Schools on the rise

College Search & Selection
381

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What do Indiana laws say about discriminating by sexual orientation, because that sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen?</p>

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I didn’t know about the other presidents (I also don’t think secularization is negative, but that’s a different discussion) </p>

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But every year there are new alumni, they may not have big money to donate now but eventually some will, and they won’t have positive thoughts about their alma mater with this going on. </p>

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In Boone a student and her friend were assaulted (by non-students from another town, I’m quick to point out) for the (false) perception that they were a lesbian couple. Now there’s a petition with enough signatures to deliver to the state legislature about changing the state’s hate crime laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. So as unfortunate as incidents like that are they can be a shortcut to positive change.</p>

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<p>"But then there’s the article (I don’t know how I came across it) that mentioned that there are Lynchburg city council members and officials who hate Liberty and think the whole town would be better off if it was never there. Wouldn’t want to go to a college where they think THAT. "</p>

<p>There certainly was some friction as LU students and the admin started to flex some political muscle in local elections. In the end only 1 LU supported council person won and I think three lost. Both sides have toned down the rhetoric as they realize the symbiotic relationship they are in. I think much of it due to the over-sized LU emblem they put on their local mountain (Lu owned land but it IS really too big for the area). LU has also gone out of its way to open their large rec facilities to the locals. This provides a level of resources the local area did not have–indoor ice arena, indoor soccer fields, year-round ski slope, mountain biking trails etc etc.
Symbolic of the newfound desire to work together, a pedestrain bidge was built from LU to the major shopping district just west of the LU campus. Before you had to cross a very busy 6-lane road to get to the many stores and restaurants.</p>

<p><a href=“News Article | News & Events | Liberty University”>News Article | News & Events | Liberty University;

<p>In recent reports Moody’s has attributed most of the economic growth during the recession to growth at LU. Politicians know that many of the local businesses that support them are making it due to the growth at LU as is the real estate market and local construction companies. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.liberty.edu/media/1617/april2010/EIAreport.pdf[/url]”>http://www.liberty.edu/media/1617/april2010/EIAreport.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Evidence of this move to more cooperation was the decision of LU not to start their own student/emp bus system and to work with the local city system to provide that service as they did until now. There always will be antipathy to LU from the local left and that won’t change as LU will never move much in that direction. But I think peace is possible if both sides recognize their interdependence. LU has to depend on Lynchburg growing and being an attractive place for students and LU employees too. </p>

<p>Moodys Report:
"Liberty University. Despite recent revisions, education will be a source of stable growth throughout the forecast given the expansions scheduled at Liberty University. As a private school, Liberty has been able to avoid much of the budget crunch experienced by many state schools throughout the country. In addition to ambitious enrollment targets, the university has put together a financing plan for more than $240 million in renovations and expansions to its aging campus. If such plans are executed efficiently, the university will likely surpass Centra Health as LYN’s largest employer within the next few years. "</p>

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<p>Thanks, ModerMan!! Likewise, I have learned a lot of great things about USC as of late from the “Bruins” here as well!! I’ve tried to be as factually based as possible when it comes to my incessant promotion of Ohio State; otherwise, I would probably not have lasted more than a minute here. :p</p>

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<p>Michigan State University Entering Construction Boom </p>

<p>[Michigan</a> State University Entering Construction Boom](<a href=“http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/Michigan_State_University_Entering_Building_Boom_151020825.html]Michigan”>http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/Michigan_State_University_Entering_Building_Boom_151020825.html)</p>

<p>Go State!! lol</p>

385

<p>OSU parking lease, higher tuition OK’d</p>

<p>Source: [OSU</a> parking lease, higher tuition OK?d | The Columbus Dispatch](<a href=“http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/06/23/osu-parking-lease-higher-tuition-okd.html]OSU”>http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/06/23/osu-parking-lease-higher-tuition-okd.html)</p>

<p>Another $half-billion in the bag!! I am certain, similar to the ‘Century Bond’ issued last year, many top public universities will soon follow suit… </p>

<p>===================================================</p>

<p>The new $126 million, 225,000 gross sq.ft. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry (CBEC) Building will be located in the Academic Core North.</p>

<p>Rendering: <a href=“OSU CBEC Animation - YouTube”>OSU CBEC Animation - YouTube;

<p>Go Bucks!! :)</p>

386

<p>Ya’ll might laugh at my choices for inclusion in this post, because they aren’t usually schools that many CCers would consider. Unlike some of the more informed long time members of this community I don’t have the “numbers” to add regarding money garnered through research, ranking of professors, etc. My list is just from looking at senior night programs, which list the schools that kids are matriculating to, for about 6 of high schools in our area of Virginia for the last 7 years or so. I started keeping track when my first kid was in his early years of hs and found it interesting to see where they were all going. </p>

<p>Here are the schools that seem to be really on kids’ radars, esp in the last several years:</p>

<p>Virginia Tech -has been consistently a big draw for kids- not much variance over the course of time. But now a lot of “non-engineering” type kids are going there now (at least from what parents of these kids tell me); much more so than in years past. </p>

<p>ODU - has REALLY become a player in the last year or two. At two of the schools, double the number of kids (now numbering in the teens from each class) are going there. Maybe the addition of the football team/improving engineering program/improved campus facilities is taking hold.</p>

<p>JMU- has always been consistent; kids love it.</p>

<p>VCU- really taking off as well. It isn’t just thought of as a safety anymore. Some really bright kids are choosing to go there, and not just for the arts school. </p>

<p>I really was most surprised by the increase of students choosing to go ODU and VCU. I think all of the above are really on the rise, at least in the eyes of the many kids in our state if my small 6-7 hs sample is an indicator.</p>

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<p>A New Era Begins</p>

<p>June 18, 2012</p>

<p>An Arts District for Ohio State</p>

<p>If you have passed Sullivant Hall in recent weeks, you have witnessed the evidence of its renovation. Construction trailers and debris haulers, the noise of demolition within, the activity of a small army of workers—all this is in preparation for a new incarnation for Sullivant, which will be home to our Departments of Dance and Art Education; the university’s art gallery; and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, which is the world’s largest academic facility dedicated to cartoon art. The renovations, to be complete in 2014, will include four newly designed studios and a heightened roof to provide a flexible performance space with ample natural light. Walls of windows will provide greater visibility to the campus and the community. Changes also include the permanent location of the Music and Dance Library, formerly housed in Sullivant, in improved space within the Science and Engineering Library.</p>

<p>These modifications to our academic landscape are all part of the comprehensive physical vision for our campus known as the One University Framework. The Framework plan calls for the creation of a number of distinct districts across campus—the academic core north, health sciences, science and technology, residential life, athletics and recreation, western lands (West Campus), and an arts district at 15th Avenue and High Street. According to the Framework, the arts district will “allow artists, designers, musicians, actors, and dancers to create, think, and perform together. … The location also connects to vital eastern neighborhoods and positions the arts as the public face of the university.” A vibrant university arts district will also permit enhanced collaboration with downtown arts organizations, and that will benefit everyone.</p>

<p>In addition to the Sullivant Hall project, facelifts for Hughes, Hopkins, and Hayes Halls are part of the arts district planning. Hughes was renovated last summer to improve the acoustic nature of the building for its School of Music occupants. Hopkins is undergoing a more radical two-year modification, now nearing completion. Its brick exterior has been replaced with walls of glass and the interior reconfigured to create brighter working spaces for artists. I might add that the new Hopkins will be green and will seek a Silver LEED Certification. Hayes Hall has also been renovated and now houses all programs of the Department of Design.</p>

<p>We will invest $200 million in the arts district, which will eventually include the renovation and expansion of Weigel Hall, expansion of the Wexner Center for the Arts, and construction of a new arts complex to replace the Drake Performance and Event Center. Redesigned sidewalks, new street lighting, and trees planted from Lane Avenue to the South Campus Gateway will complete an environment that, according to the Framework plan, will “beat with passion, life, and learning.”</p>

<p>That vision is instrumental to our overall strategic vision of Ohio State as a Top 10 institution by 2020. </p>

<p>Source: [KeyNotes</a> Spring 2012 - Office of Academic Affairs - The Ohio State University](<a href=“http://oaa.osu.edu/sp2012.html#arts]KeyNotes”>http://oaa.osu.edu/sp2012.html#arts)</p>

<p>*It is now $250 million for the Art District Project with additional $50 million added from last week’s reinvestment of parking lease funds. THE only institution of higher education on the planet in today’s day and age spending “a quarter-billion dollars” for an Art District on campus. Go Bucks!! :)</p>

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<p>Investing in a cartoon library and dance facilities aren’t going to get it to a Top 10 institution. Nobel prizes and faculty achievement will. That’s what elevates a research institution’s reputation.</p>

389

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What Ohio State really needs to do is go all out to attract the smartest students through a plethora of merit scholarships like USC and concurrently improve its professional programs: business, law, medicine, and engineering.</p>

<p>The impact of having an elite business or medical school outweighs the impact of every NAS/NAE faculty membership combined since most of the general public are generally aloof of those sorts of things and it doesn’t really affect them.</p>

390

<p>In as little as 4 years since President Gee’s returned, he has recruited 20 NAS, NAE & IOM faculties to tOSU. I am a realist, and only counting on mere 20% of the 300 ($300+ million recruiting budget mind you - the most in the land in today’s higher education) new faculty recruits to be high achievements, and encompasses dozens of academic departments across nearly all disciplines. Even at 20% of 300 = 60 + the current 48 NAS, NAE & IOM faculty members on campus = 108 total at minimal gain. This should place tOSU into the Top-10 academic institution, no? Not to mention $250 million budget is really a drop in the school’s overall budget based on its strategic academic plan into 2020.</p>

<p>Note: I am not even counting the annual 250 faculties retirement / replacement. In reality, as the school’s academic reputation continues to rise over the next decade, it should be able to attract even higher caliber academic faculties to come to Ohio State imho. :)</p>

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<p>Be it attracting smarter students, offering robust merit scholarships, improving professional programs in business, law, medicine, engineering, medicine and more, tOSU has been making significant improvements since the implementation of New Era Academic Plan under the leadership of President Gordon Gee. I’ve posted hundreds of updates on Ohio State’s strategic plan(s), anyone is welcomed to search related news here, and compare them with any school in the country for that matter to see if tOSU is not on par in this regard. Frankly, I have absolutely “zero” doubt that tOSU will be among the Top-10 by 2020, and Top-5 by 2025 based on its over-the-top continuous efforts in advancements.</p>

<p>TOSU’s academic plan covers all areas of the schools, students, faculties and staffs. It’s very well thought out, and all-inclusive as part of the 4-year long strategic planning between the university and Sasaki Associate. Here, we hear often about USC’s upcoming $250 million luxury apartments and its campus revitalization plan. Personally, I think it’s an excellent idea! And for those who are not familiar with tOSU, I would also like to share with you about its existing South Campus Gateway Project which was completed a decade ago, with the goal of improving the surrounding campus area, and providing higher quality student life “a decade ago.” </p>

<p>See: [Campus</a> Partners Revitalizes University Neighborhoods - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0NbVotJd0]Campus”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0NbVotJd0)</p>

<p>And for tOSU, the North Campus Gateway revitalization is now about to kick-start, along with an approx. $1-billion spending for the new dormitories.</p>

392

<p>A top 10 national university? OSU?</p>

<p>Get real. To outsiders, it’s an average school that is only concerned about football.</p>

<p>In the Big Ten, it will never be as strong academically as Michigan, Northwestern, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Penn State.</p>

393

<p>@Bill73,</p>

<p>When I mentioned either Top-5 or Top-10, it meant PUBLIC… Sorry for the confusion!! :P</p>

<p>I am as real as I could. Please check out the NRC ratings or tOSU’s departmental strength across the board in terms of breadth and depth before making the comment…</p>

<p>Furthermore, OSU is the only 5-time ranked "UP-and-Coming’ university in the eyes of 2000+ academics via USNWR. Also, I do not consider tOSU as an average school. It is currently ranked as one of the Top-20 public university in the nation. </p>

<p>[Top</a> Public Schools | Rankings | Top National Universities | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public]Top”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public)</p>

<p>[Up</a> and Coming Schools |Top National Universities | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/up-and-coming]Up”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/up-and-coming)</p>

<p>In short, thanks for the bump!! Go Bucks!! :)</p>

394

<p>Here’s a portion of an article about Sammy Maldonado, an Ohio State football player that transferred to NC State:</p>

<p>IN SIX academic quarters at Ohio State, Maldonado had earned a decent number of credits (his 57 were the equivalent of about 40 at a semester school). He compiled a 2.3 GPA and had never lost his eligibility. But his coursework included four credits for playing football, three for Tressel’s Coaching Football class, 10 for remedial reading, 10 for remedial math and three for Issues Affecting Student Athletes. Six other credits wouldn’t transfer because he earned D’s in two classes. Maldonado couldn’t understand how he had earned only 17 transferable credits in two years. Even today the number pinballs around his head. “What kind of degree can you get from Ohio State if none of your classes count at other colleges?” he asks.</p>

<p>Wow, a guy with a 960 SAT score asking some tough questions about “The Ohio State University”. Doesn’t sound like a real academic juggernaut to me.</p>

395

<p>I really admire that tOSU has great town and gown ties. Both in the public and private sector.</p>

396

<p>Thanks for the kind words, ModernMan!!! I am equally if not more so impressed with USC’s long overdue billion dollars - “The Village” Project. :)</p>

<p>[The</a> Village at USC - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)!</p>

397

<p>“The Villages!”
[The</a> Villages - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

398

<p>LOL UCB…I was thinking the exact same thing!</p>

399

<p>^ USC has the same goal…turn an urban swamp into a resort destination for undergrads…</p>

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<p>@Bill73,</p>

<p>Wow indeed!! Now, knowing your alma mater is UIUC, I am speechless that you actually have the audacity to attack Ohio State’s academic reputation. The recent admission scandal, never ending tuition hike, resignation of Presidents, firing of coaches, …etc. are all trademarks of Illinois today. </p>

<p>P.S. I live in Illinois.</p>