Selective Investment 1999 Award Recipients

A major goal of Selective Investment is to make the "2010 Plan" a reality. This plan, which has the goal of having 10 programs in the top 10 and 20 programs in the top 20 by the year 2010, is one of the highest priorities of our Board of Trustees, President William E. Kirwan, and Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray. The Selective Investment Evaluation Committee applauds the vision shown by these leaders and recommends that the program be continued. As chair of the 1998-1999 Selective Investment Evaluation Committee, it is a pleasure to acknowledge the splendid work of the committee members: Professors Jerald Greenberg, John C. Huntington, Brian D. Joseph, Daniel Levin, Samuel J. Traina, Mark D. Wewers, and Yuan F. Zheng. The liaison from the Office of Academic Affairs, Senior Vice Provost L. Alayne Parson, provided the committee with the information and support needed to bring this demanding job to a successful conclusion.

This year Academic Affairs solicited Selective Investment proposals from the College of the Arts, the College of Education, the College of Law, the College of Medicine’s Neuroscience Program, and the Departments of Chemistry, English, History, Political Science. The faculty review panel was charged with evaluating these proposals and making recommendations for investment.

All of the proposals requested that significant resources be allocated to hiring faculty, mostly at the senior level. The committee expects that all units which receive selective investment awards will follow the recommendations of the Research Commission’s report by hiring "above the mean." The committee notes that all hires represent wonderful opportunities to attract distinguished women and minority faculty to the university.

The evaluation procedure included presentations, site visits, and extensive discussions. This process took several months and at the end we wrote a report giving our recommendations for funding. This was not an easy task. During our evaluation we found extraordinary opportunities for the university. Our recommendations were given to the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Vice President for Research on May 26, 1999.

The committee is satisfied that the procedures followed in the evaluation were fair. It was a joy to learn more about the excellence that exists within our academy, and we left with great optimism for the future of Ohio State.