04
November
2016
|
11:14 AM
America/New_York

Ohio State University trustees approve new degrees and construction projects

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees today approved measures to authorize a new affiliated entity and establish two new degree programs, authorized building construction and renovations, and accepted gifts that will be used to fund scholarships and research.

Trustees delivered President Michael V. Drake’s performance review and praised the progress he has made in supporting access, affordability and inclusive excellence. Trustees noted Drake’s leadership not only in central Ohio and the rest of the state, but also through his presence on a number of national boards, which enables him to position Ohio State at the forefront of higher education for many years to come. He was awarded a merit increase of 2 percent of his base pay of $816,000, and a performance payment of 25 percent of his base pay.

Chair Alex Shumate thanked Drake for his service and dedication. “Under your leadership, we remain poised to become one of the top land grant research institutions in the world.”

The board also approved the president’s goals for the upcoming year. They include developing a strategic plan for the university; continued focus on access, affordability and inclusive excellence; continued focus on achieving efficiency and cost savings; growth of the new Teaching and Research Institute; and continued support of medical center leadership and its priorities.

In addition, the board heard about the many ways new programs in the north residential district are benefiting students and faculty (see separate story).

Affiliated entity approved
Trustees approved the establishment of a new university affiliate in Ethiopia, Ohio State Global One LLC, to enable the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded Ohio State Global One Health project.

In April, the university received a $4.65 million grant from the CDC for the Global One Health initiative in Ethiopia. The Global One Health initiative is led by Wondwossen Gebreyes, professor of veterinary preventive medicine and director of Global Health Programs in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Goals of the Global One Health initiative are to enable the Ethiopian government to establish methods to prevent, detect and respond to emerging and endemic zoonotic disease threats; prevent antimicrobial resistance; and strengthen health care work force capacity.

Establishment of Ohio State Global One LLC allows the university to proceed with the project and comply with requirements of the grant and Ethiopian law.

New degrees established
Trustees approved the establishment of an interdisciplinary master of arts degree program in medical humanities and social sciences. The program, which will be housed in the Department of English, will build on existing curriculum in several humanities and social science departments including history, classics, comparative studies, French and Italian, anthropology, women’s, gender and sexuality studies, sociology and psychology that treat medicine from their own disciplinary perspectives. The program will be the first in the state of Ohio.

The board also approved the establishment of a master of respiratory therapy degree in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. The new professional degree meets demands of the profession requiring advanced-level respiratory therapists be capable of complex problem solving, critical inquiry and decision-making in order to practice more independently.

Personnel actions approved
The board approved the following personnel appointments and reappointments:

  • Yasuko Rikihisa has been named professor and holder of the Stanton Youngberg Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine effective July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2021
  • Gregory M. Ness has been reappointed professor-clinical and holder of The D.P. Snyder Designated Professorship in Oral Surgery in the College of Dentistry effective Aug. 1, 2016, through July 31, 2021
  • Mohammad Samimy has been reappointed professor and holder of The John B. Nordholt Professorship in Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering effective July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2021

Autumn commencement degrees and certificates approved
Trustees approved the degrees and certificates to be conferred at autumn commencement ceremonies on Dec. 18 to students who have completed the requirements for their respective degrees and certificates. The board approved awarding two degrees posthumously to: Colan Callahan, associate of arts, and Yuzhen Liu, bachelor of science in computer science and engineering.

Honorary degrees approved
The board approved the awarding of an honorary Doctor of Public Administration to Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., the current administrator of NASA, a retired United States Marine Corps major general and former NASA astronaut. The degree will be awarded at a future commencement.

Foundation report accepted
The board accepted the Ohio State University Foundation report as of Sept. 30, 2016, which includes the establishment of the Floyd M. Beman Chair in Gastroenterology; the Samuel J. Kiehl III MD Professorship in Emergency Medicine; the Robert S. Livesay Professorship Fund in Architecture; eight new endowed funds as part of the Ohio Scholarship Challenge; and 21 additional endowed funds providing $5.7 million in private support to the university.

Veterinary hospital named
Trustees approved naming the Veterinary Medicial Center (VMC) Hospital for Companion Animals the Hummel & Trueman Hospital for Companion Animals in recognition of significant contributions from Robert Hummel and Barbara Trueman to the College of Veterinary Medicine for the VMC enhancement and expansion project.

Courtyard named
The board approved naming the courtyard of the VMC Hospital for Companion Animals the Knight Courtyard in recognition of significant contributions to the College of Veterinary Medicine for the VMC enhancement and expansion project from Cynthia Knight, whose three St. Bernards, April, May and June, received excellent care at the facility. The courtyard allows for a dedicated space for faculty, staff and students to talk about cases or relax and allows clients a quiet place to sit and reflect while waiting.

Hospital for Companion Animals internal spaces name
The board approved the naming of internal spaces within the new VMC Hospital for Companion Animals and Clinical Office Building in recognition of donors who have provided significant contributions to support the new facility:

  • Room A120 – The Jennifer Stanley Smith Faculty Office
  • Room 1110 – The Women & Philanthropy Exam Room
  • Room 1059 – The Michael & Anita Goldberg and the Rite Rug Flooring Housing Ward
  • Room 1065 – The Giannopoulos Family Housing Ward
  • Room 1082 – The Debra Seiber Housing Ward
  • Room 1106 – The Hagenlocker Family Feline Waiting Room

County Extension building named
Trustees approved naming the building to house the Franklin County Extension Office in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences the Kunz-Brundige Franklin County Extension Building in recognition of significant contributions for the new building from Patricia L. Brundige, who would like to honor the memory of her parents, Kathryn A. and Fredrick D. Kunz. (see separate release)

Wrestling practice facility named
The board approved naming the wrestling practice facility in the Athletics District the Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility in recognition of significant contributions from Alex and Brad Jennings to support the building of the facility.

Terrace named
The board approved naming the Mason Hall patio as the Brendamour Family Logistics Lounge in recognition of contributions from Doug and Beth Brendamour to the Max M. Fisher College of Business.

Library named
The board approved the honorific naming of the Dr. George T. Harding IV Library in the Neurological Institute in Harding Hospital in recognition of Harding’s instrumental role in bringing Harding Hospital together with Ohio State, helping to bridge the organizations and directing funding to support psychiatry and behavioral health within the Wexner Medical Center.

Athletic ticket prices and fees approved
The board approved football and men’s basketball ticket prices for fiscal year 2017, and continues both on a variable pricing structure. (See related news story)

  • For football: The schedule for the 2017 season designates Army and UNLV as Tier 1 pricing; Maryland and Illinois as Tier 2 pricing; Penn State as Tier 3 pricing; and Oklahoma and Michigan State as Tier 4 pricing. Overall, season ticket prices will increase approximately 13 percent. The current student ticket price of $34 per game will continue at least through the 2020 season.
  • For men’s basketball: For the 2017-2018 season, single game tickets would range from $7 to $29 for non-conference games. Tickets for conference games would cost between $10 and $46, and premier game prices would range from $14 to $57. In addition, the current seating configuration of two price zones will expand to include two more price zones in the upper levels of the arena, which will allow for a more affordable option for families and groups to attend games.

Construction contracts approved
The board authorized the university to enter into professional service and construction contracts for the following projects: (See separate release)

  • Vet Hospital – Simulation Lab. The project will add a two-story space with one floor for a clinical skills lab and one floor for future shell space. Trustees approved professional services contracts of $700,000. Total project budget is $7.6 million to be provided by development and university funds.
  • Bricker Hall – HVAC repair and replacement. The project will upgrade the HVAC on floors 2 through 4 and replace the plaster ceilings on the third floor. Trustees approved professional services and construction contracts totaling $5.2 million, to be provided by university and state funds.
  • Covelli Multi-Sport Arena/Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility. The facility will be built east of Fred Taylor Drive and combined with the Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility to achieve efficiency in design and construction. It will seat approximately 3,700 spectators and will serve as the home for men’s and women’s varsity volleyball teams and include home and visiting locker rooms for the competition. It will be the home competition site for men’s and women’s fencing and gymnastics and men’s wrestling. Trustees approved professional services and construction contracts totaling $49.7 million, to be provided by development funds.
  • Mirror Lake restoration. The project will implement the recommendations of the Mirror Lake Concept Plan and will redesign the lake edge and bottom, addressing storm water discharge with a focus on safety and sustainability. Trustees approved professional services and construction contracts totaling $5.9 million, to be provided by university funds.
  • Schumaker Student-Athlete Development Center. The project will replace the existing Biggs Facility in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center with a new facility that will include a state-of-the-art athletic training center, weight training and cardio conditioning, athletic offices, and nutrition, dining and production kitchens to allow student athletes to receive meals and snacks. Trustees approved professional services and construction contracts totaling $43 million, to be provided by development funds.
  • Cannon Drive relocation – Phase 1. The project will relocate Cannon Drive between King Avenue and Herrick Drive and will raise Cannon Drive above the 500-year flood level. It will include utility service lines under the relocated Cannon Drive and stub out piping to serve future development. It also includes restoration of the river edge with wetlands, an informal recreation area and landscaping. Total project budget is $51.5 million. Trustees approved construction contracts totaling $31.2 million, to be provided by university funds.
  • Ohio Stadium upgrades. The project includes electrical upgrades, C-deck concrete coating and restoration, and the addition of loge seats. It is a multiple phased, multiyear project investing in modernizing and maintaining historic Ohio Stadium. Trustees approved professional services and construction contracts totaling $39.1 million, to be provided by university and auxiliary funds.
  • Schottenstein Center – North expansion and concourse renovation. The project will renovate the concourse providing increased daylight, connections to the exterior, upgraded interior lighting, improved concession queuing, technology, wayfinding and graphics. Trustees approved construction and professional services contracts totaling $31.5 million, to be provided by university debt and auxiliary funds.

Easement granted
The board approved granting a roadway easement to the City of Columbus for $1.00 for traffic control devices and signals to support the redevelopment of High Street from 14th to 17th avenues. The acreage and terms will both be determined as the project proceeds.

Board of Trustees committee appointments approved
The board approved the appointment of members to the following committees for 2016-2017:

Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee:
Linda S. Kass, chair
Cheryl L. Krueger, vice chair
Janet B. Reid
Clark C. Kellogg
Timothy P. Smucker
Erin P. Hoeflinger
Abigail S. Wexner
Hiroyuki Fujita
Lydia A. Lancaster
James D. Klingbeil
Richard K. Herrmann (faculty member)
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Finance Committee:
Michael J. Gasser, chair
Brent R. Porteus, vice chair
W. G. “Jerry” Jurgensen
Jeffrey Wadsworth
Alexander R. Fischer
Halie M. Vilagi
Corbett A. Price
Alan VanderMolen
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Advancement Committee:
Erin P. Hoeflinger, chair
Alan VanderMolen, vice chair
Linda S. Kass
Clark C. Kellogg
Cheryl L. Krueger
Brent R. Porteus
Alexander R. Fischer
Abigail S. Wexner
Halie M. Vilagi
Corbett A. Price
Nancy J. Kramer
Craig S. Bahner
Barbara J. Tootle (Alumni Association member)
Samira K. Beckwith (Alumni Association member)
James F. Dietz (Foundation Board member)
Daniel J. Wampler (Foundation Board member)
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Audit and Compliance Committee:
Timothy P. Smucker, chair
W. G. “Jerry” Jurgensen, vice chair
Michael J. Gasser
Jeffrey Wadsworth
Hiroyuki Fujita
Lydia A. Lancaster
James D. Klingbeil
Lawrence A. Hilsheimer
Amy Chronis
Craig S. Morford
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Governance Committee:
Janet B. Reid, chair
Timothy P. Smucker, vice chair
Linda S. Kass
Erin P. Hoeflinger
Halie M. Vilagi
Alan VanderMolen
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Talent and Compensation Committee:
W. G. “Jerry” Jurgensen, chair
Janet B. Reid, vice chair
Michael J. Gasser
Erin P. Hoeflinger
Hiroyuki Fujita
Halie M. Vilagi
Corbett A. Price
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Master Planning and Facilities Committee:
Alexander R. Fischer, chair
James D. Klingbeil, vice chair
Brent R. Porteus
Lydia A. Lancaster
Robert H. Schottenstein
Alex Shumate (ex officio)

Committee charter approved
The board approved the Governance Committee charter, which delineates and describes each of the committee functions. The committee’s charge is to make recommendations to the board regarding matters pertaining to the organization of the board and involvement and role of trustees.

Audit submission approved
The board approved the submission of draft consolidated financial statements to the Auditor of State for review and approval. The independent audit of consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, has been conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in consultation with university management. The result was an unqualified opinion with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies.