A Model Culture for the University of the 21st Century

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The Ohio State University PresidentDr. Gordon Gee discusses his passion andprogress on creating a "One University",high-performance culture to take thelargest university in the U.S. from excellenceto eminence. On the global stage, it is partof his vision to build a new model for theuniversity of the 21st century: more agile,more responsive, less insular and lessbureaucratic."We have operated as most massiveinstitutions do: in a very unintegratedway. My goal in creating this oneuniversity concept is to create anintegrated approach."
from excellence to eminence: tumbling the ivory towers
to build a model culture for the 21st century university
Dr. Gordon Gee's courtly Among the most highly experienced and health because our veterinarians are work-respected university presidents in the ing shoulder-to-shoulder with our physi-demeanor, with the ever- nation, Dr. Gee extols the need to invent cians, clinicians, chemists, and nutrition-a more collaborative, "horizontally think- ists. That kind of ground-breaking workpresent signature bowtie, ing" system of higher education in can and should be happening in all fieldsgives one the impression of a America. He writes and speaks often of inquiry."about the need for universities, includingman steeped in tradition. But OSU, to move out of the silo structures of Dr. Gee hopes the transformation he isdepartments and budgets and mindsets leading at OSU will serve as a model forfirst impressions can deceive. that he says have calcified over time. other higher education institutions, bothWhile the president of The "While breaking down barriers inside public and private, to follow in order tofour-year institutions, university leaders remain relevant and vital. He sums up theOhio State University respects must also aggressively seek new kinds of key elements of his blueprint for funda-and celebrates tradition, he is collaborations with business and industry, mental change at Ohio State in twogovernment, and advocacy groups of all words: talent and culture.critical of higher education for kinds," he says. Moving a massive institutionbeing tradition-bound. And at He is quickly making it happen at the from visible to visionarya time when economic crisis massive land-grant school since his returnin 2007. Already, the university is in the Founded in 1870, The Ohio Statehas paralyzed many universi- process of two areas of major change: University, along with its renowned aca-ties and colleges, he is an moving the academic year from quarters demic medical center, is a research power-to semesters and reconsolidating the uni- house with global reach. It employsapostle preaching radical versity's five colleges of arts and sciences. 40,000 faculty and staff, has the nation'slargest single-campus enrollment inreform. "We have operated as most massive insti- Columbus of more than 52,000 studentstutions do: in a very unintegrated way. and an alumni base more than 450,000My goal in creating this one university strong. It is comprised of several campus-concept is to develop an integrated es throughout Ohio, including the mainapproach. Facilitating and rewarding col- campus and medical center in Columbus,laboration across disciplines will advance several regional campuses, and thescholarship, teaching, and health care in Agricultural Technical Institute and Ohiofundamental ways. Think of the exciting Agricultural Research and Developmentresearch results occurring now in human Center in Wooster.
view from the top: Ohio State University President Dr. Gordon Gee [2]Dr. Gee led OSU from 1990 to 1997, and strategy is to create "One Ohio State Knowing that a shift in the OSU culturethen returned to the state's flagship uni- University", a single-minded institution would be required to make radicalversity after a decade as president of with all departments, offices, faculty and change, Dr. Gee engaged Senn DelaneyBrown University and chancellor of staff focused on mutual success. soon after his appointment to work withVanderbilt University. He accepted his sec- him and the university's senior leadershipond tenure as the university's 14th presi- Other key strategies that he defined to team to create the culture that would cat-dent because he felt the time was right to guide OSU's transformation are: alyze change to One Ohio Statemake a lasting and meaningful difference University.there at the zenith of his 30-year academ- Put students first. Assure that our... [download for more]