Ohio State University trustees approve technology-assisted learning initiatives

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has approved a second equipment lease with Apple, Inc., to continue the Digital Flagship initiative and outfit first-year students with iPads. The board also approved expansion of the digital textbook pilot program, which reduces textbook costs significantly.

Trustees also approved personnel actions including the hiring of Dr. Harold L. Paz as the university’s first chancellor for health affairs. Paz will manage the $3.7 billion Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center enterprise, including all seven hospitals in the health system. He will also oversee the university’s seven health-science colleges in partnership with the provost and more than 20 research institutes. (See related news story.)

The board also heard committee reports about the impact of the Time and Change strategic plan across the university, including data and outcomes, highlights and future actions.

Provost Bruce McPheron updated trustees Friday on the independent investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against Dr. Richard Strauss.

“At the board’s last meeting in November, we heard from individuals in our community who shared their experiences. We respect their courage, and we are grateful to all those who have come forward,” McPheron said.

Earlier this month, Ohio State informed alumni and former student-athletes that the university will cover the cost of professionally certified counseling services needed by former students as a result of Dr. Strauss’ conduct during their time at Ohio State. The university has engaged the firm Praesidium to facilitate confidential access to support resources.

“Praesidium is a nationally recognized leader in preventing and responding to incidents of sexual abuse, and we continue to encourage individuals in need of support resources to contact Praesidium,” he said. “Under this arrangement, former students have access to counseling services that are comparable to what we make available to students who are enrolled at Ohio State today.”

In addition, he said that those who had already pursued counseling because of what they experienced related to Dr. Strauss will have access to additional resources available through Praesidium.

“On a separate front, we are working with the federal court to arrange for mediation pursuant to its established processes. We appreciate the court’s care and attention to this matter,” McPheron said.

McPheron reaffirmed that the independent investigation is of the highest priority for the university. For almost a year, Ohio State officials have encouraged members of the community who were affected by, or had knowledge of, Strauss’ behavior to participate in the investigation.

“I want to reiterate in the strongest possible terms that we remain steadfastly committed to understanding the extent of Dr. Strauss’ misconduct and to responding appropriately. That has been our guiding principle since last spring when we first heard of these horrible and profoundly disturbing experiences from decades ago,” McPheron said. “The investigation is nearing its conclusion, and, based on what we learn, the university will address the past and continue to take action to support a better and safer future.”

Equipment lease authorized

Trustees authorized the university to enter into additional equipment lease schedules with Apple Inc. that will provide new iPads with tools to all incoming students on all campuses, including freshman and transfer students this year. The authorization continues the university’s Digital Flagship initiative, which includes a student-success plan, an IOS design laboratory and university-wide opportunities to learn coding skills.

• In the first year of the program, more than 11,000 students received a Digital Flagship student technology package and more than 90 percent of the distributed iPads are currently active at any given time.
• More than 750 students attended a Digital Flagship event in autumn, including sessions focused on study skills, note-taking strategies, time management, digital creativity, app training and app development basics.
• Approximately 300 faculty and staff have participated in the Digital Flagship Educators program, learning how to use the technology in the classroom.
• The Ohio State Discover app launched in May, 2018 to instruct students on using their iPad and other important information.

The cost of the leased Apple products will total approximately $13.7 million.

Digital Textbook expansion approved

The board approved discounted digital textbook fees for summer and autumn 2019 as an expansion of a pilot program to provide digital textbooks to reduce the cost of course materials.

Textbook affordability is a key area of focus in the university’s strategic plan.

Creation of the pilot included a discounted digital textbook fee for participating courses that serves as a pass-through fee to collect the cost of the materials. (See related news story)

Basketball ticket prices set

The board approved new price options for men’s basketball tickets for next year. (See related news story.)

Student tickets will remain $9 for both conference and non-conference games. The plan also creates two new price zones in the lower-level seating areas with a slight increase in pricing, while upper-level seating zones will have prices either reduced or unchanged.

Amendments made to Code of Student Conduct

Trustees approved amendments to the code of student conduct regarding jurisdiction, definitions and types of prohibited conduct. Amendments address online conduct, both on and off campus; academic misconduct; and endangering health and safety – including operating a vehicle while impaired, carrying a concealed weapon, submitting/providing false documents/work, drugs and alcohol and other topics.

Construction contracts approved

The board authorized the university to enter into professional services and increase construction contracts for the following projects:

• Energy Advancement and Innovation Center. The long-term lease and concession agreement between the university and Ohio State Energy Partners included $50 million for the development of the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center to serve as an experiential hub for energy research and technology incubation. The facility will be located on West Campus. Trustees approved professional services contracts of $3 million. Total project budget is $35 million, to be paid by Ohio State Energy Partners.
• Wexner Medical Center Inpatient Hospital – Central Sterile Supply. The project will build a central sterile supply building at Kenny and Ackerman roads to serve the Wexner Medical Center hospitals and ambulatory care centers. Trustees approved increased professional services and construction contracts of $45.7 million. Total project budget is $48.2 million, to be paid with auxiliary (health center) funds.
• Wexner Medical Center Inpatient Hospital – Garage (infrastructure and road work). The project will construct a 1,870-space parking garage west of McCampbell Hall, a road and infrastructure. Trustees approved increased professional services and construction contracts of $74 million. Total project budget is $102.1 million, to be paid with auxiliary (health center) funds.

Lease approved

Trustees authorized the university to negotiate and enter into a long-term lease and purchase option for construction and occupancy of a four-story building at the northeast corner of 14^th Avenue. and Pearl Street as part of the planned new 15^th and High development.

Campus Partners for Urban Community Redevelopment owns the site through Redstone Realty Company, LLC and will build the structure for WOSU Public Media. WOSU will occupy the building through a 30-year lease with Redstone.

Property purchase approved

Trustees approved the purchase of approximately 34 acres of unimproved real property along U.S. 33 and Shier Rings Road in Dublin for $13.2 million for a new ambulatory care facility. The property is owned by the city of Dublin. Terms and price are to be determined; source of funding is Wexner Medical Center.

Both sides have agreed that under certain limited circumstances following close of the sale and conveyance of the property to the university, Dublin buy the property back from the university. This agreement will be memorialized in a Property Reconveyance Escrow Agreement, to be signed simultaneously with the Economic Development Agreement and real estate purchase and sale agreement.

Also, as part of the purchase, trustees authorized entering into an Economic Development Agreement for development of the property that includes agreements regarding public infrastructure work to be performed by the city of Dublin and municipal income tax incentives to be paid by the university.

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

• Osvaldo Campanella has been appointed professor and holder of the Carl E. Haas Chair in Food Industries in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences effective Sep. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2024
• Lei Cao has been named associate professor and holder of the William C. and Joan E. Davis Cancer Research Professorship in the College of Medicine effective Dec. 1, 2018 through Nov. 30, 2022
• Jared Gardner has been appointed professor and holder of the Joseph V. Denney Designated Professorship in English in the College of Arts and Sciences effective Nov. 1, 2018 through Aug. 15, 2023
• Gail Marsh has been appointed senior vice president and chief strategy and implementation officer effective Jan. 1, 2019
• Michael Papadakis has been appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer in the Office of Business and Finance effective Jan. 1, 2019
• Harold L. Paz has been appointed executive vice president and chancellor for academic health care effective no later than July 1, 2019
• Ryan Schmiesing has been named vice provost for outreach and engagement in the Office of Academic Affairs effective Feb. 1, 2019 through Jan. 31, 2024
• Benjamin M. Segal has been named chair of the Department of Neurology and holder of the Gilbert and Kathryn Mitchell Chair in the College of Medicine and chief of neurology services for the Ohio State University Health System effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023
• Alex Sparreboom has been named professor and holder of the Lucius A. Wing Chair of Cancer Research and Therapy in the College of Medicine effective Dec. 1, 2018 through Nov. 30, 2022
• Kay Wolf has been named senior vice provost in the Office of Academic Affairs effective Feb. 1, 2019 through Jan. 31, 2024
• Song Guo Zheng has been named professor and holder of the Ronald L. Whisler MD Chair in Rheumatology and Immunology in the College of Medicine effective Jan. 2, 2019 through Jan. 1, 2023
• Greg Allenby has been reappointed professor and holder of the Helen C. Kurtz Chair in Marketing in the Max M. Fisher College of Business effective Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2024
• Jaideep Anand has been reappointed professor and holder of the William H. Davis Chair in the American Free Enterprise System in the Max. M. Fisher College of Business effective Sept. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2024
• Annette Beatty has been reappointed professor and holder of the Deloitte & Touche Chair in Accounting in the Max M. Fisher College of Business effective Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2024
• Christopher Cully has been reappointed senior vice president, general counsel and senior advisor to the president effective April 1, 2019
• Louis F. DiMauro has been reappointed professor and holder of the Dr. Edward E. and Sylvia Hagenlocker Chair in Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences effective Sept. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2024
• Jeff M.S. Kaplan has been reappointed secretary and senior advisor to the Board of Trustees effective May 1, 2019
• Bernadette Minton has been reappointed professor and holder of the Arthur E. Shepard Endowed Professorship in Insurance in the Max M. Fisher College of Business effective Sept. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2024
• Raymond Noe has been reappointed professor and holder of the Robert and Anne Hoyt Designated Professorship in Management in the Max M. Fisher College of Business effective Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2024
• Gregory S. Rose has been reappointed as dean and director of The Ohio State University at Marion effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2024
• Oded Shenkar has been reappointed professor and holder of the Ford Motor Company Chair in Global Business Management in the Max M. Fisher College of Business effective May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2024

Spring degrees and certificates approved

Trustees approved the degrees and certificates to be conferred at autumn commencement ceremonies on May 5, 2019, to students who have completed the requirements for their respective degrees and certificates.

In addition, the board approved awarding two degrees posthumously: Joshua Song, bachelor of science in food science, magna cum laude; and Matthew Workman, bachelor of science in chemical engineering.

Distinguished Service Awards approved

The board approved the awarding of the university’s 2019 Distinguished Service Awards to:

• George Acock
• Richard Hollingsworth
• Linda Kass
• William McDaniel
• Gifford Weary

Board of Trustees committee appointments approved
The board approved the appointment of members to the following committees for 2019-20:

Academic Affairs and Student Life Committee:
Clark C. Kellogg, Chair
Cheryl L. Krueger, Vice Chair
Abigail S. Wexner
Hiroyuki Fujita
Alan A. Stockmeister
Elizabeth P. Kessler
Janice M. Bonsu
Alan VanderMolen
Janet Porter
Richard K. Herrmann (faculty member)
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Finance Committee:
Timothy P. Smucker, Chair
Brent R. Porteus, Vice Chair
Alex Shumate
Erin P. Hoeflinger
Alexander R. Fischer
John W. Zeiger
Lewis Von Thaer
Gary R. Heminger
H. Jordan Moseley
James D. Klingbeil
Lawrence A. Hilsheimer
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Advancement Committee:
Erin P. Hoeflinger, Chair
Alan A. Stockmeister, Vice Chair
Clark C. Kellogg
Alex Shumate
Cheryl L. Krueger
Abigail S. Wexner
H. Jordan Moseley
Alan VanderMolen
Janet Porter
Nancy Kramer
Craig S. Bahner
Kristin L. Watt (Alumni Association member)
Catherine Baumgardner (Alumni Association member)
Gifford Weary (Foundation Board member)
Alec Wightman (Foundation Board member)
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Audit and Compliance Committee:
John W. Zeiger, Chair
Timothy P. Smucker, Vice Chair
Brent R. Porteus
Hiroyuki Fujita
Lewis Von Thaer
Gary R. Heminger
Elizabeth P. Kessler
Janice M. Bonsu
James D. Klingbeil
Amy Chronis
Craig S. Morford
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Governance Committee:
Alex Shumate, Chair
Janet Porter, Vice Chair
Timothy P. Smucker
Erin P. Hoeflinger
Alexander R. Fischer
Hiroyuki Fujita
Gary R. Heminger
H. Jordan Moseley
Alan VanderMolen
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Talent and Compensation Committee:
Hiroyuki Fujita, Chair
Alex Shumate, Vice Chair
Clark C. Kellogg
Erin P. Hoeflinger
John W. Zeiger
Lewis Von Thaer
Elizabeth P. Kessler
H. Jordan Moseley
Janet Porter
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Master Planning and Facilities Committee:
Alexander R. Fischer, Chair
James D. Klingbeil, Vice Chair
Timothy P. Smucker
Brent R. Porteus
Alan A. Stockmeister
Gary R. Heminger
Janice M. Bonsu
Robert H. Schottenstein
Michael J. Gasser (ex officio)

Resolutions in memoriam adopted

The board adopted resolutions in memoriam for the following persons:

• Michael W. Browne, professor emeritus of both psychology and statistics, who died on Oct. 10, 2018
• Donald Bolon Cooper, professor emeritus in the Department of History, who died on Dec. 11, 2018
• Felix P. Kollaritsch, professor emeritus in the Department of Accounting and Management Information Systems, who died on Jan. 27, 2019
• Stanley K. Laughlin Jr., professor emeritus of law and adjunct professor of anthropology, who died on Oct. 20, 2018
• Melvin L. Moeschberger, professor emeritus in the College of Public Health, who died on Jan. 9, 2019
• John Francis Underwood, professor emeritus with OSU Extension in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, who died on Oct. 31, 2018

Foundation report approved

The board approved The Ohio State University Foundation report as of Dec. 30, 2018, which includes the establishment of four professorships: The William H. Saunders M.D. Professorship in Otolaryngology, the Burn Jeng Lin, PhD and Sue Huang Lin Endowed ElectroScience Laboratory Professorship, the Umit S. Ozkan Professorship in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Helene Fuld Health Trust Endowed Professorship for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare; one professorship fund: the Jezerinac Family Civil Engineering Education Endowment Fund; two designated professorships: the Sander and Mechele Flaum Designated Professorship in Fluency and the Joseph V. Denney Designated Professorship in English; one scholarship as part of the Joseph A. Alutto Global Leadership Initiative: the John A. and Kathryne S. Esselburn International Scholarship Fund; one scholarship as part of 100% TBDBITL Scholarship Endowment Initiative: the Timothy P. and Jennifer C. Smucker 100% TBDBITL Scholarship Fund; and 26 additional named endowed funds providing $9.6 million in private support to the university.

Arch named

Trustees approved naming the archway at the bottom of the outdoor staircase between Pfahl Hall and the Blackwell Inn as The Faulkner Family Arch in recognition of significant contributions to Fisher College by Philip G. Faulkner and Suzanne M. Faulkner.

Internal spaces named

The board approved the renaming of internal spaces in Parks Hall, the College of Pharmacy. Room 245A, previous named The Meijer Foundation Pharmacy Skills Classroom, has been reassigned to 256A, based on construction changes. In addition, room 233B will be named the Maryann Z. and Larry Kennedy Sterile Compounding Room in recognition of their significant contributions.

Laboratory named

Trustees approved naming the graduate materials lab in Bolz Hall as The Allan Johnson Materials Research Laboratory in recognition of Johnson’s significant contributions to the College of Engineering.

Waiting area named

Trustees approved naming the reconstructive surgery waiting area at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center as The Vicki and Ron Linville Reconstructive Surgery Waiting Area in recognition of the Linvilles’ significant contributions to the Stefanie Spielman center.

Airport spaces named

The board approved naming the main lobby and observation deck at the Ohio State University Airport terminal as The NetJets Lobby and The NetJets Observation Deck in recognition of significant contributions by NetJets Inc. to construction of the terminal.

Imaging center named

Trustees approved naming the Advanced Imaging Center in the Eye and Ear Institute The Robinson Advanced Imaging Center in recognition of significant contributions by The Robinson Fund of the Troy Foundation to the Department of Ophthalmology.

Conference room named

Trustees approved naming the pathology conference room in Hamilton Hall The Emmerich von Haam, M.D. Pathology Conference Room in recognition of Haam’s significant contributions to the Department of Pathology.

Amendments to procedure for compensation setting and review approved

Trustees approved the amended and restated Procedure for Setting and Reviewing Compensation for University Executives.

The procedure was first approved in 2015 and has been amended three times since then.

The changes outline frequency and scope of authority for setting and reviewing total compensation for the president and other executives of the university and medical center.

Joint use agreements approved

The board authorized the university to enter into a 20-year joint use agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County (BGC Marion) to document the value and permit the release of state funds to build a separate, branded entrance for teen members at their current location.

Ohio State was allocated $50,000 in the 2019 state capital bill that is specifically designed for use by BGC Marion. The Ohio Department of Higher Education requires a joint use agreement before state funding can be released to BGC Marion.

The board also approved entering into a 20-year joint use agreement with Smart Columbus to document the value and permit the release of state funds to develop the Smart Columbus Experience Center in downtown Columbus.

Ohio State was allocated $500,000 in the 2019 state capital bill designed for used by Smart Columbus, which will construct the Smart Columbus Experience Center. Ohio State has an opportunity to expand its partnership with Smart Columbus and will benefit from access to the living laboratory, and use of electric vehicles and office and meeting space. The Ohio Department of Higher Education requires a joint use agreement before state funding can be released to Smart Columbus.

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Contact: Chris Davey, davey.8@osu.edu, 614-292-5962