for student affairs in the Office of Student Affairs, effective Dec. 12, 2005. Prior to this appointment, he was associate vice president for student affairs.
•Anthony J. Rucci has been named senior associate vice president for health sciences in the Medical Center, effective Jan. 30, 2006. Prior to the appointment, he was executive vice president and chief administrative office of Cardinal Health in Dublin, Ohio.
•Jean E. Schelhorn has been named associate vice president for technology transfer and commercialization in the Office of Research, effective Feb. 15, 2006. She is currently vice president for intellectual property strategy and development at Battelle in Columbus.
•Allison A. Snow has been named director of undergraduate research in the Offices of Undergraduate Studies and Research, effective Jan.1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2009. Prior to this appointment, she served as professor in the Departments of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, and Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology.
•L.H. Newcomb has been reappointed senior associate dean in The College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010.
•Joseph A. Alutto has been reappointed dean of the Fisher College of Business, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2011.
•Sherri M. Geldin has been reappointed executive director of the Wexner Center for the Arts, effective July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2009.
•Elizabeth R. Lenz has been reappointed dean of the College of Nursing, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2011.
•Bobby D. Moser has been reappointed executive dean of The College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2011.
•Nancy H. Rogers has been reappointed dean of the Moritz College of Law, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2011.
•Peter L. Hahn has been appointed chair of the Department of History, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010.
•Rebecca Kantor-Martin has been appointed interim director of the School of Teaching and Learning, effective Jan. 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007.
•Robert G. Sherding has been appointed interim chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, effective Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2006.
•Carroll J. Glynn has been reappointed director of the School of Communication, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010.
•Valerie B. Lee has been reappointed chair of the Department of English, effective July 1, 2006, through Sept, 30, 2010.
•Alan J. Randall has been reappointed chair of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics, effective Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2010.
•Gifford Weary has been reappointed chair of the Department of Psychology, effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010.

Change in titles•Martha M. Garland has been named vice provost for enrollment services and dean for undergraduate education in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Feb. 1, 2006. The position's previous title was vice provost and dean for undergraduate studies.
•W. Randy Smith has been named vice provost for academic programs in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Feb. 1, 2006. The position's previous title was vice provost for curriculum and institutional relations.

Emeritus titles•Edward J. Behrman, professor emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Ronald Jones, professor emeritus in the College of Optometry, effective Feb. 1, 2006
•James E. Meeks, professor emeritus in the Moritz College of Law, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Larry R. Whiting, professor emeritus in the Department of Human and Community Resource Development, effective April 1, 2006
•Raymond H. Ho, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (Anatomy), effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Frank E. Pulskamp, associate professor emeritus in the College of Dentistry, effective Feb. 1, 2006
•Robert F. Rodgers, associate professor emeritus in the School of Educational Policy and Leadership, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•David H. Samples, associate professor emeritus with Ohio State University Extension, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•James N. Scott, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, effective Feb. 1, 2006
•Marian H. Shemberg, associate professor emeritus in University Libraries, effective Feb. 1, 2006
•Charles T. Behnke, assistant professor emeritus with Ohio State University Extension, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Harris C. Bowman, assistant professor emeritus in the College of Dentistry (Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry), effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Ted W. Gastier, assistant professor emeritus with Ohio State University Extension, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Michael E. Haubner, assistant professor emeritus, effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Robert S. Kunovice, assistant professor emeritus in the College of Dentistry (Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry), effective Jan. 1, 2006
•Eva M. Weber, assistant professor emeritus with Ohio State University Extension, effective April 1, 2006
•Karen M. Williams, assistant professor emeritus with Ohio State University Extension, effective Jan. 1, 2006

Resolutions in memoriam•Lewis C. Branscomb, Jr., professor emeritus and former director of the University Libraries, who died Oct. 23, 2005
•Frederick R. "Ted" Cyphert, professor emeritus and former dean of the College of Education, who died on Nov. 20, 2005
•James I. Frea, professor emeritus in the Department of Microbiology, who died on Nov. 28, 2005
•Rimvydas "Frank" Silbajoris, professor emeritus in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures, who died on Dec. 3, 2005
•Leon I. Twarog, professor emeritus in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Literatures, who died on Oct. 24, 2005

Reappointments to the Self-Insurance Board•Galen Barnes, term ending April 30, 2008
•E. Christopher Ellison, M.D., term ending April 30, 2008
•R. Reed Fraley, term ending April 30, 2007
•Dimon R. McFerson (chairman), term ending April 30, 2007
•Hagop Mekhjian, M.D., term ending April 30, 2007
•James L. Nichols, term ending April 30, 2008
•Wilburn H. Weddington, M.D., term ending April 30, 2007

Board appointments amendedNew trustees G. Gilbert Cloyd, John D. Ong and Leslie H. Wexner have been appointed to the following committees:
•Academic and Student Affairs: G. Gilbert Cloyd, John D. Ong
•Fiscal Affairs: Leslie H. Wexner
•Investments: John D. Ong
•Medical Center Affairs: G. Gilbert Cloyd. Current trustee Brian K. Hicks has also been appointed to this committee.