Ohio State trustees meet, approve university matters - 11/02/07

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a variety of personnel, fiscal and construction-related matters at its meeting Friday (11/2).

Board sets new guidelines

Trustees agreed to new guidelines for the structure of their meetings as well as a "Statement of Expectations." In the past two years, the size of the board has increased from nine to 15 members, and the actions are aimed at improving the way the board provides governance and works on strategic issues.

The "Statement of Expectations" outlines how board members intend to operate with each other, the university and the president. Concurrently, the board is altering its structure of committees and meetings.

Beginning in 2008, the board will meet six times per year instead of nine. Each of the six meetings will last for two days; the first day will be committee meetings; the second will include an executive session and full board meeting. There will be six standing committees –
Academic and Student Affairs, Fiscal Affairs, Audit and Compliance, Medical Affairs, Development and Investment, Trusteeship and Agricultural Affairs – that will discuss issues and make recommendations to the full board.

Football complex named

Trustees approved a waiver to name the new football complex at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as the Les Wexner Football Complex in honor of alumnus and current university trustee Leslie H. Wexner. Wexner has made valuable contributions to the university over several decades, including service on the Board of Trustees, the University Foundation Board, the Wexner Center Foundation Board and the Fisher College of Business Dean's Advisory Council, and has generously supported the renovation of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Clubhouse named

Trustees approved naming the clubhouse at Hawk's Nest golf course at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) as the Betty J. Hawkins Clubhouse. The name honors Mrs. Hawkins, who worked on the design, construction and operation of the nationally ranked Hawk's Nest course prior to and after its opening in 1993 and was instrumental in the donation of the course to ATI. The gift is the largest donation to date to ATI and will serve the educational and research interests of ATI's faculty and students.

Personnel actions approved

•Joseph A. Alutto has been named executive vice president and provost in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Oct. 1, 2007, through June 30, 2011.
•William A. "Bud" Baeslack III has been named executive dean of the university's professional colleges (Fisher College of Business; College of Education and Human Ecology; College of Engineering; College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Moritz College of Law; College of Social Work) effective Oct. 1, 2007, through June 30, 2010.
•Martha Belury has been named associate professor and holder of The Carol S. Kennedy Professorship in Human Nutrition in the College of Education and Human Ecology, effective Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2010.
•Ellen E. Deason has been named professor and holder of The Joanne Wharton Murphy/Classes of 1965 and 1973 Professorship of Law in the Moritz College of Law, effective Aug. 1, 2007, through July 31, 2017.
•Jeff M. S. Kaplan has been named vice president for business development and collaborative advancement at the Medical Center, interim vice president for University Development and special assistant to the president, effective Oct. 1, 2007.
•Ehud Mendel has been named professor and holder of The Justine Skestos Chair in Minimally Invasive Neurological Spinal Surgery in the College of Medicine, effective Sept. 1, 2007, through June 30, 2011.
•Sandra A. Stroot has been named interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology, effective Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008.
•Dongping Zhong has been named associate professor and holder of The Robert Smith Endowed Professorship in Physics in the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, effective Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2012.
•Russell H. Fazio has been reappointed to The Harold E. Burtt Chair in Psychology in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, effective July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2012.
•Thomas W. Johnson has been reappointed interim university treasurer in the Office of Business and Finance, effective Oct. 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008.
•Ann M. Pendleton-Jullian has received a concurrent appointment as professor and holder of The Walter H. Kidd Designated Professorship in the Knowlton School of Architecture, effective July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2011, and as director of the Knowlton School of Architecture.

Emeritus titles

•Howard M. Federspiel, professor emeritus in the Department of Political Science (Newark), effective Jan. 1, 2008
•Kenneth A. Foland, professor emeritus in the School of Earth Sciences, effective Nov. 1, 2007
•Barbara G. Ludwig, professor emeritus in The Ohio State University Extension, effective Nov. 1, 2007
•Lawrence H. Newcomb, professor emeritus in the Department of Human and Community Resource Development, effective Jan. 1, 2008

Resolutions in memoriam
The board adopted resolutions in memoriam for the following persons:

•Mary Lynne Bowman-Cowen, associate professor emeritus in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, who died on Aug. 18, 2007;
•Elizabeth L. Gross, professor emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry, who died on June 27, 2007;
•Lloyd A. Horrocks, professor emeritus in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, who died on Aug. 18, 2007;
•Steve D. Ruhl, associate professor in The Ohio State University Extension, who died on Oct. 1, 2007;
•Marlin O. Thurston, professor emeritus in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who died on Sept. 18, 2007, and
•D. Ransom Whitney, professor emeritus in the Department of Statistics, who died on Aug. 16, 2007.

Development report accepted

Trustees accepted the University Development Report for September 2007, establishing nine new named endowed funds with gifts to the university from alumni, industry and individuals in support of research, instructional activities and service.

Competitive bidding waivers approved

Trustees accepted the quarterly report on waivers of competitive bidding granted for the period of July through September 2007. During that time, the senior vice president for business and finance granted 122 waivers of competitive bidding requirements for annual purchases totaling $24,176,606, and the vice president for health services granted 70 waivers for annual purchases totaling $30,808,976. Waivers may be granted in the event of an emergency, when a sufficient economic reason exists or when the goods or services can be purchased from only a single source.

Health Care System code revised

Trustees approved recommended revisions to the Managed Health Care Systems, Inc., (MHCS) Code of Regulations that are intended to expand the membership and expertise of the Board of Directors and clarify the staff structure and board governance. MHCS is an entity affiliated with the university to provide leadership on a new approach to health care for the university in partnership with the University Office of Human Resources and the University Medical Center.

Medical Staff rules amended

Trustees approved amendments to the University Hospital Medical Staff Rules and Regulations regarding autopsy procedures.

Civil Service administrative rules to be modernized
The board authorized the Office of Human Resources to review and make recommendations to the board regarding the implementation of administrative rules modernizing the laws, rules and regulations governing the university's Civil Service employees.

Construction projects authorized

The board authorized the university to enter into a feasibility study contract for the following project:
•Development of a Recreation and Student Life Center on the Mansfield Campus to encompass all aspects of co-curricular student life. Estimated cost of the study is $204,000 to be provided by Mansfield Campus general funds.

The board authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following projects:
•Renovation of Suites 283, 287 and 288 in Arps Hall to accommodate 11 new faculty offices. Estimated project cost is $257,475 to be provided by College of Education and Human Ecology general funds.
•Renovation of the 9th floor of the Biological Sciences Building. Estimated project cost is $2 million to be provided by state funds and College of Biological Sciences general funds.
•Replacement of a decommissioned boiler in the McCracken Power Plant to meet the expected increase in steam demand. Estimated project cost is $11.3 million to be provided by bond proceeds.
•Renovation of first floor suites in Campbell Hall to create four new faculty offices. Estimated project cost is $197,009 to be provided by College of Education and Human Ecology general funds.
•Replacement and upgrade of the existing water treatment system in McCracken Power Plant. Estimated project cost is $14.3 million to be provided by bond proceeds.
•Improvements to the domestic cold water system in the Oval area. Estimated project cost is $1.7 million to be provided by bond proceeds.
•Improvements to the drainage system in the north academic core. Estimated project cost is $1.9 million to be provided by bond proceeds.
•Construction of a regional chiller plant to connect buildings east of the Oval that are not currently served by the McCracken Chiller Plant. Estimated project cost is $4 million to be provided by bond proceeds.
•Upgrade to the fire alarm system in the Fawcett Center. Estimated project cost is $238,610 to be provided by Office of Student Affairs auxiliary funds.
•Renovation of the field hockey stadium and outdoor football practice areas to meet Title IX requirements. Estimated project cost is $2.6 million to be provided by Athletics auxiliary funds.
•Renovation of the third floor of Murray Hall to create offices and labs for Behavioral Medicine Research. Estimated project cost is $1 million to be provided by state funds.
•Renovation of Room 205 in the Prior Health Sciences Library for the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Estimated project cost is $1.1 million to be provided by College of Medicine general funds.
•Renovation of second floor suites in Ramseyer Hall to create eight faculty offices. Estimated project cost is $228,066 to be provided by College of Education general funds.
•Upgrades to the communication systems at 395 W. 12th Avenue. Estimated project cost is $854,659 to be provided by Medical Center auxiliary funds.

The board authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following projects:
•Relocation of the Arena steam line. Estimated project cost is $450,000 to be provided by central funds.
•Renovation of Arps Hall. (see above)
•Replacement of the roof on Baker Systems Engineering. Estimated project cost is $500,000 to be provided by state funds.
•First floor renovations in Campbell Hall. (see above)
•Upgrade to the Fawcett Center fire alarm system. (see above)
•Second floor renovations in Ramseyer Hall. (see above)
•Communication system upgrades at 396 W. 12th Avenue. (see above)

The board authorized the university to increase the construction contracts for the following projects:
•Replacement of the air handling unit in the Veterinary Hospital. The estimated project cost has increased from $1.96 million to $2.4 million due to increased costs in the mechanical and sheet metal trades. Funding will be provided by state funds and repair and renovation funds.
•Construction of a softball stadium for varsity women's athletics. The estimated project cost has increased from $4.3 million to $7.2 million, which will now include alternates for seating and fencing upgrades, a batting building and team space fit-out. Funding will be provided by Athletics auxiliary, development and line-of-credit funds.

Easements granted
The board authorized the university to grant several easements on university property:
•A five-foot wide by 344-foot long easement to Time Warner Telecom of Ohio to run fiber optic cable into the WOSU Radio Tower site at 350 W. Dodridge St. for a term of 25 years and a consideration of $1,000.
•Three easements to the Ohio Power Company to extend a power line and provide electric utility service on the Newark Campus for Lefevre Hall, Reese Center and the library under construction, all for a term of 25 years.

Audit report accepted
Trustees accepted the report of the Deloitte & Touche 2006-2007 audit of The Ohio State University, including the report on the audit of the university's financial statements and the summary of constructive service comments to management. The university's accounts, records, files and report were found to be in satisfactory condition, and appropriate procedures and responses are being developed as a result of constructive comments.