2-6-2009

Contact: Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748

Trustees meet, approve university matters

Leslie Wexner elected as new chair

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a variety of personnel, fiscal and construction-related matters at their meeting Friday (2/6). Wexner elected board chair
Leslie H. Wexner of New Albany was unanimously elected chairman of The Ohio State University Board of Trustees today at the board's bimonthly meeting. He will assume the chairmanship for a one-year term following the April 3 board meeting.
Wexner replaces G. Gilbert Cloyd of Cincinnati, whose two-year term as board chairman and three-year tenure as a university trustee is ending on May 13.
Wexner was appointed by Gov. Bob Taft to the board of trustees in December 2005. He previously served on the Ohio State board from 1988-1997 and was chairman of the board from 1996-97. In addition, he was a founding member and the first chair of The Ohio State University Foundation.
Wexner is chairman, president and CEO of Columbus-based Limited Brands, which operates 2,900 stores nationwide including Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, C.O. Bigelow, La Senza, White Barn Candle Co. and Henri Bendel.

Engineering Department named
Trustees approved the naming of the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the College of Engineering. Lowrie and his wife, Ernestine R. Lowrie, recently made a commitment of $17 million in support of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the university, the largest commitment by an individual donor to engineering in the history of the institution. [see related story: http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem2319]
The Lowries have also endowed two funds – The William G. and Ernestine R. Lowrie Endowment for Chemical Engineering Excellence and The H.C. "Slip" Slider Professorship in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Dodd Hall lobby named

Trustees approved naming the main lobby in Dodd Hall, 480 Medical Center Drive on the Medical Center campus, after Stanley D. and Joan H. Ross, who established a Dodd Hall Endowment Fund in 2004 to support programs, activities, and equipment purchases for patients, their families and Dodd Hall staff. The endowment honors the Ross' son Malcolm who recovered in Dodd Hall, a world-renowned rehabilitation center, following an automobile accident.

Blackwell Inn ballroom named
Trustees approved naming the ballroom in The Blackwell Inn and Conference Center, 2110 Tuttle Park Place, after Edwin L. and Mary Jane Overmyer, who have been strong supporters of the Fisher College of Business, establishing the Edwin L. and Mary Jane Overmyer Leadership Fund and the Edwin L. and Mary Jane Overmyer Innovation Fund. The Overmyer Ballroom is used for corporate meetings, weddings and social events.

New trustee position established
Trustees established the new position of Charter Trustee to serve on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the following guidelines:
• Charter Trustees will be non-Ohio residents who are alumni or friends of the university; successful in their professions; locally, nationally or internationally prominent; able to advocate for higher education; and willing and able to offer counsel on university matters.
• There will be no more than three Charter Trustees.
• Each Charter Trustee will be appointed for a three-year term. The initial Charter Trustees will be appointed for staggered terms of no longer than three years and can serve a second consecutive three-year term.
• Charter Trustees will not be compensated for their service but will be paid for necessary expenses while engaged in trustee duties.
• Charter Trustees will be governed by any applicable laws and regulations of the State of Ohio, the Bylaws and Rules of the Board of Trustees, and any applicable university policy.
• Charter Trustees will have not voting privileges on the board, will not be considered in determining whether a quorum is present and are not eligible to be officers of the board, but will otherwise participate in all board activities, including membership on committees. They will have noting privileges on committees and are eligible to serve as committee chair or vice chair.
• Charter Trustees will be nominated by the Committee on Trusteeship and will be appointed, and may be removed, by vote of the Board of Trustees.

Reports for Board of Regents approved
Trustees approved the Institutional Accountability Report, requested by the University System if Ohio Strategic Plan for Higher Education, and the Facilities and Technology Infrastructure Report, requested by the Board of Regents.

Personnel actions approved
• Carole A. Anderson has been named dean of the College of Dentistry, effective Feb. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2014.
• William Brustein has been named vice provost for global strategies and international affairs in Office of Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2009.
• Andrew P. Gould has been named professor and holder of The Thomas Jefferson Chair for Discovery and Space Exploration in the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, effective Feb. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2013.
• Larry M. Lewellen has been named vice president for human resources in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Oct. 1, 2008.
• Christine Poon has been named dean of the Max M. Fisher College of Business, effective April 1, 2009, through March 31, 2014.
• Thaliyil V. Rajanbabu has been named professor and holder of the Charles H. Kimberly Professorship in Chemistry in the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, effective Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2016.
Resolutions in memoriam adopted

The board adopted resolutions in memoriam for the following persons:
• Jean S. Bowers, professor emeritus in the Department of Consumer Sciences, who died on Nov. 29, 2008
• William W. Davis, clinical assistant professor emeritus in the College of Public Health, who died on Nov. 1, 2008
• Arline M. Rollins, assistant professor emeritus in University Libraries, who died on Nov. 11, 2008
• Morgan E. Shipman, professor emeritus in the Moritz College of Law, who died on Dec. 4, 2008
• Eugene J. Watts, associate professor emeritus in the Department of History, who died on Nov. 11, 2008
• Sidney E. White, professor emeritus in the School of Earth Sciences, who died on Sept. 6, 2008
Development report accepted
Trustees accepted the University Development Report for the second quarter of the 2009 fiscal year. The report included the establishment of 37 new named endowed funds totaling $6.2 million in private gifts to the university.

Managed Health Care Regulations amended
Trustees approved several amendments to the Code of Regulations of The Ohio State University Managed Health Care Systems, Inc., an entity affiliated with the university to provide leadership in health care planning in partnership with the Office of Human Resources and the Medical Center.

Construction projects approved
Trustees authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following projects:
• Rebuild of 17th Avenue from Tuttle Park Place to College Avenue. Estimated project cost is $11million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
• Rebuild of 18th and 19th Avenues. Estimated project cost is $7.8 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
• Build-out of three floors of the Biomedical Research Tower to create research labs. Estimated project cost is $3 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
• Rebuild of Woodruff Avenue and Tuttle Park Place. Estimated project cost is $11.5 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
Trustees authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following projects:
• Decommissioning and demolishing of three Medical Center facilities – Means Hall, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility and the South Cannon Parking Garage. Estimated project cost is $8-$10 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
• Replacement of a high voltage switch and cable to provide for future growth in demand in the north campus area. Estimated project cost is $15.1 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.
• Phase I of the upgrade of infrastructure and roadways to support the Medical Center Facilities Plan/Master Space Plan. Estimated project cost is $19.8 million to be provided by university bond proceeds.

Property purchase authorized
Trustees authorized the university to purchase three parcels of property at 1618-1624 Neil Avenue, 1630 Neil Avenue, and 250-252 W. Tenth Avenue within the university's South Campus Acquisition Area. Purchase cost is $3.15 million.

Athletic ticket price hike approved
The board approved a price increase in football and basketball tickets of $1 each for al ticket groups except student season tickets, which will not increase. Golf Course annual membership fees will increase from $550 to $560 for students; from $1,760 to $1,860 for faculty and staff; from $2,200 to $2,325 for alumni and affiliates, and from $275 to $280 for children under 13 of a member. Daily course fees will not increase. Food and beverage minimum for April through September will increase from $60 to $120 and tournament fees from $0 to $30.

Board committee added
Four trustees have been added to the new Compensation and Talent Development Committee: G. Gilbert Cloyd, chair; Alan W. Brass; Robert H. Schottenstein, and Alex Shumate.

Medical Staff bylaws amended
Trustees approved amendments to the Bylaws of the Medical Staff and Rules and Regulations of the Medical Staff of The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

Search News