Ohio State is one of 28 universities in the country that have come together as founding members of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), coordinated by the Arts Engine at the University of Michigan. Joseph Steinmetz, executive dean and vice provost, and Mark Shanda, arts and humanities divisional dean, College of Arts and Sciences, represent Ohio State in the endeavor.

The group will direct a2ru’s activities to ensure that arts and design practices bloom at the heart of America’s research universities.

“This is a very important effort,” Steinmetz said. “The practice of the arts can have a significant effect on developing the creative potential of all students on campus, regardless of their majors. This alliance is designed to promote and facilitate arts practice by students at our major research universities and we are pleased to be part of the effort.”

Shanda added, "Arts and research go hand in hand as both seek to provide answers to questions and interpret the world around us. The a2ru group will work to make this direct connection even more evident on college campuses across the United States."

The other founding universities are Arizona State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Dartmouth College, James Madison University, Johns Hopkins University, Iowa State University, Louisiana State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Syracuse University, Tufts University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Colorado, University of Florida, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Southern California, University of Virginia, University of Washington, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and Washington University in St. Louis.

For information, visit the a2ru website.