President's Message
Date: Oct. 4, 2006

Dear Ohio University Community:

This afternoon, I held my second press briefing of the academic year with our local media. I want to share what I discussed with those reporters.

In recent months, Ohio University has faced a number of challenges. As a community, we have joined together to address these issues and are making great progress. I am confident that we will overcome our current challenges and emerge as an even stronger university.

It is imperative that we do not lose sight of the fact that there is much to be proud of at Ohio University. Your work is making an important difference in the lives of our students and the communities we serve. Students, parents, and alumni continue to witness the high quality of our teaching, research, and service and are very supportive of our efforts to provide exceptional educational opportunities. In fact, applications for undergraduate admission are up from this time last year, and we continue to enjoy fundraising success.

Last Thursday, representatives of the faculty, staff, and student body gathered to reaffirm our shared commitment to academic honesty as a core value. The discussions were productive, and I commend the Academic Honesty Committee, co-chaired by Associate Professors Scott Titsworth and Susan Sarnoff, for organizing the "Day of Discourse." Their committee has been asked to review our policies and practices and find ways to improve academic honesty. I look forward to their recommendations.

Tomorrow, we hold the first major event of the Year of the Woman when Diane Rehm presents a free public lecture at 7:30 p.m. in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Ms. Rehm hosts a daily program on National Public Radio that attracts more than 1.4 million listeners. She will hold a workshop for students Thursday afternoon, thus illustrating just one more example of how Ohio University provides outstanding opportunities for its students. As we celebrate the many important contributions made by the women of Ohio University, it gives me great pleasure to note that our women's volleyball team is ranked 21st in the nation. The team is undefeated in conference play, and we are very proud of its accomplishment!

As you may know from recent stories in the news media, a large number of student-athletes have been arrested, and in some cases, convicted of serious offenses ranging from fighting to the misuse of alcohol and other drugs. This behavior is completely unacceptable. The Department of Athletics announced earlier this week that four student-athletes have been suspended from athletic participation. I have asked Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt to conduct a thorough review of the student-athlete code of conduct and to bring me recommendations for changes. He has gathered information about our peer institutions, consulted with the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee and the Board of Trustees, and plans to have an improved disciplinary system in place by the beginning of Winter Quarter.

You also may have noticed last week's story in The New York Times. Sadly, the piece was full of factual errors, ranging from our enrollment figures to our U.S. News ranking to the record-setting $15 million gift from the Scripps Howard Foundation. The paper wrongly reported that Ohio University currently faces a $9.3 million deficit. As I communicated to you in my last message, the University is fiscally sound. By working together last year to re-align our budget, we prevented that deficit and created a fund to support strategic initiatives proposed by faculty, staff, and students in the Vision OHIO planning process.

The Times also reported allegations, first printed in The Post, about mismanagement in the College of Business. These allegations were raised by one individual and have been thoroughly investigated by the University, including the Internal Auditor, the Office of Legal Affairs, the College's Professional Ethics Committee and College of Business Dean Glenn Corlett. There is no evidence of wrongdoing.

I am very proud of your continued efforts. Thank you!

Cordially,

Roderick J. McDavis
President