10/17/97

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University President Robert Glidden delivered his third State of the University address Friday, emphasizing the school's gains in technology, service to the community and national stature while reinforcing its commitment to serve as a respected center for learning and research.

Glidden's speech in Irvine Auditorium was broadcast live on WOUB-AM and via the Internet and provided through a new video network to all five regional campuses. Titled "A Sharper Focus," the address followed up on last year's theme of "A Shared Vision."

Likening his role as university president to that of a physician assessing the health of a patient, Glidden said, "I am pleased to pronounce the institution in excellent physical, academic and intellectual health, and in at least satisfactory condition financially."

He spoke about the expanding role of technology in the world as a whole and at Ohio University in particular, pointing out that "students are taking advantage of computer systems in creative and innovative ways." Among the examples he offered were the Computer Assisted Personalized Assignment System used in introductory science classes and faculty members' use of World Wide Web pages to share course assignments and conduct out-of-class discussions.

Glidden also noted the recent receipt of a $922,358 technology grant from the Ohio Board of Regents, two-thirds of which will be devoted to establishing a Center for Innovation in Technology and Learning. The center will help professors pursue innovative curriculums that incorporate technology, offer workshops and create teaching studios for faculty and students.

"We've also done a good job of combining high tech' and high touch' through a number of initiatives that use technology to expand our public service mission," said Glidden, president of the university since July 1994. He noted the College of Education's Learning Community Link program that connects schools with the university and the College of Communication's Countdown to Millennium project that is bringing computers to low-income rural communities as ways the university is reaching out as a technology leader.

Other community service projects are thriving as well, Glidden said, pointing to the Kids on Campus summer enrichment and nutrition program that involved 350 Athens County youngsters this past summer and the Postpartum Home Visitation Program in the College of Osteopathic Medicine that provided immunizations and home visits in 540 area homes in 1996.

While the university offers support to the community, outside sources are recognizing the school as a worthy investment as well, Glidden said. Ohio University received a record-high $34.4 million in external funding for research and educational activities in 1996-97, meeting with success on 71 percent of the 652 funding proposals it submitted to agencies and corporations.

Glidden also expressed pride in the university's recent rankings in Money magazine and U.S. News and World Report. Money rated the school as the best buy in Ohio and the 25th best buy in the nation among 1,115 public and private colleges and universities when out-of state-tuition was compared.

"Considering that Ohio is one of the nation's high-tuition states, it is even more gratifying that Money ranked us the 24th best buy among public institutions for in state students," Glidden said.

Glidden also pointed out that U.S. News gave Ohio University the highest rating among all 228 national universities listed for "value added," which is based on the percentage of students who complete their degrees compared with the projected graduation rate.

Ohio University will continue to push forward, Glidden said, focusing on five key goals: maintaining a learning-centered community, providing a superior undergraduate experience, emphasizing distinction in graduate education, maintaining excellence in research and connecting with the community.

"And on this Homecoming occasion ... it is appropriate to recognize that our university's status as among the very best of our type in American higher education is much attributed to those who have gone before us -- to the faculty and students who over the years have made this a caring place in which learning and opportunity for personal development have been paramount," Glidden said.

Visit the president's web site to read or listen to President Glidden's address www.cats.ohiou.edu/~president/reports/stateof/index97.html.