<p>Ohio State's strategy: Unload assets that aren't central to mission
Gee says focus must be teaching, research</p>
<p>By Encarnacion Pyle
The Columbus Dispatch Sunday October 9, 2011 8:16 AM </p>
<p>Ohio State University has been considering monumental moves such as privatizing parking, possibly selling Don Scott airport and issuing up to $500 million in 100-year, interest-only bonds to finance building projects.</p>
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<p>OSU officials and others couldnt cite other U.S. schools that have done what Ohio State is considering. But they cite several schools that have made big moves to become more efficient.</p>
<p>The University of North Carolina, for example, hired a private consulting firm two years ago that identified inefficiencies and made recommendations, such as centralizing the schools widely dispersed procurement operations and information-technology functions and simplifying its organizational structure. In all, the group predicted the changes could save the university $150 million.</p>
<p>Since then, Cornell University and the University of California, Berkeley, also have hired consultants that typically work with private, profit-generating companies.</p>
<p>Critics often worry that private operators care more about making money than providing good service. Some OSU students and faculty members, for instance, fear that they will have to pay more in fees while receiving less personal service if a private group of investors takes over the campus parking garages and lots.</p>
<p>Last month, the trustees signed off on a proposal to sell the universitys $30 million revenue stream from its parking operations for up to 50 years, a deal that could bring a one-time cash payment of at least $375 million.</p>
<p>This is all about the future and looking for ways to invest in students, faculty and research, Chatas said. We have to ask, How do we run the university more efficiently? </p>
<p>The school started by streamlining several business procedures, such as procurement, travel and finance, and saved $5 million last year, he said. Ohio State is expected to save $20 million from those efforts this year and $50 million a year thereafter.</p>
<p>Those efforts, as well as Gees larger vision of privatizing more campus services, have caught the attention of Gov. John Kasich.</p>
<p>Gov. Kasich applauds any public-sector leader who embraces innovative ideas for maximizing the benefit to Ohioans of publicly owned assets, and he hopes others will follow Dr. Gees lead, said Rob Nichols, Kasichs spokesman.</p>
<p>Although they are cautious, several faculty members said change is probably necessary, even if it wont be easy.</p>
<p>I think (President Gees) point that were not going to get any new money from the state is dead-on, said Ken Lee, a professor in OSUs Department of Food Science and Technology. Instead of passing the buck onto taxpayers or the state or the students and their parents, we have a responsibility to look at how we can be more efficient.</p>
<p>Gee said the changes will require common sacrifices from the entire campus community.</p>
<p>Focusing only on our individual, narrow self-interests may be easy and familiar, but it will not enable this institution to chart a new course, to become what it is fully capable of being, he said.</p>
<p>Source: Ohio</a> State's strategy: Unload assets that aren't central to mission | The Columbus Dispatch</p>
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<p>Indeed, Ohio State is going all out in terms of focusing on teaching & research along with various academic indicators in order to propel the school into one of the premier public universities in America (this time by streamlining, thereby making the school more efficient in operation). The school has been engaging in numerous radical reforms since President Gee's return, and indeed, all have trusted in his vision. Our PA score has since increased from 3.7 to 3.9 as of the latest and Undergraduate Academic Reputation Index is now tied with Boston College and surpassed that of Wake Forest. As indicated in our Academic Plan, our benchmark schools are schools such as UCB, UCLA, UVA, UMich & UNC. </p>
<p>I predict Ohio State to become a Top-10 Public University within the next decade, and "Top-5 Public within the next 20 years" as the school continues to invest and improve in all areas as outlined in Sasaki's Master Plan.</p>
<p>Sasaki</a> | Portfolio | Ohio State University Framework Plan</p>