12-4-98

TRUSTEES APPROVE REORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL CHANGES

	COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on 
Friday (12/4) approved a reorganization of the university’s 
central administration.  President William E. Kirwan recommended 
the reorganization, which is designed to bring greater focus to 
Ohio State’s academic priorities.

	The new structure calls for a variety of changes in the 
senior administration, including the appointment of Interim 
Senior Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray of UPPER 
ARLINGTON to the new position of executive vice president and 
provost.  That appointment was made retroactive to Nov. 20; other 
central administration personnel changes are effective today 
(12/4).
	
	Kirwan announced the reorganization plans on Nov. 12.

	In addition to the title change, Ray becomes the chief 
architect of the university’s budget and the focal point for 
collaboration among the academic and administrative vice 
presidents regarding the university’s academic priorities.

	As part of the reorganization, trustees approved the 
following personnel changes:

	-- William J. Napier of UPPER ARLINGTON, executive assistant 
to the president, assumes the position of special assistant to 
the president for government relations.  He also will continue to 
serve as secretary of the Board of Trustees.

	-- William J. Shkurti of UPPER ARLINGTON, vice president for 
finance, has been named senior vice president for finance, 
business, and administration.  Under this change, the Office of 
Business and Administration becomes part of the Office of 
Finance, Business, and Administration under Shkurti’s leadership.

	-- Virginia M. Trethewey of UPPER ARLINGTON, vice president 
for legal affairs and general counsel, becomes executive 
assistant to the president and general counsel.

	A new position of vice president for university relations 
will be created to establish senior leadership responsibility for 
the development and coordination of a comprehensive 
communications and marketing strategy for the university. 

	Under the new structure, the position of vice president for 
human resources is eliminated, and human resources reports to the 
provost.

	Kirwan also has announced creation of a Planning Cabinet, 
which he will chair, consisting of the provost as vice chair, the 
vice presidents, the executive assistant to the president and the 
secretary of the board.  This group will determine the 
university’s priorities and major initiatives to recommend to
the Board of Trustees.

Academic Affairs reorganized

	Trustees also heard a presentation about the recently 
announced reorganization of the Office of Academic Affairs.  
Kirwan’s central administration reorganization puts greater 
responsibility for achieving the university’s goals on the Office 
of Academic Affairs.  The changes are designed to align the 
office’s structure with its new and existing duties.

	As part of the Academic Affairs reorganization, trustees 
approved the following personnel changes, which are retroactive 
to Nov. 20 unless otherwise noted:

	-- James F. Davis of POWELL, associate provost and director 
of University Technology Services, will serve as interim chief 
information officer, effective today (12/4) until a national 
search for the position is completed.  The associate provost 
position will be eliminated.

	-- Martha M. Garland of WORTHINGTON, vice provost for 
undergraduate studies, is being named vice provost and dean of 
undergraduate studies.

	-- L. Alayne Parson of UPPER ARLINGTON, vice provost for 
academic program coordination and initiatives, assumes the 
position of senior vice provost for academic administration.

	-- Nancy M. Rudd, vice provost for academic policy and 
personnel, assumes new duties as vice provost for academic policy 
and human resources.

	-- W. Randy Smith of DUBLIN, associate provost for 
assessment and institutional cooperation, has been named vice 
provost for curriculum and institutional relations.

	-- Mac A. Stewart of DELAWARE, dean of University College, 
has been appointed associate provost for undergraduate studies as 
well as dean of University College, retroactive to Nov. 1.

	An internal search will be conducted to fill the new 
position of vice provost for budgets and planning.  The vice 
provost will assist Ray in fulfilling his added duties of chief 
budget officer for the university under Kirwan’s reorganization.

Other personnel actions

	Herbert B. Asher of UPPER ARLINGTON, professor emeritus of 
political science and counselor to the president, has been 
appointed interim director of the John Glenn Institute for Public 
Service and Public Policy, effective through Aug. 31, 1999.	 The 
establishment of the institute, committed to enhancing public 
service and public policy at all levels of government and named 
in honor of U.S. Sen. John Glenn, was announced in September by 
Glenn and President William E. Kirwan.  Creation of the institute 
reflects the commitment that Glenn and Ohio State have made to 
promote pride in public service and to cultivate scholarly 
contributions to the development of public policy.

	The following chairs/director were appointed by trustees:

	-- A. Ray Miller, interim chair of the Department of 
Horticulture and Crop Science, effective Dec. 1, 1998, through 
Nov. 30, 1999.
	-- Lowell R. Nault of WOOSTER, interim director of the Ohio 
Agricultural Research and Development Center, effective Dec. 1, 
1998, through Nov. 30, 1999.
	-- Alan J. Randall of WESTERVILLE, chair of the Department 
of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, 
effective Jan. 1, 1999, through Sept. 30, 2002.

	The board also granted an emeritus title to Yan-Shuan Lao of 
UPPER ARLINGTON, associate professor emeritus of East Asian 
Languages and Literatures, effective Oct. 1, 1998.

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Contact:  Dave Ferguson, Academic Affairs, (614) 292-6743
	  Emily Caldwell, University Communications, 
	  (614) 292-8309