COLUMBUS -- In remarks to The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (2/2), university President William E. Kirwan commended Ohio Gov. Bob Taft for “recognizing the need to build Ohio’s high-technology economy,” citing Taft’s request for $40 million to begin funding The Ohio Plan in support of higher education’s efforts in biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology.

The plan also would develop biomedical research facilities at Ohio’s three major research universities – Ohio State, Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve./P>

“These initiatives will provide the basic knowledge, infrastructure and work force to help make Ohio a leader in these emerging fields,” said Kirwan.

Kirwan also praised the governor for supporting Ohio State’s and the Ohio Board of Regents’ request for temporary relief from the 6 percent tuition cap. Should the cap exemption be granted by the General Assembly, Kirwan pointed out that the increase in funds would be directed toward improving the quality of undergraduate education at Ohio State.

Kirwan expressed disappointment that the state budget proposal recommends an annual growth of only 2 percent for instructional support, rather than the 5 percent recommended by the regents. “These funds are needed to cover increased enrollments system-wide and to help every institution defray costs of utilities, computers, personnel and other resources necessary to operate a modern university,” Kirwan said.

“We recognize that this is a difficult time for state legislators as they deal with K-12 funding, Medicaid and other challenges, and we will be working with the General Assembly to achieve a better outcome for our instructional support from the state.”

Kirwan assured the trustees that, despite “the most difficult budget since the early 1990s,” the university is committed to moving forward with the Academic Plan, its blueprint for making Ohio State one of the nation’s top public universities.

A highlight of the president’s report to the trustees was the presentation of the Commission on Human Rights and Social Change Distinguished Service Award to Ohio State Vice Provost and Professor Emeritus Frank W. Hale, Jr. Annually given by the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), the award honors an individual who is a true leader in higher education, making major contributions to improve access, increase diversity and enhance the undergraduate experience. Hale is considered a pioneer in developing programs to increase the enrollment of underrepresented students in university graduate and professional programs.

Younkin Success Center

The trustees heard a report on the Younkin Success Center, which opened last spring in a newly constructed building on Neil Avenue. The center, site of the board meeting, provides academic, counseling and career services in an architecturally striking, state-of-the-art facility. Services include counseling and consultation, student athlete support, faculty and teaching assistant development and an academic learning lab.

Student Recognition Award

Patricia F. Cunningham, a fourth-year student from SPRINGFIELD, received the Student Recognition Award during the meeting. Cunningham, who has a triple major in sociology, women’s studies and geology and minors in Black studies and Jewish studies, plans to graduate in the summer of 2002. Among her numerous campus activities are the Multicultural Planning Committee, the Registrar’s Advisory Council, the President’s Diversity Council, Women’s Studies Undergraduate Forum, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Women’s Leadership Forum, United Black World Month Committee, and the Heritage Festival Committee.

Distinguished Teaching Awards

Trustees viewed a demonstration of chemical kinetics presented by Bruce Bursten, professor and chair of chemistry, and a presentation on genetically modified food by Michael Mangino, professor of food science and technology. Ten departments have been selected to receive Departmental Teaching Excellence Awards since the program’s inception in 1996. The Office of Academic Affairs provides $25,000 annually to the winning departments -- Dance, Veterinary Clinical Studies, Chemical Engineering, History, English, Human and Community Resources, Pediatrics, Physics, Chemistry, and Food Science and Technology -- to support continued excellence.

G-Cue Report

Trustees heard recommendations resulting from a study of the graduate student experience at Ohio State. Susan Huntington, dean of the Graduate School, told trustees the recommendations include strengthening academic programs, professional development and training, and enhancing career advising and placement services for graduate students.

The recommendations are among eight contained in a sweeping report on graduate education at Ohio State -- the first such study of its kind in the country.

G-QUE (Graduate Quality of University Experience) is a joint project of the Graduate School and the Council of Graduate Students. Besides a survey of students, information for the report was sought via surveys of graduate studies chairs, department chairs, deans and students who were accepted to but did not enroll at Ohio State, as well as through interviews and published materials.

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