News from Academic Programs
Class Meets at Columbus Zoo
'I Hope They See That Passion'
Students in Ohio State University's recent Zoo Science and Management class never met Lulu the gorilla. Never worked with her. But cared when she got sick. And felt people's hurt when she died.
"I was impressed by how much the students in the class cared about Lulu's welfare," said Danielle Ross, education director at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Lulu's home and where the class met. "They were very concerned about how she was doing and kept asking for updates. I was touched by their worry and respect. They recognized how much her death impacted our zoo family."
The class was a second-year partnership between the zoo and Ohio State's School of Environment and Natural Resources. It aimed to teach students (25; the class was full) about working at zoos and aquariums--and show it to them too. It met at the zoo on winter quarter Saturdays.
Ross and Stan Gehrt, a wildlife professor in the school, planned and organized it. A dozen of the zoo's experts taught it.
"Having zoo personnel serve as the instructors allows them to determine what content they think is necessary to prepare the students for careers in zoos and aquariums," Gehrt said. "It gives the students a head start in some of the basics that they can't get from existing courses"--which can later give a leg up in hiring.
Lulu died of unknown causes Jan. 24 after suffering seizures that started two days earlier--a Saturday when the class was meeting, though elsewhere on the grounds. She was motherly, elderly, and a staff and visitor favorite.
"The people who work at zoos care very deeply about animals and their conservation," said Ross, one of the zoo's many Ohio State alumni. "I hope this class gives students the opportunity to see that passion so as they go forward in their careers, we can continue to find ways to develop partnerships to advance conservation."
--By Kurt Knebusch

Boehm, Donnermeyer Recognized for Teaching
Two college faculty members were recognized in November for outstanding teaching by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Michael J. Boehm, former chair of Plant Pathology and currently the university's vice provost for academic planning, was one of just two recipients of the 2010 National Teaching Award.
Joseph F. Donnermeyer, a rural sociologist in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, was one of six nationally to receive regional recognition with the 2010 North Central Regional Teaching Award.
"These awards are extremely competitive; it's highly unusual to see two winners from the same institution," said Bobby D. Moser, college vice president and dean. "Our college has a long-standing tradition of high-quality teaching. We're very pleased to see our faculty members recognized at a national level."
Boehm said the award took him by surprise: "It was like hitting a grand-slam home run. I'm very honored, no question, and very humbled."
Linda Martin, the college's associate dean for academic affairs, said Boehm's teaching is "world-class."
"Dr. Boehm is one of the most exceptional teachers and advocates for students that I have encountered in my over 20 years of teaching," she said.
Donnermeyer started his Ohio State career in 1979 as an assistant professor with OSU Extension, and now primarily teaches in the classroom. In 2006, he revived the inactive Ohio State's Academy of Teaching to promote teaching and learning across campus.
"I've found over the years that to be a good teacher, you must have a deep understanding of your discipline, you must know how to communicate that knowledge, and you must have a firm grasp of task management," he said.
Martin said that Donnermeyer has provided leadership in teaching at all levels of his profession. "In my view, no single individual has had such a positive impact on teaching programs at Ohio State over the past 30 years," she said.
More: http://go.osu.edu/B4D.
--By Martha Filipic

Faculty Member Wins Presidential Award
Steven K. Lower has received the highest award that a young researcher can receive in the United States.
The Ohio State University scientist, who is working to understand the physical forces that allow bacteria to stick to surfaces, is among 85 scientists and engineers honored with the 2010 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. He received the award in a White House ceremony in the fall.
"Science and technology have long been at the core of America's economic strength and global leadership,"
President Barack Obama said in a statement. "I am confident that these individuals, who have shown such tremendous promise so early in their careers, will go on to make break-throughs and discoveries that will continue to move our nation forward in the years ahead."
Lower, an associate professor in the School of Earth Sciences and the School of Environment and Natural Resources, often collaborates with medical researchers, and has a partial appointment with OARDC.
His research could have far-reaching applications. It's possible that bacteria could one day aid environmental clean-ups. And doctors might eventually use Lower's discoveries to better target the use of antibiotics on patients who receive implants--or even design implant materials that better resist bacteria.

Semester transition leads to substantial changes for college
In the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the transition from quarters to semesters means more than just rearranging class schedules. In fact, it has become "a key moment" in the college's history, said Jill Pfister, assistant dean, Academic Affairs.
"Our faculty took their charge very seriously and started at the ground level, examining our programs and making some fundamental changes," Pfister said. Departments looked at similar programs offered at universities across the country and talked with industry, students, and others to re-envision majors and minors.
The new calendar takes effect in summer 2012. That means some current undergraduate students will have just one year under the new system, and others will have two or three years. To explain requirements for graduation under each circumstance, the college developed curriculum sheets for each major. "Those are currently going through the university approval process and we'll share them as soon as possible," Pfister said. "The intent is to not slow students' progress to graduation."
The switch to semesters will likely mean a change in campus culture, Pfister said. Students will take more classes at a time, putting classroom space at a premium. Students and faculty will have to adjust to classes both earlier and later in the day, throughout the week. Class-free Fridays will be a thing of the past.
The new academic year will begin in August and end in late April or early May. That likely will help Buckeye students compete with those from other universities for summer internships, Pfister said.
At the same time, it may pose a challenge for CFAES student groups that do the majority of their fund raising at food booths at Farm Science Review in September, during the fifth or sixth week of classes when midterm exams may be scheduled. "But Farm Science Review is their biggest money-making project of the year," Pfister said. "I think they'll definitely continue their involvement."
For more on the semester conversion, see http://oaa.osu.edu/semesterconversion.html.
--By Martha Filipic

At the Helm
Tim Haab leading top-ranked AEDE
When Tim Haab took the reins as chair of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics on October 1, 2010, he knew he'd face some challenges-- challenges "that most everyone in higher education is facing these days." The department had shrunk from 31 to 21 faculty members in recent years, but Haab credits former chair Alan Randall for ably handling budget cuts through attrition instead of layoffs.
Now, the top-ranked department (No. 1 in Agricultural and Resource Economics according to the National Research Council) has hired two new faculty members and is in the process of bringing in one more.
"Basically, we're a department of teachers," Haab said. "We teach students, we teach other faculty, and we teach the community."
Haab is working to strengthen communication both within the department and with other audiences, including alumni.
"We've established a Facebook presence to stay in better touch with students and graduates, and we're redesigning our website (http://aede.osu.edu) to be more interactive," Haab said. "We want to find more ways to get information out as fast as possible, and find out what people are thinking. If opportunities are out there that we're missing, we want to know about them."
Haab hopes the new efforts allow the department to have an even greater reach.
"We have a world-class faculty that does cutting-edge work," Haab said. "We're very interested in policy, and we want to do what we can to inform leaders in setting a direction for the state."
The department is treating the upcoming university-wide transition from quarters to semesters as an opportunity, Haab said. "You don't often get a chance to redesign everything. Students and faculty are rethinking what we've done in the past."
Feedback about the department so far has been positive, Haab said. But he hopes it keeps coming, particularly from alumni: "We want to know where you are, what you're doing, and what we can do to help," he said.
Haab can be reached at haab.1@osu.edu or 614-292-6237.
--By Martha Filipic