COLUMBUS - The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (12/1) approved the university’s Academic Plan, which outlines strategies to become one of the world’s truly great universities.

The board approved the vision and strategies articulated in the plan documents, authorized the president and provost to move forward with implementation and modify the documents as needed, and stipulated that university officials should report to the board annually on their progress.

The plan advances 14 sweeping initiatives surrounding six strategies:

• Build a world-class faculty;
• Develop academic programs that define Ohio State as the nation’s leading public land-grant university;
• Enhance the quality of the teaching and learning environment;
• Enhance and better serve the student body;
• Create a diverse university community; and
• Help build Ohio’s future.

Ohio State is poised to spend up to $750 million over the next five years to implement the plan, which is designed to enhance the university’s academic standing nationally and increase the benefits the university provides to the people of Ohio.

The plan’s role in enhancing Ohio State’s contributions to economic development was outlined for the board during two guest presentations, one from a representative of higher education and the other from an Ohio General Assembly member.

Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of North Carolina State University, detailed how NC State and the University of Texas at Austin, where she previously served as vice president for research, have been major players in their respective regions’ industry advancements, especially in technological areas. University partnerships with industry, research and labor contributions from students, faculty and graduates, and availability of land and facilities are keys to institutional support of economic growth, she noted. Fox said the Academic Plan is vital to Ohio State’s participation in economic development.

State Rep. and Sen.-elect Priscilla Mead of Upper Arlington pointed to the Science and Technology Campus as a prime example of how Ohio State has led development of a hub for bringing ideas and people together in a way that will advance economic growth and “bring world-class opportunities” to the area. Emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between a nationally recognized research institution and the community in which it is based, Mead noted that that partnership will factor into the recruitment of world-class faculty and public and private investment in research and technology.

Discussions have begun on campus about elements of the plan relating to the General Education Curriculum and a proposed calendar shift from quarters to semesters, said Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost. Calls for proposals have been issued for multidisciplinary research centers and faculty recruitment, and collaboration with constituency groups is taking place to determine actions, responsibilities, resources and timelines for moving forward with plan initiatives.

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(LO)