Back To School 2016

We have a record number of new, first-year students on campus. For this academic year, Ohio State received more than 49,000 applications, a 7 1/2 percent increase.

In the Arts and Sciences, we saw …

• An 11 percent increase in applications
• A 30 percent increase in admitted students – from 7,300 to more than 9,500
• A 26 percent increase in admits who paid their acceptance fees – from nearly 2,500 to more than 3,100.
• And, a 28 percent increase in the actual number of new first-year students from 2,201 in 2015 to 2,827 this year!

Research and creative activity are flourishing in the college. One measure is research expenditures; last year we had $88 million in research expenditures — a new record. Add in creative activity, the more than 100 books published by our faculty, and articles too numerous to count, and you begin to see the full range of our scholarly excellence.

Across and within divisions — between and across disciplines — the scope of research, exploration and innovation in the Arts and Sciences is just one of the reasons we are one of the nation’s premier colleges of arts and sciences. 

Last year, we set a fundraising record in the college: nearly $37 million – a 34 percent increase over the previous year.

These gifts advance education, research and scholarship throughout the college – the generosity of our alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students is truly inspiring.  

Just a few of the many transformational gifts ...

• Veeam Software Corporation, co-founded by chemistry alumnus Ratmir Timashev, made a spectacular investment in the Arts and Sciences. His $5 million gift will establish a chair in data analytics, a professorship in chemical physics, support teaching, and provide student scholarships.
• Dr. Carl Asseff, a history major who became an ophthalmologist, created an endowed professorship in the History of Medicine in the Department of History. This supports the new cross-disciplinary minor in the Medical Humanities. Dr. Asseff is determined to make certain that future doctors are equipped with a strong foundation in the humanities. 
• Gary and Carolyn Koch have made a generous gift to support a renovation on the 4th floor of Cockins Hall. This will be critical for the Department of Statistics  as their enrollments continue to increase. The renovation begins in May 2017. 
• Dick and Louesa Foster invested in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science to support research and treatment of aphasia. The gift will allow the department to provide better treatment for their clients and support graduate students assisting and completing research on this neurological disorder.
   

Internship: ESPN Summer Internship Program
Hometown: Springdale, AZ
Major: Journalism
Year in School: Second year

As an intern with ESPN Cleveland, Zach spent the summer learning many different angles of the sports broadcasting industry. Upon arriving, he was assigned an all-encompassing social media and web review to become familiar with the ESPN brand and to provide feedback for improvements. He also engaged in promotional work alongside brand partners and at sites such as Progressive Field and the Quicken Loans Arena (being in Cleveland to celebrate the Cavs' championship wasn't a bad deal). Zach also assisted with the production of “The Really Big Show,” a radio show hosted by Tony Rizzo and Jerod Cherry.

Internships: ReLā Leadership, and US Together (Women’s Empowerment Program Intern)
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Major: Italian and International Studies
Year in School: Fourth Year

Kelsie worked in two Columbus-based internship roles this summer: with ReLā Leadership, a nonprofit leadership development organization, and US Together, a nonprofit that provides services to refugees. Her work focused on public service, cross-cultural exchange and empowering refugee women and girls.

Title of Project: Investigation of Viral Transmission between Honey Bees and Native Bees​
Hometown: Yellow Springs, OH
Major: Biology, pre-health specialty​
Year in School: Third year

Benjamin has been investigating viral transmission between honey bees (which are not native to North America, having been introduced in the 1600s) and native bees with Professor Karen Goodell this summer. Part of his work includes three phases of field sampling with the bees.