7/01/98
Editors: A JPEG file of a headshot of James Bryant suitable for newspaper use is available on the Web at: www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/bryant.jpg
ATHENS, Ohio -- James Bryant, who has supervised operations of Ohio University's five regional campuses since 1974, will bring a 32-year career with the university to a close with his retirement this fall.
Bryant, of Lancaster, will give up his day-to-day responsibilities as vice president for regional higher education Sept. 30. He was acting vice president for regional higher education in 1974 and vice provost for regional higher education from 1976 until his promotion to vice president by President Robert Glidden in September 1995.
An associate professor of marketing who has regularly taught management, marketing and graduate-level education classes at the university as well as overseas, Bryant joined Ohio University in 1966 as a faculty member at the Lancaster regional campus. He served as assistant dean and acting dean at OU-L in the early 1970s before relocating to the Athens campus in 1974.
Combined enrollment on the university's five regional campuses at Lancaster, Chillicothe, Ironton, Zanesville and St. Clairsville has increased from 3,900 in 1974 to 8,200 today, according to Bryant. The regional campuses offer 12 graduate programs.
"Jim Bryant's leadership of the regional higher education system has been remarkable," Glidden said. "He has maintained excellent rapport with the people in the communities served by our regional campuses. Furthermore, he made Ohio University one of the pioneering leaders in collaborative and distance education.
"And, on the international front, Jim had a hand in most of Ohio University's substantive developments in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. We will miss his leadership in all those areas."
The university's Higher Education Microwave Services (HEMS) and the new compressed video system combined spring quarter to offer an average of 125 hours of distance-learning courses each week to 1,000 students on the Athens and regional campuses. HEMS debuted in 1983 as the first two-way interactive audio and video system operated by a state university.
Bryant lists the development of junior- and senior-level classes and graduate programs, the continual expansion of distance-learning options and the work of each regional campus coordinating council as vital to the regional campuses' dramatic growth.
"It became apparent 15 years ago that if we wanted to expand these campuses, we had to use technology," Bryant said. "We thought we could use technology to bridge the time and space between campuses. It was expensive to put in place, but I think it's worked out well."
Bryant, who earned his doctorate in educational administration and economics from Ohio University, oversees the university's Office of Lifelong Learning and formerly supervised operations of the Telecommunications Center and the now-defunct Incarcerated Program. He also has been active in economic development efforts in the university's service region and in international trade activities.
Bryant and his wife, Jean, who retired two years ago as coordinator of Adult Learning Services at the Lancaster and Chillicothe campuses, plan to enjoy retirement by traveling. The Bryants, who have conducted workshops on retirement planning for 20 years, help coordinate a tour group that makes at least one overseas trip a year. Bryant estimates he has made 90 trips to 62 foreign countries for business and pleasure.
Bryant has agreed to serve the university on a consulting basis through the end of 1998, and it is hoped a national search will result in the naming of his successor in January, said Assistant to the President Alan Geiger.
