OSU trustees accept funds, approve other matters

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees accepted seven new named endowed funds totaling $1.1 million at its meeting today (10/7). The board also accepted 243 research grants and contracts awarded to Ohio State during the month of September totaling nearly $24 million.

In his report to the trustees,Vice President for Development Jerry May noted that “cash gifts to the university continue to be strong. In fact, for the fiscal year ending in June 2001, gifts were 18 percent above last year’s record-breaking total. However, the number of donors is off a bit, so we watching that closely.

Trustees also approved a number of matters, from personnel appointments to construction-related issues.

Named endowed funds

•         The Bud and Marilyn Jenne Chair Fund, $320,136, established with a gift from Marilyn Jenne of AMHERST to further the activities of the College of Veterinary Medicine
•         The Lynne Shepard Jones Endowment Fund for Cancer Research, $300,000, established with a gift from Arthur E. and Dorothy D. Shepard of COLUMBUS to support research with preference given to head and neck cancer at the Comprehensive Cancer Center – The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute
•         The Adivar Fellowship Fund for Study of Ottoman and Turkish History, $250,000, established with gifts from an anonymous donor to strengthen and perpetuate the study of Ottoman and Turkish history through funding a graduate fellowship
•         The Theodore A. and Ruth S. Koch Memorial Fund, $200,000, established with gifts from the estate of Ruth S. Koch in memory of her late husband Theodore (B.E.E., 1930) to commemorate the Kochs and their desire to strengthen teaching and research in the College of Engineering
•         The Donn, Marilyn and David Alspach Family Scholarship Fund, $25,000, established with gifts from Donn (B.S.Ed, 1953), Marilyn (B.S.Ed 1953) and David (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1981) of GRANVILLE and DUBLIN to support undergraduate student-athlete scholarships
•         The Dr. Daniel N. and Ruth A. Ebert Scholarship Fund, $25,000, established with gifts from the Daniel (D.V.M., 1961) and Ruth Ebert of POLAND to support one third-year veterinary student interested in small animal medicine
•         The Johnson Family Athletic Scholarship Fund, $25,000, established by gifts from John V. Johnson II of WESTERVILLE to support undergraduate student-athletes on the varsity football team

In addition the board approved changes in the description of The Modern Greek Studies Fund and the Honda/TRC Funds Endowment for Interdisciplinary Research Infrastructure Support and a change in name and description of The M.S. Sofia Professorship in Arabic Studies Fund, now The M.S. Sofia Chair in Arabic Studies Fund.

Personnel actions

• The board approved the following personnel actions:
• Jay D. Iams (43221) has been named to the Frederick P. Zuspan, M.D. Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Nov. 1, 2001, through June 30, 2003. Dr. Iams received his B.S. in political science and his M.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He held a pediatrics residency at Phoenix Hospitals Affiliated Pediatric Program in Phoenix, Ariz., and his obstetrics and gynecology resident at The Ohio State University Hospitals. He joined the university faculty in 1979.
• Robert G, Sherding, Jr., professor of veterinary clinical science, has been reappointed as chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, effective July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2005.
• Tanja H. Nihisers has been appointed student representative to the Ohio State at Lima board of trustees, effective Nov. 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002.
• K. Cheena Srinivasan, chair and professor of mechanical engineering, and Linda K. Weavers, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and geodetic science, have been appointed to the Engineering Experiment Station Advisory Council, effective Nov. 1, 2001, through Jan. 31, 2004.

Emeritus titles

•         Nicholas Gerber, professor emeritus in the Department of Pharmacology, effective Jan. 1, 2002
•         Charles J. Slanicka, professor emeritus in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Nov. 1, 2001
•         Eleanor A. Ames, instructor emeritus in Ohio State University Extension, effective Nov. 1, 2001

Resolution in memoriam

·        Charles Saltzer, professor emeritus in the Department of Mathematics and former professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science, who died on Sept. 9, 2001

Trustees hear endowment report

In his monthly report, University Treasurer James L. Nichols updated trustees on the University’s endowment, which increased by $80 million during the month of October. Nichols said the endowment stood at $1.008 billion at the end of October. The total number of named funds was 3,058.

New bond series authorized

                Trustees authorized the university to issue new bonds in the amount of $235 million and will refund $32 million of bonds issued in 1992.  Among the projects the new bonds will support are the Ohio Stadium renovation, infrastructure improvements, parking garage renovations and remodeling of certain residence and dining halls. In addition, approval was received to issue up to $175 million in short-term commercial paper to provide interim financing for future construction projects.

Competitive bidding requirements waived

            The board accepted the quarterly report on waivers of competitive bidding requirement.  During the period of July to September 2001, the senior vice president for business and finance granted 48 waivers for annual purchases totaling $8.4 million; the vice president for health services granted 36 waivers for annual purchases of $9.8 million.

Construction projects approved

• Trustees authorized the following:
•         Employment of a limited construction manager for the Physical Sciences Research Building to assist with scheduling of project phases.  Services are estimated at $1 million with funds provided by Central University Funds.
•         Employment of a construction manager and an architect/engineering firm to design new on-campus student housing on Ohio State’s Marion Campus. Total estimated project cost is $7 million in 2004 dollars with total estimated construction cost of $5.2 million. Funding will be provided by university bond proceeds with debt service paid by Student Affairs.
•         Employment of a construction manager and an architect/engineering firm to design new on-campus student housing on Ohio State’s Newark Campus and. Total estimated project cost is $9.9 million in 2004 dollars with total estimated construction cost of $7.4 million. Funding will be provided by university bond proceeds with debt service paid by Student Affairs.
•         Employment of a construction manager and an architect/engineering firm for the Psychology Building on a site east of Cunz Hall and west of Lazenby Hall. Total estimated project cost is $35 million with estimated construction cost of $25 million.  Funding will be provided by House Bill 640 ($3 million) and anticipated future capital appropriations ($32 million).
•         Employment of a construction manager and an architect/engineering firm for an addition to and renovation of the Ohio Union.  Total estimated project cost is $50 million and the total estimated construction cost of $35.3 million with funding provided by Central University Funds ($10 million), university bond proceeds with debt service paid by Student Affairs ($17 million), Student Affairs ($21 million), Ohio Union ($1 million) and House Bill 850 ($750,000).
•         Employment of an architect/engineering firm and request for construction bids for the Union County Large Animal Clinic Facility. Total estimated project cost is $1.4 million and total estimated construction cost is $1 million with funding provided by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
•         Request for construction bids for the Reese Center on the Newark Campus, which will provide an information technology center, student activity spaces and a community conference center.  Total estimated project cost is $13 million and total estimated construction cost is $11 million with funding provided by gifts to the university ($7.6 million), future capital appropriations ($3.4 million) and Central Ohio Technical College ($2.2 million).
•         Request for construction bids for the installation of an Automated Transport System, Phase I, for the University Medical Center. Estimated project cost is $4 million and estimated construction cost is $3.2 million with funding provided by University Hospitals.
•         Reward of contract for the Life Sciences Research Building to house laboratory and office space for the departments of zoology, entomology and plant biology.  Total project cost is $26.7 million with funding provided by university bond proceeds ($2.3 million), House Bill 748 ($21.8 million), House Bill 904 ($800,000), Department of Physical Facilities ($361,967) and Central University Funds ($1.47 million). Estimated completion date in May 2003.  Architect of record is Burgess and Niple Ltd. of Columbus.
•         Reward of contract for the Postle Hall Research Lab renovations. Total project cost is $1,053,566 with funding provided by House Bill 850 ($1 million) and the College of Dentistry ($53,566).  Estimated completion date is February 2002.  Architect of record is Karlsberger Companies of Columbus.

Property sale approved

            The board authorized the sale of improved property, owned by the university, at 3080 East Main St.  The University Medical Center determined that the property is no longer needed for support of the Medical Center.  Bexley Medical Building, LLC, will purchase the property for $370,000, proceeds of which will support the University Medical Center.

Distance learning support proposed

            Trustees heard a report from the Distance Learning Committee, sharing its vision for better marketing of distance education courses and enhanced support of faculty teaching those courses.

Leadership and service-learning opportunities outlined

            Trustees heard a report on collaborative initiatives by the offices of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, as well as other college units, to offer students opportunities to learn leadership skills and to participate in hands-on learning experiences.  

Student Recognition Award

            The board presented Amy Stutz, a senior from COLUMBUS majoring in physics, with the Student Recognition Award. Stutz has been an undergraduate research assistant with Andrew Gould, professor of astronomy, since she was a sophomore and has co-authored two published papers based on her research on distance determination and the amount of dust in the galaxy.  She plans to attend graduate school after her graduation this spring.

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