Trustees: Leadership Agenda Progress Report

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT PROGRESS REPORT ON LEADERSHIP AGENDA

COLUMBUS -- Several Ohio State University administrators 
reported to the Board of Trustees Friday (6/5) on the progress 
made toward achieving institutional goals and priorities focusing 
on academic excellence, the student experience and revenue 
growth.

Goals and priorities are detailed in the Leadership Agenda 
developed from discussions among deans, faculty leaders, 
students, senior administrators and trustees last autumn.  Among 
the many long-term goals, university leaders have proposed to 
have at least 10 academic programs among the top 10 nationally 
with 20 academic programs ranked in the top 20 by 2010.

A final report on the Leadership Agenda is to be distributed 
in August indicating activities completed, in process and yet to 
be addressed.  That document will help set the Leadership Agenda 
for fiscal year 1999.

Progress was reported to trustees in each of the three focus 
areas of the Leadership Agenda.

Academic Excellence

-- Proposals are under consideration for selective 
investment and academic enrichment funding.  Selective investment 
funding will provide up to $500,000 in continuing support, with 
matching funds from those submitting proposals.  Fiscal year 1999 
will be the first year of funding for the program.  In addition, 
it is expected that between 10 and 14 proposals will be funded 
under the academic enrichment program.  Most proposals receive up 
to $150,000 in either one-time or continuing support, with 
matches from those submitting proposals.

-- To help in the continued recruitment of top-notch 
faculty, several data-gathering efforts are under way.  They 
include a telephone survey of a random sample of faculty, five 
focus groups, an open-ended survey being distributed by 
department chairs, and a mail survey of provosts and department 
chairs at benchmark institutions.

-- The university is expected to act on Research Commission 
recommendations under five broad headings:  excellent faculty and 
students; outstanding facilities; strong multidisciplinary, 
industrial and government partnerships; improved institutional 
support and planning; and sustainable, manageable economics.  

"There is a very strong message that is clear.  Ohio State 
needs to focus on increasing our resource base to meet our 
aspirations with respect to research, program excellence and the 
student experience," said Edward J. Ray, acting senior vice 
president and provost.  He also said the commission and others 
have indicated potential exists from a variety of sources to 
bring these resources to campus and will present a proposal to 
that effect.

-- Initiatives and actions to improve the graduate student 
experience are focused on the Graduate Quality of the University 
Experience (G-QUE) project jointly sponsored by the Graduate 
School and the Council of Graduate Students.  A draft of the 
project report is expected to be distributed in the summer.

Student Experience

-- The Enrollment Management Steering Committee and the 
Council on Student Enrollment and Progress have collaborated this 
year to gain insight into student retention and graduation 
matters as part of efforts to improve attention to student 
progress.  

"What is clear is that any effort to address these matters 
must be made along multiple lines and must include close 
cooperation between the academic and student affairs operations 
of the university," Ray said.

-- Three major campus events focused on diversity issues 
this year: the Office of Faculty and TA Development sponsored a 
new faculty orientation focusing on teaching effectiveness in the 
diverse classroom; the annual Faculty/Staff Colloquy theme was 
"Marketing America's Future Through Cultural Diversity"; and Ohio 
State hosted the fourth annual Big Ten and Statewide Conference 
of Offices of Minority Affairs.

-- A committee of faculty is discussing strategies for 
extending service-learning opportunities into academic curricula; 
the committee then will present recommendations to the 
President's Council on Outreach and Engagement.  Several 
initiatives already are in place to boost student involvement in 
community service.  Data-gathering plans include a survey of 
existing practices, surveys of benchmark institutions and 
formation of an ad hoc committee on student engagement.

-- The offices of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs are 
continuing a collaboration to monitor and enhance all aspects of 
the undergraduate experience inside and outside the classroom, 
with a focus on freshman-to-sophomore retention and improved 
graduation rates.  Budget support will be sought for the 
following program enhancements: living/learning communities, a 
student leadership/community service development initiative, 
continued enhancement of academic support services and support 
systems, a system of proactive intervention with students at 
risk, improvements in financial support systems for students, 
provision of computer access in all residence halls, expansion of 
special study opportunities -- including more opportunities for 
study abroad, expanded institutional research on enrollment 
issues, and systematic communication with the campus community 
about the importance of student success and enhancement of the 
campus culture.

-- Dialogue with faculty about their role in the student 
experience continues in a variety of ways, including through the 
Office of Faculty and TA Development (FTAD) and in its 
collaboration with the Academy of Teaching on public 
presentations and faculty forums.  The Office of Admissions has 
involved faculty in student recruitment, and the Office of 
Minority Affairs and FTAD have piloted "Commitment to Success," a 
program providing the campus with information and consultation 
services to improve the general campus climate, specifically to 
improve retention of minority students.  Increased communication 
with faculty about the student experience also is a goal.

Revenue growth

-- Protecting and increasing state appropriations is a 
constant effort that will be even more important as the state's 
political leaders continue to search for a solution to the 
challenge of funding the state's needs for education and other 
state services.

-- Distance-learning opportunities, new degree programs and 
expanded curriculum offerings in several colleges will help 
develop new and expanded markets and revenue streams.  External 
activities, such as the Ohio State Medical Center's plans to 
locate services in suburban markets and development of the 
Science and Technology Campus, also will generate revenue for the 
university.

-- Budget restructuring strategies are in the proposal stage 
now.

-- Strengthening Ohio State's presence in Washington, D.C., 
could increase the university's effectiveness in obtaining more 
external research funding.  The Research Foundation also has 
taken steps to provide responsive service to assist faculty in 
securing and managing research funds, including through 
development of foundation annexes on campus.  The Research 
Foundation also monitors institutional performance in grants and 
contracts by college and department.

-- The Affirm Thy Friendship fund-raising campaign is 
boosting gifts and pledges at a stronger pace than anticipated 
during campaign planning.  The university plans to focus future 
resources on investment in the fund-raising infrastructure and 
additional major gift staff.  The offices of University 
Development and Academic Affairs also are working together to 
develop benchmark criteria for assessing performance of academic 
leaders in the fund-raising process.  More deans and academic 
leaders will be encouraged to act as spokespersons for the 
university commitment to private fund-raising.

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Contact:  Edward J. Ray, Academic Affairs, (614) 292-5881
David Williams II, Student Affairs, (614) 292-9334
William J. Shkurti, Finance, (614) 292-9232