Ohio University to rename 35 Park Place to The Burtch House in honor of longtime supporters

During their April meetings, the Board of Trustee approved a resolution for Ohio University to rename 35 Park Place to The Burtch House in recognition of Bruce (BGS ’72) and Janie Burtch, longtime supporters of the University. Bruce’s undergraduate research helped found the Honors Tutorial College.

Bruce Burtch, who earned his Bachelor of General Studies from University College in 1972, played a pivotal role in creating the Honors Tutorial College. After receiving a scholarship in 1970 to attend Trinity College, Oxford University, Bruce returned to England in the fall of 1971 to study the Oxford/Cambridge Tutorial System in detail. His research was the basis of establishing a similar tutorial system at Ohio University. In the fall of 1973, the Honors Tutorial College welcomed its first 32 students. Today, HTC remains the first and only degree-granting, tutorial-based Honors College in the U.S. and now admits 80 students per year. In total, there are more than 340 HTC majors enrolled at OHIO. 

During the 50th Anniversary celebration in 2022, Donal Skinner, Ph.D., then dean of the Honors Tutorial College, praised Bruce as the “foundational rock upon which this college was founded.”  Skinner conti

nued, “There is something truly poetic about the power of a student project having an unimaginable impact on the lives of others. Had Bruce not written that project, Ohio University would undoubtedly still have an Honors College, but it would be a rather common garden variety and not this model of education that is the best I have ever seen.” 

“After these many years, to see the tremendous growth and success of HTC, I feel deeply honored to know that I played a key role in its early stages,” said Burtch. 

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The Honors Tutorial College, currently housed in 35 Park Place, provides high-achieving students with flexibility to pursue their academic interests in intensive one-on-one and small-group tutorials with faculty. With more than 30 challenging programs offered to students, the programs emphasize independent research and creative activity, allowing students more autonomy and specialization in their chosen area of study.

“I find it especially fitting that the story behind the building’s new name includes Bruce’s research as a student,” Kristina Bross, Ph.D., dean of the Honors Tutorial College, said. “Bruce’s Oxbridge project is a prime example of what we would today call ‘experiential learning,’ a hallmark of OU honors education best seen in our HTC majors’ amazing senior theses.”

Known nationally and internationally as the “Father of Cause Marketing” by the Cause Marketing Forum, Bruce Burtch has built a distinguished career in cross-sector partnerships and innovative marketing. His professional experience includes roles as public affairs manager for Marriott Corporation, public relations director for the United States Olympic Committee, vice president and general manager of Schulberg Mediaworks, Founder and CEO of The William Bentley Agency, director of marketing and communications for the American Red Cross Bay Area chapter and a special two-year assignment to the President of Xerox Global Services. Bruce has served on the Board of Directors or Advisory Council of 20 nonprofit organizations. 

Bruce and Janie Burtch have been loyal supporters of Ohio University since 1973. Their significant financial contributions and future bequests to support the Honors Tutorial College and the building at 35 Park Place will be recognized through this renaming.