Ohio State Walking Tour: Visit the Columbus campus on a 90-minute tour
Ohio State Walking Tour: Visit the Oval, Mirror Lake, Fisher College, Ohio Stadium and RPAC on the first day of fall 2024 classes on the Columbus campus
Last August, the Ohio State University Board of Regents filled the boardroom at the Longaberger Alumni House to introduce the university’s 17th president for the first time.
A year later and eight months officially in office, Ohio State President Ted Carter reflected on the moment at the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday afternoon.
“It’s amazing that it’s already come to this,” Carter said.
The full Board of Directors has officially voted to reward Carter for his work to date at Ohio State University with a 3.5% merit increase in his base salary (totaling $38,500) and a bonus of $164,368.
“We are impressed and pleased with Ted’s strong start,” said CEO John W. Zeiger at Thursday’s meeting.
The trustees met in committee meetings throughout the week and gathered for a public board meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Here is a look at some of the Board’s actions and discussions:
$10 million endowment for Dean of Veterinary Medicine
The Trustees approved a $10 million gift from the Robert F. Wolfe and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation for the Rita Jean Wolfe Deanship at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Michael Eicher, senior vice president for advancement and president of the Ohio State University Foundation, told trustees that the endowment was made in honor of the late Rita Wolfe, a community leader and daughter of former Dispatch publisher John F. Wolfe.
Wolfe died on August 6 at Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital. She was known for her work on the boards of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping people and animals.
Zeiger, who previously served as attorney for John F. Wolfe, said Thursday that Rita had “an exuberant zest for life” and a remarkable number of pets.
“This is a most fitting memorial for a very special lady,” said Zeiger.
Number of new students expected to break university record
After a record-breaking number of applicants, Ohio State expects to break another record with its new freshman class this fall.
Although the exact number of students enrolled on Ohio State University Census Day next month is unknown, Interim Provost Karla Zadnik told trustees at the Committee on Academic Affairs and Student Life on Wednesday that she expects class sizes to exceed 9,000.
According to the university’s enrollment report, there were a total of 7,983 freshmen last year. Ohio State recorded a new record of 8,602 freshmen in 2020.
Zadnik said Ohio State “intentionally expanded” this freshman class after two previous smaller classes and a large class graduating just this May.
She added that of the more than 80,000 applicants who applied, the majority of incoming students – about 70% – are from Ohio.
Most of the regional dean positions are filled, the next provost is still being sought
Trustees have officially approved the appointment of several key leadership positions at Ohio State, including three new regional campus deans.
Margaret Young will serve as dean of Ohio State University’s Lima campus; Matthew Smith will lead OSU’s Newark campus; and Jason Opal will serve as dean of OSU Mansfield. All three deans have terms that end in 2029.
Kent Barnett has been confirmed as Dean of the Moritz College of Law through June 30, 2029. Barnett holds the J. Gilbert Reese Chair in Contract Law.
Carter said the search for Ohio State’s next provost continues.
National Science Foundation awards $26 million to Ohio State for rubber research
The Trustees also welcomed the recent award of $26 million from the National Science Foundation to boost natural rubber production in the United States and promote workforce development.
The funds will be used to establish the Engineering Research Center “Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security” (TARDISS). The first round of funding will run for five years and can be extended by an additional $26 million for another five years.
TARDISS will be led by Principal Investigator Judit E. Puskas, who holds a PhD in rubber and plastics technology and is an award-winning polymer expert and professor of food, agricultural and biological engineering. Puskas will lead the center along with its director, Ajay Shah.
The board also praised Puskas at its meeting Thursday for his appointment as a Distinguished University Professor, the highest honor for faculty at Ohio State University. Puskas joined Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the Wooster campus in 2019.
Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, their education newsletter. Here.
@sheridan120
