Feb. 16, 2000 Contact: Shane Hankins, USG (614) 292-2101

Funds Awarded to Aid Ohio State Students in Neighborhood Improvement Efforts

COLUMBUS - Five Ohio State student-led projects were recently awarded more than $13,000 in funds by The Ohio State University District Student Involvement Fund Program (UDSIFP). The funds will support neighborhood improvement efforts by the students around the university's Columbus campus this winter and spring. The UDSIFP board accepted applications for the first of three rounds of funding in January.

Ohio State established UDSIFP at the request of student government organizations as a pilot program for the 1999-2000 academic year with $35,000 in funding. UDSIFP provides assistance to projects and activities that engage Ohio State students, particularly undergraduates, in service learning, community service, community-based research and community building activities in University District neighborhoods.

"This program confirms Ohio State's commitment to fostering the kind of outreach and engagement that enables students to learn beyond the campus walls," said Josh Mandel, USG president. "We are really glad the university supports our efforts to provide resources in the communities in which many of our students and faculty live."

Projects that received first round funding include:

· University Neighborhood Learning Center, $5,000: Erin Galloway, a senior in the College of Human Ecology, applied for funds to provide computer equipment and supplies, software and a resource library to support student and neighborhood involvement in the college's new off-campus learning center. Students from Human Ecology and other colleges will use the center located on North Fourth Street in the Weinland Park community.

· Burglary Prevention Campaign, $4,000: The Ohio State Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSSA) applied for funds to support a burglary and crime prevention public awareness campaign for students living off-campus. The PRSSA chapter developed a multi-media campaign, which will run in late February before students leave for spring break.

· Weinland Park Housing Assessment, $270: The Council of Graduate Students applied for funds to collect data and assess changes in property ownership and values from 1993 to 1999 in the Weinland Park community. Students will conduct the research and publish the results.

· BuckEyes Watch Program and Evaluation, $2,175: The Council of Graduate Students applied for funds to survey the attitudes of student and non-student residents on crime and community-building in the neighborhoods around Ohio State. Students will conduct the survey and encourage residents to participate in BuckEyes Watch to promote neighborhood involvement.

· The Ohio State University Adopt-A-Street Program, $1,750: Evans Scholars applied for funds to organize the program under which student organizations each will "adopt" a street in the University District. The adoption agreement includes a monthly community clean-up, quarterly distribution of community information to residents of the street, and other activities to promote neighborhood improvements. Evans Scholars is working with several other student organizations to develop this program.

The UDSIFP Board includes one representative each from Undergraduate Student Government, Council of Graduate Students, Inter-Professional Council and the Campus Partners Student Advisory Board, and one of the two student members of the Campus Partners Board of Trustees.

Applications for the second round will be accepted between Feb. 21 and 28. Applications for a third round will be accepted between May 15 and 22. The maximum amount awarded is $5,000. All projects should be completed by Aug. 30, 2000.

Applications are available in the offices of Undergraduate Student Government, 201 Ohio Union; Council of Graduate Students, 208, Ohio Union and Student Activities, 218 Ohio Union; and on the Web at www.osu-usg.org/.