Ohio State trustees meet, approve university matters - 03/05/04

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a variety of personnel, fiscal and construction-related matters at its meeting Friday (3/5). Trustees accepted eight new named endowed funds, totaling $675,329 in gifts to the university, and 234 new research grants and contracts, totaling $50,291,225, awarded to Ohio State during the month of December 2003.

Named endowed funds
• The Mary Lundie Stewart Vorman Scholarship Fund, $251,406, provided by a gift from the estate of Helen Vorman Anderson (B.S.Ed., 1923; M.A., 1931) in memory of her mother to provide scholarships for the study of Celtic literature with an emphasis on Scottish literature

• The Dr. Morgan L. Allison Endowed Chair in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, $246,479, provided by gifts from alumni, faculty and friends in honor of Dr. Allison (D.D.S. 1944) to provide support for a distinguished faculty member in the section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the College of Dentistry

• The Dr. Larry J. Peterson Endowed Professorship Fund in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, $50,835, provided by gifts from alumni, faculty and friends in honor of Dr. Peterson to provide support for a distinguished faculty member in the section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the College of Dentistry

• The Endowment Fund in Emergency Medicine, $26,609, provided by gifts from the faculty and friends of the Department of Emergency Medicine to support research, training, education, patient care, faculty development or other special projects that foster innovation and excellence in the Department of Emergency Medicine

• The Wilbert “Spark” Baumler Memorial Scholarship Fund at Stone Laboratory, $25,000, provided by gifts from the Baumler family and friends to support scholarships for students taking courses at Stone Laboratory

• The Kelly Prochazka Memorial Scholarship Fund at Stone Laboratory, $25,000, to support scholarships for high school students taking introductory courses at Stone Laboratory

• The Leonard J. Immke Jr. and Charlotte L. Immke Diabetes Research and Education Endowment Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from Charlotte Immke of Dublin to support research and education relating to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes

• The John G. and Jeanne Bonnet McCoy Diabetes Research and Education Endowment Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from John G. and Jeanne Bonnet McCoy of New Albany to support research and education relating to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes

Change in description of named endowed funds
• The Herman and Pearl Dolinsky Gross Scholarship Fund

• The Eleanor Bulatkin/Aristobulo Pardo Endowment Fund in Spanish and Portuguese

Change in name and description of named endowed funds
• The Ernest R. Biggs Memorial Fund is now The Ernest R. “Ernie” Biggs Athletic Training Scholarship Fund

• The Steven Douglas and Alison Lanza Falls Agricultural Vice President’s Fund is now The Steven Douglas and Alison Lanza Falls New Innovations Fund

Personnel appointments
• John A. E. Hubbell has been named interim dean in the College of Veterinary Medicine, effective April 1, 2004. Currently serving as the college’s associate dean, Hubbell joined the Ohio State veterinary faculty in 1986. He earned his M.S. and D.V.M. degrees from Ohio State.

• Jeffrey M. Wilkins has been named interim chief information officer and executive director of technology commercialization and partnership in the Office of Health Sciences in The Ohio State University Medical Center, effective March 8, 2004. Wilkins, chairman of Wilkins Associates, was the founder in 1969 of CompuServe, one of the world’s first consumer online services. He is founder and chairman of the board of Metatec International, which pioneered the optical disc-based information distribution business.

• William L. Berry has been reappointed professor and holder of The Richard M. Ross Chair in Management in the Max M. Fisher College of Business, effective Oct. 1, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2006.

Emeritus titles
• Douglas N. Jones, professor emeritus in the School of Public Policy and Management, effective July 1, 2004

• Jogikal M. Jagadeesh, associate professor emeritus in the College of Pharmacy (Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy), effective April 1, 2004

• James T. Hill, assistant professor emeritus with Ohio State University Extension, effective Feb. 1, 2004

Resolutions in memoriam
• William J. Brakel, professor emeritus in the Department of Dairy Science, now part of the Department of Animal Sciences, who died on Dec. 22, 2003

• Jay Jacoby, former professor and chairperson of the Department of Anesthesiology in the College of Medicine and Public Health, who died on March 7, 2003

• Dana F. Vibberts, associate professor emeritus in the College of the Arts, who died Nov. 28, 2003

Construction projects
The board authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following:

• Relocation of space for the Physical Activities and Educational Services in Cunz Hall to accommodate demolition associated with the Larkins Hall replacement project. Estimated project cost is $260,000 with funding to be provided by university central funds and future university bond proceeds from the Jennings Hall project with debt service to be paid by the College of Biological Sciences.

• Renovation of the clean room laboratory in Dreese Hall. Estimated project cost is $255,000 with funding to be provided by a Board of Regents Action Fund Hayes Grant.

• Construction of a centralized storage facility on the Mansfield Campus. Estimated project cost is $33,974 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Replacement of stairways and public access patios at the Eisenhower Center on the Mansfield Campus. Estimated project cost is $69,953 with funding to be provided by House Bills 790, 748 and 675.

• Installation of a water main backflow preventer on the Mansfield Campus. Estimated project cost is $30,000 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Replacement of a bike and pedestrian bridge at the Mansfield Campus. Estimated project cost is $50,000 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Replacement of the roof on the Ohio Agricultural and Research Development Center (OARDC) Food Animal Health research building. Estimated project cost in $75,000 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Upgrade of interior lighting at OARDC’s Gerlaugh Hall and Research Operations. Estimated project cost is $75,000. Estimated project cost is $75,000 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675

• Continuation of the renovation of facilities at 2050 Kenny Road for outpatient services. Estimated project cost is $13 million with funding to be provided by Wright Center for Innovation grant funds and future university bond proceeds with debt service to be paid by University Hospital.

• Renovation of the third floor of Cramblett Hall to accommodate faculty offices. Estimated project cost is $3,626,800 with funding to be provided by future university bond proceeds as part of the Ross Heart Hospital issuance and University Hospital auxiliaries.

• Renovation of several buildings at the Waterman Laboratory and Don Scott Field. Estimate project cost is $740,562 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

The board authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following:

• Replacement and renovation of the pavement and curb areas on Cannon Drive. Construction document project cost is $270,000 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675.

• Improvements to Twelfth Avenue, including widening and upgrade of street and sidewalk signaling to improve traffic flow and enhance pedestrian system. Construction document project cost is $2,725,000 with funding to be provided by House Bill 675 and university funds.

• Relocation of the emergency department on the University Hospital East campus to accommodate an increase in patient volume. Project cost increased as a result of the construction bidding process to $5,215,222, with funding to be provided by University Hospital auxiliaries and future university bond proceeds with debt service to be paid by University Hospital.

Participation in HealthSystem Consortium authorized
Trustees authorized the executive director of University Hospital to serve on the board of directors of the University HealthSystem Consortium and represent the interests of the university and its Health System.

Sexual Harassment Policy revised
The board adopted revisions to the university’s Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedure, which was last revised and adopted in July 2000. At that time, a decentralized investigation process was put in place with investigations being conducted at the college or vice-presidential unit level. After a 2003 evaluation conducted by the Office of Human Resources, it has been decided to re-centralize the responsibility for investigations to the Office of Human Resources Consulting Services. This move will allow for more consistent application of the investigation guidelines and appropriate implementation of decisions as well as recommendations for any preventive and corrective action. The board also authorized the university to make further changes to the Policy and Procedure as needed to conform to legal requirements and university policy determinations.

Mansfield Campus apartment complex named
Trustees approved naming the Campus Village Apartments, 1365 Springmill Street in Mansfield, The Jeffrey L. Molyet Village, effective immediately. Molyet was instrumental in getting the apartment complex built 1998 and sold to the university for student housing. An attorney and past president of the Richland County Bar Association, Molyet served with distinction on the Ohio State University Mansfield Citizen’s Council and was a charter member of the Mansfield Campus Board of Trustees before his death in July 2003. Trustees waived an Administrative Code bylaw stating that a minimum of three years must pass before a building can be named for a person after he or she leaves university service.

Roadway easement granted
The board authorized the university to grant a perpetual easement to the City of Gahanna for roadway improvements on approximately 0.12 acres of university land located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Hamilton and Beecher Roads.

Temporary land-use license granted
The board authorized the university to grant a temporary license to the City of Gahanna for use of approximately 0.453 acres of university land at the northwest corner of Hamilton and Beecher Roads as a staging and lay-down area for roadway improvements.

Presidential evaluation process set
Trustees updated a process for an annual evaluation of the university president. Criteria are derived from the annual institutional goals and objectives set by the president, which will allow assessment of the president’s progress. During the evaluation process, the president will share his of her views regarding performance with the board. The board chairperson will consult with each trustee, as well as the immediate past board chairperson and key constituents as deemed appropriate. To complete the process, the entire board will meet in Executive Session to evaluate the president’s performance and recommend appropriate compensation. The chairperson will then file a written summary with the Office of the Board of Trustees.

Faculty leadership highlighted
The board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee heard a report of faculty leadership initiatives from Stephen Pinsky, professor of physics, and Grady W. Chism, professor of food science and plant biology. Pinsky outlined the mission of the University Senate, which includes the Committee on Academic Misconduct, stating that “integrity is our most important subject” when communicating expected academic standards to faculty and students. The Senate is proposing a new research faculty tenure track, designed to strengthen the university’s research initiatives and national reputation. Pinsky expects the proposal will be voted on in the spring. Chism, speaking on behalf of the Faculty Council, stated that more programs and incentives are in place to reward faculty excellence and productivity. The council is promoting “The Year of the Faculty” to highlight teaching, research and service accomplishments by faculty members.

Construction projects reviewed
The Fiscal Affairs Committee heard a quarterly report from University Architect Jill Morelli on key capital projects. The report provides trustees with updates on construction-related details pertaining to budget, funding sources, timeline, programmatic information and other key issues. Several projects in the report have suffered delays due to unexpected asbestos and lead abatement issues, inclement weather and the availability of steel.

The projects reviewed, along with their status, were the Stanley J. Aronoff Laboratory (in close-out and occupied), Graduate and Professional Student Housing (in close-out and occupied), Hagerty Hall rehabilitation (in construction), Jennings Hall renovation (in design), Page Hall rehabilitation (in construction), Sisson Hall replacement (in close-out), Biomedical Research Tower and Laboratory Animal Facilities (in design), Knowlton School of Architecture (in construction), Larkins Hall Replacement (in construction), McCracken Power Plant Upgrade Project (in construction), Scott Laboratory (Mechanical Engineering Building Replacement) (in design), Physical Sciences Research Building (in construction), Psychology Building (construction documents), Ross Heart Hospital (in construction) and Thompson Library renovation

Leaders update trustees on issues important to students
The leaders of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Council of Graduate Students and the Inter-Professional Council (IPC) gave the trustees an update on issues important to the student body. USG President Mike Goodman said the student experience, increasing prices of textbooks and the off-campus environment are main concerns for undergraduates. The condition of professional buildings, interdisciplinary courses and opportunities for interaction with college administrators are important issues for professional students, according to IPC President Karen Weisse. CGS President Jamie Depelteau said graduate students are concerned with compensation and benefits issues.

Student receives board recognition
Heather Dysart of Johnstown, an undergraduate in the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture, received the board’s Student Recognition Award. Dysart, who was nominated by Dean David Andrews of the College of Human Ecology, has been a member of Habitat for Humanity at Ohio State for four years. Currently, she is the organization’s presient and is leading an effort to build a house on the west lawn of the Ohio Union. The house will eventually be transferred to the Weinland Park area. Dysart also participated in a study abroad program to Italy last spring and has been a member of the American Institute of Architectural Students.

Construction projects reviewed
The Fiscal Affairs Committee heard a quarterly report from University Architect Jill Morelli on key capital projects. The report provides trustees with updates on construction-related details pertaining to budget, funding sources, timeline, programmatic information and other key issues. Several projects in the report have suffered delays due to unexpected asbestos and lead abatement issues, inclement weather and the availability of steel.

Undergraduate Admissions Update
The Board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee heard a mid-year report on undergraduate admissions for autumn quarter 2004. Martha Garland, vice provost and dean of undergraduate studies, reported that the overall applicant pool is smaller because of changes necessitated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last year challenging institutions to seek new ways to develop a diverse student body. Ohio State updated its admissions application to include four short essay questions, which, coupled with a shortened application period, created a more demanding review process.

Mabel Freeman, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions and first year experience, said that while a 10 percent drop in applicants was expected, the university is experiencing a 14 percent decrease at 16,405, compared to the 19,000 received this time last year. She added that the applicants represent the strongest academically qualified pool in Ohio State history.

Minority applications also are down overall, with a decrease of 27 percent, or 509 fewer African-American applicants this year compared to last. Hispanic and Native American applicants are holding at last year’s levels. Mac Stewart, vice provost for minority affairs, noted that initiatives are being implemented to increase the number of minority students applying and being admitted to Ohio State, including additional funding for the Morrill Scholars Scholarship Program.

Both Freeman and Stewart said that the goal of 5,800 students for the entering is attainable and that the new application requirements and the underlying effects of the court’s ruling on African-American prospects will take some time to crystallize.