Proud - Youngstown State University

staff in the sciences and
engineering, we believe
YSU can become a center
of excellence in the area of
molecular science, sparking
educational and economic
development opportunities
throughout the region,”
he said.
Over the past five years,
the NSF has provided
$2.1 million to YSU’s
mathematics, science
and engineering research
efforts, including $475,000
for the new Analytical
Materials Instrumentation
Facility.
The visit by Bement was
a highlight of a banner
inaugural year for YSU’s
new College of Science,
Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics. The
STEM college, the first of its kind in Ohio, combines the
engineering, technology, science and mathematics disciplines
into one academic unit. Martin Abraham is the college’s
founding dean.
In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation
announced a $2 million grant to the college to create the
YSU Center for Transportation and Materials Engineering.
In April, NSF announced that the College of STEM would
receive a $600,000 grant to fund STEM scholarships. And
later in the spring, the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program
awarded $848,250 to the STEM college as part of a statewide
Around Campus
Arden L. Bement Jr., center, director of the National Science Foundation,
is joined by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, left, YSU President David C. Sweet and
several students and faculty during a visit to campus in June.
mathematics preparedness effort. To top it off, the Ohio Third
Frontier Commission announced in late June that the STEM
college was being recommended for a $2.1 million award
to establish a Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials
Analysis.
“These awards illustrate the role the new College of STEM
is already playing in community outreach and regional
development,” said Stephen Rodabaugh, interim associate dean.
Learning Commission is responsible for accrediting colleges
and universities in a 19-state region from West Virginia to
Arizona.
As part of the accreditation process, dozens of faculty,
staff, students and community members participated in
developing a four-volume, three-inch-thick report that
outlines the university’s strengths and challenges in
everything from enrollment and diversity to effective
teaching and learning and engagement with the community.
The process was led by Bege Bowers, associate provost;
Janice Elias, professor and interim dean of the Bitonte
College of Health and Human Services; and Sharon Stringer,
director of assessment and professor of psychology.
An evaluation team of 10 faculty and administrators from
universities across the north central United States visited
YSU in February as part of the accreditation process. The
HLC’s Board of Trustees approved the accreditation renewal
in late June.
In addition to the accreditation renewal, the board
approved a new doctor of physical therapy degree. It is
YSU’s second doctoral program.
Sweet thanked Bowers, Elias and Stringer for leading
the team that put together the self-study for the HLC team
site visit.
“All of us at the university are grateful for their
commitment and hard work that have made this process a
success,” he said.
Sweet also thanked the dozens of individuals on and off
campus “who served on committees, attended countless
meetings and dedicated themselves to the preparation of the
self-study report.”
“And, finally,” Sweet said, “I want to thank every member
of the faculty and staff for their honesty during this process
and their continued commitment to the success of the
university and its students.”
More than 200 car enthusiasts and experts from around
the nation came to YSU in late April for “The Automobile in
Our Culture,” a symposium exploring the past, present and
future of America’s love affair with the automobile. Part of
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