Story Ideas for Media 4/20/09

Research

Ohio State study: One class increases odds of college graduation for struggling students. A researcher at Ohio State University has developed a course on learning and motivation strategies that actually increases the odds that struggling first-year students will graduate.
Students in academic difficulty who took the “Learning and Motivation Strategies” course in their first quarter at Ohio State were about 45 percent more likely to graduate within six years than similar students who didn’t take the class.
Average-ability students who took the course were also six times more likely to stay in college for a second year and had higher grade point averages than those who didn’t take the class.
“We are taking the students who are least likely to succeed in college and teaching them the skills they need to stay in school and graduate,” said Bruce Tuckman, a professor of education at Ohio State, and creator of the course. CONTACT: Pam Frost Gorder, Ohio State Research Communications, (614) 292-9475; Gorder.1@osu.edu . SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/lrngclas.htm

Events

Chancellor Fingerhut to deliver lecture on the role of land-grant universities – April 24. Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, will deliver “The Land-Grant College and the University System of Ohio: Evolving Roles in Higher Education,” in the 6th Annual James F. Patterson Land-Grant University Lecture. Chancellor Fingerhut will discuss economic advancement and the role of the land-grant university as the state works to create jobs and attract world-class talent. Ohio State plays a critical role in Ohio’s economic future as the state’s flagship university.
Media are invited to the lecture, which begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday (4/24) at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr. At the lecture, recipients of outreach-related grants are announced. CONTACT: Sandra Kerka, University Outreach and Engagement, (614) 247-4429 or kerka.1@osu.edu. SEE: http://outreach.osu.edu/patterson_lecture.php

Earth Day celebrations abound at Ohio State. Many campus celebrations of Earth Day are planned this week. Media are welcome to cover these events:
•OSU Wetlands offers water sampling and park clean up – The OSU Wetlands, 352 E. Dodridge St., invites Earth Day celebrants to help gather water samples at 9 a.m. or 6 p.m. on Wednesday (4/22) and match the world record for water sampling for “World Water Monitoring Day.” In addition, volunteers will participate in park cleanup and invasive plant removal from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday (4/24). SEE: http://swamp.osu.edu/news/earth-day.html

•Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair in Wooster – April 22. “Green is for life” is the theme of the second annual Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Earth Day (4/22) at the university’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. The fair will feature more than 75 exhibits on a variety of topics including plug-in hybrid cars, alternative energy, resource and energy conservation, bio-fuels, and wildlife along with demonstrations, student activities, food and more Rattan Lal, professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, will deliver the keynote address at 11 a.m. A complete list of activities at http://www.wcsen.org/wcsggf/index.html CONTACT: Allen Zimmerman, Agricultural Technical Institute, (330) 287-1263.

CNBC show “Mad Money w/Jim Cramer” visits Ohio State – April 22. Through the enthusiastic efforts of several Fisher College of Business student groups, CNBC’s Mad Money w/Jim Cramer is coming to The Ohio State University campus to tape its show at the Thurber Theatre at the Drake Union Performance Center on Wednesday (4/22).
Mad Money will air from Ohio State as part of the television show’s “Mad Money Back to School Tour,” which has made stops on 13 college campuses across the nation. Mad Money features the fiery investment opinions of Jim Cramer and the popular “Lightning Round,” in which Cramer gives his buy, sell or hold opinions on stocks to callers. The show at Ohio State will showcase students from Fisher’s Student Investment Management class, who will pit their stock strategies against Cramer. Taping begins at 4 p.m. Tickets, which are required, were distributed to students earlier this month. CONTACT: Patricia Allen, allen.965@osu.edu, (614) 292-8937. SEE: http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem2385

John Lennon Educational Tour Bus visits Ohio State – April 22-23. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus makes a two-day stop at Ohio State's Columbus campus on April 22 and 23 and will be parked next to the Wexner Center for the Arts. The Lennon Bus travels the country staffed with recording and multimedia engineers who demonstrate cutting-edge technologies and techniques for music and multimedia production.
On Wednesday, Lennon staff will coach a group of local students as they write an original song, record it, and produce a music video. On Thursday, the bus is open for walk-through tours from 1-3 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., the video premieres in the Wexner Center's Performance Space as part of a program about engaging students with technology. CONTACT: Liv Gjestvang, Digital Union, (614) 247-6457; or Catherine Girves, University Area Enrichment Association, (614) 371-UAEA. SEE http://digitalunion.osu.edu/newsandevents/articles/20090410_LennonBus.html

Ohio State welcomes new Blueprint: College class – April 23. The Ohio State University is kicking off a second year of Blueprint: College, an initiative to help set families on the right path toward academic and college success. The 2009 Blueprint: College begins with a welcome at 6 p.m. on Thursday (4/23) at Champion Middle School, 284 N. 22nd St. Media are invited to cover this compelling story by attending the kickoff or upcoming weekly workshops.
Blueprint: College, which began as a pilot program last spring, assists elementary school families from Columbus City Schools to create “blueprint plans” to guide academic and college success. The families are low-income and have little college experience. Last year’s pilot program, which served 42 families, was so successful that it has expanded this year to serve 113 families from 11 underserved schools. In fact, more than 40 families are on a waiting list. MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

African American Heritage Festival kicks off on Saturday – April 25. Dance, spoken word poetry and community service represent the sites, sounds and spirit of the African American Heritage Festival that begins this weekend on the Ohio State University campus. In its 31st year, the eight-day celebration will officially kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday (4/25) at the South Oval and Browning Amphitheater. Food, entertainment, arts and crafts, and a health fair will be featured. The event is free and open to the public. For a complete list of activities SEE: http://osuheritagefestival.com or CONTACT: Christa Porter, Multicultural Center, (614) 688-8449 or porter.554@osu.edu

It’s Big Arts Week at Ohio State – April 22-26. A number of arts events—indoors and out—are happening at Ohio State during the week of April 22–26, featuring the talents of a wide range of students, faculty, and international guest artists. Events include an oudoor festival at the Wexner Center Plaza and South Campus Gateway on Friday (4/24) from noon to 10 p.m. CONTACT: Victoria Ellwood, The Arts Intiative, 292-6299 or Karen Simonian, Wexner Center for the Arts, (614) 292-9923. SEE: http://artsinitiative.osu.edu/bigartsweek/

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276, Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748, Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.