TRUSTEES HEAR REPORTS ON STUDENT-RELATED ISSUES

   COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (6/4) heard reports on student affairs assessment, undergraduate research and international education efforts, and conducted other business.

Student Affairs proposes assessment office

   Students may not reach their full potential at Ohio State if all of their needs are not met by the university, Mary Daniels, assistant vice president for student affairs, told trustees.

   The Student Affairs Assessment Task Force is working on the development of an assessment office to better understand the student experience. Such an office could provide ways to expand use of existing data and gather new information to better understand the impact of university programs, services and facilities on student learning, development, retention and graduation, Daniels said.

   "We want to augment and enhance the information base on our students, their college experience and student issues," Daniels said. "This will help the university make more informed decisions concerning the student body."

   For the past several months, Daniels and the Student Affairs Assessment Task Force have been mapping out a plan that includes ways to promote coordination of institutional assessment activities; produce information about priority issues/questions centering around the university's leadership agenda and Student Affairs' mission values and goals; and produce clear, accurate and objective reports, she said.

   Two areas the task force has been studying are the needs, satisfaction and experiences of commuter students, and the extent of alcohol and drug use by students, Daniels said.

Board hears report on undergraduate research forum

   Undergraduate involvement in research and creative work is an important piece of a new model of education being crafted by research universities and the higher-education community, William A. Baeslack III, interim vice president for research, told trustees.

   "Involvement in research and scholarship is becoming increasingly a major component of the undergraduate learning process at major research universities," Baeslack said. "Indeed, providing such opportunities for students to perform creative, innovative research in top-notch facilities alongside world-class faculty is a characteristic that distinguishes Ohio State from many other institutions, and which allows us to attract the best and the brightest students."

   Baeslack pointed out the beneficial relationship between undergraduate students and graduate students. Research brings them together, with graduates mentoring undergraduates; often, their contributions are indistinguishable, he said. Research also offers undergraduates the opportunity to trade roles occasionally with their teachers, he added.

   Undergraduates at Ohio State observe firsthand the enthusiasm and reward of conducting research, which was reflected in their poster presentations at the Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum at Ohio State on May 14, Baeslack said. This year approximately 100 students competed in the forum, held annually since 1995, with 30 students awarded a total of $7,000 for their work.

   "Participation in research and creative work as part of an undergraduate education provides the qualities and experience required for the kind of work force that is needed in the coming century," Baeslack said. "Research is the means to transform education from a static, singular culture to a dynamic, diverse and encompassing one. It is a touchstone for lifelong learning. Ohio State has embraced and strongly supported undergraduate research for many years, and our support for the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum is just one example of this commitment."

   At this year's forum, Merrari McKinney, a second-year international studies and Japanese major from COLUMBUS, earned first place for her project "The Art, Religion, Culture and Ubiquity of the Dharuma Cult: A Case Study of the Horin Temple."

   "As an undergraduate, the experience that I have gained while conducting my research has been priceless," McKinney said. "I would never have had the opportunity to see what it would be like to be a graduate student, and now I know it's very time- consuming.... Now I can see where I'm going. I'm going to graduate school."

Trustees hear report on international education efforts

   Trustees heard a report from Bobby D. Moser, vice president and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, on the college's efforts to globalize its undergraduate program. Moser said the college's mission includes graduating students who have an understanding of and appreciation for agriculture's role in the changing global marketplace because of the number of companies looking to hire graduates prepared to work in international venues.

   "There are companies looking for students who are willing and able to travel and do business internationally," Moser said. "If they have experiences abroad, that is even better. Our goal is to have 50 percent of our undergraduates have an international experience before they graduate."

   David O. Hansen, director of the Office of International Programs in Agriculture and associate dean of the college, said the college has a rich history in the area of globalization. Speaking of past efforts to offer several U.S. government-funded programs that focused on strengthening agricultural institutions in the Third World, he named India, Brazil and Uganda among the host countries in which active faculty and student exchanges continue.

   Hansen said the college's focus shifted during the past decade to the globalization of American -- and Ohio –- agriculture, due in part to the $1.3 billion in agricultural products Ohio exports annually.

   "This radical change in the world scene has caused us to shift our emphasis in agriculture to globalization of our teaching, research and extension programs in order to provide more adequate services to our students and stakeholders throughout the state," he said. Programs examples include annual undergraduate study-abroad programs in China, Swaziland, England, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

   Hansen also reported on the college's competitive grants program through the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, supporting such activities as graduate student research abroad, joint research programs with scientists overseas, hosting of international visiting scientists, and overseas sabbaticals.

Next phase of ARMS to begin

   The board authorized spending $12 million on the university's Administrative Resource Management System (ARMS) project. The money will support the next phase of the project, which includes the implementation of a revised work plan for the campus's new human resources, procurement and general ledger systems.

   Trustees previously authorized spending $52.5 million from the time the ARMS project began in November 1994 through June 30, 1998. An additional $9.6 million in partial funding for the current budget year was approved last July. ARMS was first implemented at Ohio State two years ago with a new human resources information system that integrated the employment, benefits and payroll systems. The procurement system, which currently is being implemented, replaces the systems for purchasing, accounts payable, equipment inventory, and stores and receiving with one system.

   The general ledger system, which will replace Ohio State's accounting system that has been in place since 1977, is scheduled to be put in place in the summer of 2000. A report outlining the timeline for completion of the ARMS project will be presented at the July 2 Board of Trustees meeting.

Board authorizes hiring of architects/engineers

   Trustees authorized Ohio State to hire architects and engineering firms and request construction bids for work at University Hospitals East, the Ohio State Golf Course and the Ohio Union Parking Garage.

   Plans at University Hospitals East, 1492 E. Broad St., include renovating the in-patient and out-patient surgery areas and expanding the area to provide space to create a muscular skeletal institute in the College of Medicine and Public Health's new Department of Orthopaedics. University Hospitals is funding the $3 million project.

   Work at the golf course will include upgrading the locker room areas, and the heating and air conditioning and lighting systems. The project also includes the addition of a private locker area and meeting room for the Ohio State men's golf team. The Department of Athletics is funding the $435,000 project. Transportation and Parking Services is funding the $280,777 renovation at the Ohio Union Parking Garage, which will upgrade the east elevator area.

Board presents student recognition award

   Trustees presented a student recognition award to Bryan Gortner of WOOSTER, a senior in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Science. Gortner, described as a "competitive person" who excels in both classroom and co-curricular activities, has been a dairy production intern, a public relations specialist at Borden, and a research assistant at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. This year he won the Salisbury Dairy Science Scholarship, the top undergraduate award in his department. Gortner also is a member of 4-H, has been a national-level dairy judge, is an FFA state officer and was recently elected to chair the Buckeye Dairy Club cattle sale.

Contacts:
Mary Daniels, Student Affairs, (614) 292-9334
William Shkurti, Finance, (614) 292-9232
William A. Baeslack III, Research, (614) 292-1582
David Hansen, Agricultural Administration, (614) 292-7252