11/18/98
ATHENS, Ohio -- An expanded initiative at Ohio University to promote leadership training, public policy research and outreach programs will bring together proposed and existing services under one leadership and public affairs center, according to Ohio University President Robert Glidden, who announced plans for the center Tuesday.
The center will help faculty, staff and students fulfill the university's teaching, research and service missions, Glidden said, while providing educational and research opportunities in a variety of public policy issues. "This initiative is a response to the need in our society for informed policy-making and educated, experienced leaders in the public, nonprofit and private sectors," Glidden said. "Ohio University has a strong tradition of providing outstanding leaders for the private and public sectors in Ohio and beyond. This initiative will draw upon and strengthen this tradition."
Mark Weinberg, director of the Institute for Local Government and Rural Development and professor of political science at Ohio University, will direct this new leadership and public affairs center. "This provides a comprehensive effort to combine the three missions of the university in one center," Weinberg said. "It will help us meet the needs of state government by providing leadership and public affairs education for public and nonprofit officials in Ohio, while creating research and service opportunities for our students, faculty and staff."
The center will include a new initiative, the Executive Leadership Institute, which is designed to provide education and training to leaders of state agencies and organizations. The university conducted a pilot program for the institute in November, providing leadership education to 24 leaders of children's protective services and alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services in Ohio.
Outreach programs that offer technical assistance, training, information and technology services to public officials across the state will be available through the center. ILGARD, which began at Ohio University in 1981, will serve as the coordinating institute for this aspect of the center's services.
Innovation research groups, involving faculty, staff and students engaged in public policy studies, will also find a home in the new center.
University officials plan to ask the university's Board of Trustees to approve a resolution to name the center the George V. Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. The board will meet in Athens Dec. 10-11.
"It is particularly appropriate that the center be named after George Voinovich, the embodiment of a public servant," Glidden said. "This center was also made possible through the encouragement and support of Rep. Thomas Johnson, who recognizes the important contributions to the region and the state that will be possible through this center."
Voinovich received a bachelor's degree from Ohio University in 1958 and an honorary doctoral degree in law from the university in 1981 for "establishing new standards for professional in public administration, providing a model for achieving the highest aspiration in public service."
The university hopes to use state funds to renovate two buildings on The Ridges on the Athens campus to house the center's programs. A capital improvement bill presented Tuesday to the Ohio House of Representatives by the Office of Budget and Management includes a recommendation for a $38.3 million appropriation to Ohio University. If approved, the university would use $5 million for the renovation projects. Operational costs for the center will come from a combination of university and state resources and grants and contracts.
The capital improvements bill is passed by the legislature every two years to cover capital expenses for state agencies and universities and colleges. The bill put forth Tuesday would apply to the 1999 and 2000 fiscal years. Ohio University's share of the appropriations recommendation reflects an increase over the $27.4 million in capital funding the university received during fiscal years 1997 and 1998.