COLUMBUS - The Ohio State University Board of Trustees had an opportunity to learn firsthand about new outreach and engagement initiatives being implemented at the university. University faculty and students gave brief presentations about new programs in teaching and research that are benefiting the broader community.

Ohio State's new P-12 initiative highlighted

Ohio State's pre-school through 12th-grade outreach and engagement initiative combines the university's teaching, research and service capacities to help improve Ohio's public schools, Daryl Siedentop, former interim dean of the College of Education and professor of sport and exercise science, told trustees Friday (11/3). Siedentop will direct the program, which will focus primarily on the education of children and youths in high-poverty areas. Preliminary plans for the initiative are outlined in the university's Academic Plan, he said.

"The P-12 Project is an opportunity for Ohio State to fulfill its land-grant mission in this new century," Siedentop said. "Improving access has been a key goal in the land-grant tradition, but until the quality of schools for underserved children and youths is improved, their access to the social and economic mainstream is severely limited."

Trustees hear report on Human Ecology House

David W. Andrews, dean of the College of Human Ecology, reported on the college's outreach efforts centered in The Human Ecology House, which opened in May in a neighborhood just east of campus. The house's presence in the community enables students, faculty and staff to work more closely with the neighborhood's residents and provides a community laboratory for service learning. The house has also provided an opportunity to form partnerships with area businesses, such as Target, which donated merchandise to furnish the house, and Lowe's, which donated materials and funds to renovate two area houses.

"The goal is for faculty and students to conduct research and educational efforts at the Human Ecology House that meet specific needs identified by local agencies, schools and other community partners," said Andrews.

Agricultural Affairs Committee hears report on new "ecological paradigm"

The Agricultural Affairs Committee heard a report from Bobby Moser, vice president for agricultural administration and executive dean for the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, on the college's mission. Speaking of a new "ecological paradigm," Moser used a pyramid analogy to illustrate how the college approaches its mission of offering agricultural research, outreach and academic programs. In implementing any program within the college or recommendation to the public, the college first considers the impact on four areas: production efficiency, economic viability, social responsibility and environmental compatibility. These four factors come together like the four sides of a pyramid, forming a stronger structure than they could individually. The pyramid concept is being integrated into the college's curriculum as an integral part of the college's global mission.

Legislation Clinic gives service opportunity

Dan Griffith, a second-year student in the College of Law, related his service learning experiences with the college's Legislation Clinic, which places law students in governmental offices at the Ohio Statehouse. Students have a chance to evaluate and research legal processes for the state's lawmakers while receiving hands-on knowledge about political processes.

Trustees hear report on diversity progress

Faculty and administrators reported to the trustees on Ohio State's past, present and future efforts to create a vibrant and diverse community for its students, faculty and staff, as well as the public it serves.

Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost, noted a number of actions designed to advance the diversity agenda, including creation of a Diversity Council, a lecture series featuring 16 nationally recognized experts, seed funding for an Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in the Americas, creation of a multicultural center in the Ohio Union, and a series of initiatives to improve the campus climate and to recruit and retain top faculty and students.

The presentation included overviews of the Office of Minority Affairs and the Department of African American and African Studies, both observing 30th anniversaries this academic year. Reports also were made on diversity-related outreach and research efforts and on the importance of fostering a rich undergraduate experience at the university.

Trustees present student recognition award

Edith Kang, a fourth-year dentistry student, received the student recognition award from trustees on Friday (11/3). Kang is a 1996 graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where she earned a B.A. in anthropology and chemistry. While at Ohio State, she has been a two-time class treasurer, a two-year student representative to the Alumni Board of Governors for the College of Dentistry and president of the college's Student Government Association.

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