A quest for excellence
By Robert Glidden

Devoted alumni, talented students, outstanding faculty, innovative programs, a beautiful campus — these and many other wonderful attributes are part of the Ohio University legacy. I am now proud to share with you details of a new endeavor, one that will make ours an even more distinctive institution.

In this issue of Ohio Today, you will read about the Bicentennial Campaign, an ambitious fund-raising effort seeking more than $200 million and culminating on the University’s 200th anniversary in 2004. More than any other single venture, this quest will determine our course and define our role in higher education for years to come.

Rick Fatica

A business major studies in Copeland Hall.

Great public universities are built not only with state support, which can be quite unpredictable, but with the resources provided by alumni and friends. These committed individuals always have made a difference at Ohio University, helping to bring a margin of excellence to academic, scholarship, cultural, athletic and recreational programs. As you will read, the priorities of this campaign will center, to a large extent, on people — individuals like Cutler Scholar Allison Norwood, Professor of Classics Thomas Carpenter, social work major Kei Futamura and Global Learning Community member Armana Milbry. These four, whose faces grace the cover and whose adventures unfold on the coming pages, are wonderful examples of the people whose studies and work will be enhanced by the Bicentennial Campaign’s success.

Rick Fatica

A sign language presentation is given on the Zanesville Campus.

More than half of the money raised between now and 2004 will be used to draw the most renowned scholars, outstanding professors and promising students to the University. Through the years, private donors have helped us make strides in recruiting such individuals through the establishment of endowed chairs, named professorships, scholarships and fellowships. Yet, in these areas, we remain woefully behind institutions with which we aspire to compete. The Bicentennial Campaign will change that.

The campaign also will help us remain an education leader with such additions to campus as cutting-edge library technology and a “smart” classroom building featuring the latest electronic capabilities. It will strengthen innovative programming and support important initiatives, including our many and varied international pursuits and those that reach out to serve our southeastern Ohio neighbors.

Alumni stand to gain, too. The campaign seeks to improve your University in nearly every way, and a better Ohio University with a higher national profile will bring pride and honor to its graduates.

As Ohio’s first university, we boast eight generations of alumni and friends who have given their time, talent and resources to build a vibrant and respected center of learning. With your continued commitment, we also will remain Ohio’s finest university.