OSU trustees meet, approve university matters - 12/07/07

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a variety of university-related fiscal, personnel and construction matters at its meeting on Friday (12/7).
Rhodes Scholar congratulated
Trustees congratulated Jessica Hanzlik of Pickerington on being named a 2008 Rhodes Scholar. Hanzlik, who is majoring in physics and French, is one of only 32 students nationwide chosen for the scholarship based on their superior academic ability, leadership and potential. She is only the fifth Ohio State student and the first female from Ohio State to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar. She will continue her studies at Oxford University in high energy physics.
Non-trustee committee appointment guidelines approved
The board approved guidelines concerning the appointment of non-board members to board committees:
•Non-trustee board committee appointments will be for two years, eligible for a second two-year term for a maximum of four years.
•Committee appointments will be made by the chair of the committee following discussion with other trustee committee members.
•In general, no more than three non-trustee committee members will be appointed to any one committee. In all cases, the majority of any committee membership must be trustees.
•Prior to contacting any potential non-trustee appointee, the committee chair will first have a discussion with the vice president and general counsel to insure there will be no conflict of interest.
•Non-trustee committee members will agree to abide by the board's Statement of Expectations as it relates to their university committee work.
Two new master's degrees established
The board approved the establishment of a Master of Professional Communication degree in the School of Communication, which will eliminate the non-thesis option of the Communication M.A. program, the Journalism M.A. program and the thesis option of the Journalism and Communication M.A. program.
The board also approved the establishment of a Master in Environment and Natural Resources degree in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. The new degree is an applied professional degree for practicing professionals and others who want to enhance their professional competency in environment and natural resource science and management.
Both degrees will be effective upon approval of the Ohio Board of Regents.
Code of Student Conduct revised
Trustees approved several revisions to the Code of Student Conduct following a review by the Council on Student Affairs. The major revisions are:
•Greater specificity in the section on sexual misconduct
•Inclusion of definitions of "endangering behavior" and "stalking"
•Prohibition of recording images of persons in locations where they would have a reasonable expectation of privacy
•Changing the criterion for determining whether a violation had occurred from "clear and convincing evidence" to "preponderance of evidence"
•Allowing misconduct motivated by bias against protected groups to be considered an aggravating factor in determining sanctions
Personnel actions approved
Trustees approved the following personnel actions:
•Stephen L. Mangum has been named interim dean of the Max M. Fisher College of Business, effective Oct. 1, 2007.
•Dieter Wanner has been named interim associate provost for international affairs in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008.
•Wiley W. Souba, Jr., has been named executive dean of health sciences, effective Nov. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2011. He holds a concurrent position as interim senior vice president for health sciences and dean of the College of Medicine.
•Malcolm H. Chisholm has been appointed chair of the Department of Chemistry, effective Dec. 10, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2011.
Resolutions in Memoriam adopted
Trustees adopted Resolutions in Memoriam for the following:
•George A. Barber, professor emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry, who died on Oct. 26, 2007
•Helen L. Schneider, assistant professor emeritus in The Ohio State University Extension, who died on Oct. 21, 2007
Investment managers appointed
The board approved the appointment of investment managers and the reallocation of funds assigned to them. It is university policy to utilize the service of external investment managers to assist in the management of the university's long-term investment pool, and the Development and Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees periodically reviews the results obtained by the managers and the amount of funds assigned to each, changing the mix when warranted.
Development report accepted
Trustees accepted the University Development Report for October 2007. The report included the establishment of The John Glenn Chair for Technology and Space Exploration, The Thomas Jefferson Chair for Discovery and Space Exploration and the Dorothy J. and Herbert L. Fenburr Professorship, as well as 11 new named endowed funds.
Construction-related matters approved
The board authorized the university to enter into a contract for a feasibility study for the following project:
•The Academic Core North Facilities Plan. The project will develop a facilities plan to provide a roadmap for new construction, renovation and replacements of facilities in the Academic Core North, bordered by 17th Street, High Street, Woodruff Avenue and Tuttle Park Place . Estimated project cost is $1.2 million to be provided by state funds.
The board authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following projects:
•Replacement of 377 single-glazed windows with double-glazed thermal-break windows in the Agricultural Administration Building. Estimated project cost is $1.2 million to be provided by state funds.
•Upgrade of the existing south elevator system in Canfield Hall. Estimated project cost is $360,000 to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Renovation of the 3rd and 4th floors in Cramblett Hall to create space for Means Hall occupants who will be relocated so the building can be demolished. Estimated project cost is $600,000 to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Demolition and decommissioning of Medical Center facilities – Means Hall, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility and the South Cannon Parking Garage. Demolition will be accomplished in phases. Estimated project cost is $5 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Renovation of laboratory space on the 4th floor of Evans Laboratory. Estimated project cost is $1.1 million to be provided by state funds.
•Replacement of the roof on the tower portion of Fawcett Center. Estimated project cost is $510,000 to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Renovation of Room 024 in The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute to accommodate new equipment and then relocate and install the existing CT scanner from Room 064. Estimated project cost is $221,102 to be provided by Medical Center auxiliary funds.
•Upgrade of the existing elevator in MacQuigg Laboratory. Estimated project cost is $395,888 to be provided by state funds.
•Replacement of the roof on Eisenhower Hall Student Union and renovations to the roofs of Bromfield Hall, Ovalwood Hall and Founders Hall on the Mansfield Campus. Estimated project cost is $414,847 to be provided by state funds.
•Relocation of the existing medical tank farm and fuel oil storage facilities per the Medical Center Master Plan to clear the site for hospital expansion. Estimated project cost is $1.5 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Renovation and/or replacement of the two main air-handling units in Mershon Auditorium. Estimated project cost is $2.6 million to be provided by state funds.
•Replacement of the roof of Raney Commons. Estimated project cost is $554,000 to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Construction of an addition to the Schottenstein Center for a basketball practice facility and coaches' offices. Estimated project cost is $22 million to be provided by Athletics and Development auxiliary offices.
•Renovations to Smith Hall and Stradley Hall to provide air conditioning and renovations to restrooms and public spaces. Estimated project cost is $34.3 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Upgrade of four existing elevator systems in Taylor Tower. Estimated project cost is $1.5 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Upgrades to the existing elevator in Watts Hall. Estimated project cost is $329,906 to be provided by state funds.
•Phase 4 of the renovation of Wilce Student Health Center. Estimated project cost is $10 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Construction of a new housing facility with apartment-style housing for 160 students in the William H. Hall Housing Complex. Estimated project cost is $15.1 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
The board authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following projects:
•Construction of a 1,000-car parking structure east of the existing 9th Avenue garage as part of the Medical Center Facilities Plan. Estimated project cost is $21.7 million to be provided by Medical Center auxiliary funds for debt service and university bond proceeds.
•Upgrade of Canfield Hall elevator (see above)
•Renovation of the restrooms in Canfield Hall to create private bathrooms for residents. Estimated project cost is $2.5 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Renovation of Cramblett Hall (see above)
•Roof replacement on the Fawcett Center tower (see above)
•Relocation of CT scanner in the James Cancer Hospital (see above)
•Construction of a new 1,400-space, nine-level parking garage adjacent to the new Student Academic Services Building on Lane Avenue. Estimated project cost is $28 million to be provided by university bond proceeds and Transportation and Parking auxiliary funds.
•Upgrade to the MacQuigg Laboratory elevator (see above)
•Roof replacements and renovations on the Mansfield Campus (see above)
•Replacement of fan coil units in the resident rooms and common areas in Morrison Tower. Estimated project cost is $2.1 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
•Construction of a new Student Academic Services Building to accommodate core student services functions. These services will relocate from Lincoln Tower, which will be converted back to residence halls. Estimated project cost is $32.5 million to be provided by central funding.
•Roof replacement on Raney Commons (see above)
•Upgrades to Watts Hall elevator (see above)
The board authorized the university to increase the construction contract for the following project:
•Replacement of condensate piping between the Recreation and Physical Activity Center and the Neil Avenue Parking Garage. Revised cost is $252,502, an increase of $42,502 due to materials cost inflation, to be provided by state funds and repair and renovation funds.
Interim authorization granted
The board granted interim authorization to the chair of the Fiscal Affairs Committee to enter into design, construction management and construction contracts for university capital projects as necessary prior to the next board meeting on February 1, 2008.
Lease granted
The board authorized the university to enter into a five-year lease of office space at 760 Kinnear Road in Columbus for use by The Ohio State Medical Center Comprehensive Transplant Center. Lease of the property, owned by Battelle Memorial Institute Employees Credit Union, will allow relocation and expansion of office requirements of the Transplant Center located at 770 Kinnear Road.
Pharmacy benefits contract changed
The board approved awarding the contract for Pharmacy Benefit Management services to Express Scripts for a three-year period, effective Jan. 1, 2008.
Separation incentive program authorized
The board authorized a one-time separation incentive program for the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to assist the college in addressing short-term financial demands and provide a speedier transition process toward achieving sustainable levels of employees and programs.
Authority for personnel issues designated
Trustees designated and appointed the associate vice president for human resources as the university's appointing authority for all personnel issues related to the university's classified civil service staff and law enforcement officers, including any and all collective bargaining agreements.
Purchasing revisions approved
The board approved revisions to the university's policy on purchasing and competitive bidding.
4-H spaces named
Trustees approved recognizing donors who supported the construction, equipping or furnishing of the classrooms, offices, laboratories and other spaces in the new 4-H Center by naming internal spaces for them.
Endowment investment policy revised
Trustees adopted revisions to the university's Endowment Fund Investment Policy that will permit sufficient flexibility to capture investment opportunities while providing parameters that ensure prudence and care in the execution of the investment program.
Board committee members appointed
Trustees approved the following appointments to the 2007-2008 Board of Trustees committees.
Academic and Student Affairs Committee:
John D. Ong, Chair
Douglas G. Borror, Vice Chair
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
John C. Fisher
Algenon L. Marbley
Alex Shumate
Ronald A. Ratner
Debra J. Van Camp

Fiscal Affairs Committee:
Jo Ann Davidson, Chair
Brian K. Hicks, Vice Chair
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
Karen L. Hendricks
Walden W. O'Dell
Leslie H. Wexner
Robert H. Schottenstein
Christopher A. Alvarez-Breckenridge

Audit and Compliance Committee:
Robert H. Schottenstein, Chair
Karen L. Hendricks, Vice Chair
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
Dimon R. McFerson
Walden W. O'Dell
John C. Fisher
Ronald A. Ratner
James Bachmann
James Gilmour

Medical Affairs Committee:
Alan W. Brass, Chair
Algenon L. Marbley, Vice Chair
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
Douglas G. Borror
Jo Ann Davidson
Brian K. Hicks
Ellen Hardymon
David Lauer
Donald Shackelford

Development and Investment Committee:Leslie H. Wexner, Chair
Walden W. O'Dell, Vice Chair
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
Alan W. Brass
Robert H. Schottenstein
Ex officio:
John Gerlach, Jr. (Foundation Board)
David A. Rismiller (Foundation Board)

Committee on Trusteeship:
Dimon R. McFerson, Chair
Alex Shumate, Vice Chair
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
Jo Ann Davidson
Brian K. Hicks
John D. Ong
Christopher A. Alvarez-Breckenridge

Agricultural Affairs Committee:
John C. Fisher, Chair
Robert Boggs, Vice Chair, ex officio
G. Gilbert Cloyd, ex officio
John D. Ong
Douglas G. Borror
Ronald A. Ratner
Debra J. Van Camp