next »

[zenith]

I'd be interested in any and all information anyone would care to share about Ohio University.  Yes, I know there is a thread (a couple of years old) about Athens, Ohio, but that never really discusses the school itself, and it actually devolved into an argument about the relative merits of urban and rural life.  I'm interested in the school itself.  Nice campus?  Smart students?  Strong school identity and spirit?  Good library system?  Renowned departments/programs?  Good perks?  How do they pay?  Do they make faculty pay for things like parking and the gym?  Do they dwell in the shadow of OSU?  How are the two schools different (aside from size and location)?  And how is Ohio U. doing in today's economy?  On the Athens thread there were a few allusions to troubles at the school, but no real specifics.  Again, any and all information would be appreciated.

One thing I have heard:  Though they are now on the trimester system, with a teaching load of 2-2-1 (at least for social sciences and humanities), they are planning to transition to a semester system within 2 years, and to a 2-2 load.  Can anyone confirm or debunk this?

Thanks in advance!   

[dept_geek]

I went there as a student and loved it. The alumni community is very active.  Most of your questions are answered in some form or another on their website.

The semester change is is not a rumor: http://www.ohio.edu/students/q2s/

[vardahilwen]

OU is currently on quarters, not "trimesters" (whatever those are) - there are 4 equal quarters with a full summer term.

And the change to semesters is underway as dept_geek said.

[barred_owl]

As far as pay is concerned, here is the link to the Ohio colleges/university salary information that was posted in the Muskingum College thread:

http://chronicle.com/stats/aaup/index.php?action=result&search=&state=Ohio&year=2009&category=IIB&withRanks=1

OU has a very, very good reputation, competitive sports programs (which are supported quite enthusiastically), and would be a wonderful place to work.  Campus is lovely; hilly, with a fair distance between some buildings, but very pretty.  Faculty are active in research in many fields, some have achieved national and international acclaim.  Their physical therapy program is top-notch (my nephew almost went there on full scholarship to get a PT degree). 

One nice distinction between OU and OSU is that at Ohio U you would probably not have to teach lecture sections of 500+ students, for one thing.  OSU has the state's veterinary school program, a teaching hospital, and school of agriculture; OU does not. 

If an opening were available at OU in my field, I'd definitely apply!  Great school, great spirit, probably very good students, and lovely part of the state to live (including a relatively low cost of living and reasonably-priced real estate).  Go for it!

[barred_owl]

RE: The salary survey link, I just noticed, does not include OU!  But at least the survey gives you a general idea of the ranges of salaries at Ohio public and private universities; OU would certainly be competitive and, in all likelihood, above average in this regard.

[mountainguy]

A friend of mine interviewed there not long ago and came away with a positive impression of the university. IIRC, their current finances are tight but not necessarily dire. Academically, I think the school has a better reputation than OSU, although that may vary by program.

[systeme_d_]

Journalism is huge at OU.  Their program is very well respected.

[ls410]

I was under the impression the teaching load would still be 5 courses a year.  So after the transition to semesters it would be 3-2.  I'm not there but that's what I heard from a friend in the hard sciences.

[drmink]

Pretty campus, students are a mixed bag, Athens is the cultural center of the region. Student partying is a big problem, and Halloween is national recognized as dangerous for all concerned. There was a riot a few years ago when the bars closed one hour early because of DST.

[rekishi]

I worked there as a VAP for two years in the humanities. The pay is average (from what I gathered with my discussions with tt faculty). The insurance is great (150/mo for a 90/10)-- although the president wanted to increase the premiums for the faculty the year I left.

The campus is gorgeous, with some new buildings and many older ones. The students are a mixed bag of bright kids and first generation college attendees from the Appalachian foothills. I enjoyed the students there.

The library suited my needs good enough. What they lacked they were able to get through ILL (which is more than my current institution can do). The budget per faculty for book purchases was $2000. 

Oh, there is a golf course next to campus, if that matters.

[lotsoquestions]

If you're thinking of having kids, you might want to research educational options.  My understanding was that the public schools were terrible, and that many guys have a wife in a jumper who homeschools.  You might want to get one of those.  Or not. 

[mexicaliblues]

This is my first visit to the forums on this site, but the OU thread caught my eye...Reading through I felt compelled to create an account to respond to the post by lotsoquestions regarding the school system in Athens. Having graduated from Athens High School, I can tell you first hand that while the public schools in SE Ohio are among the most underfunded in the state, they are by no means terrible. Nearly everyone I was friends with in high school has an advanced degree now (~10 years out) and/or went to a decent college/university. I can't say that I remember any faculty children being home schooled...

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I think your experience at OU would depend a lot on your field/dept. As already noted, the J-school is well respected. The mechanical engineering program is currently embroiled in a plagiarism scandal, and the last I heard the faculty senate was not too pleased with the president. But the campus (aside from some of the newer buildings) is beautiful and the cost of living is very low.

[concordancia]

OU is currently on quarters, not "trimesters" (whatever those are) - there are 4 equal quarters with a full summer term.

And the change to semesters is underway as dept_geek said.

In that case, this change will mean that they will have tried out every system, as once upon a time they were indeed on trimesters.

Trimesters are usually a little longer than quarters, so that summer sessions are shorter, like on the semester system. On the quarter system, summer classes are (usually, just in case someone has examples that constitute exceptions) the same length as regular classes.

[alohafromhere]

Once upon a time I was a finalist for a job at OU.  Even before I learned the results of the search, I had grave doubts about the dept.  The faculty seemed to actively despise one another and had clumped themselves into little camps of Us and Them.  Many of the faculty loathed that part of Ohio, and wore their bitterness about "ending up there" like some kind of hair shirt.  Everyone -- faculty, students, locals -- seemed to drink, and a lot. The students were friendly enough, but not as smart as they thought they were (I know, I know, it's that way with students all over).  The area IS lovely, without a doubt, but if you are a city person, well, it's only nominally a city.  We're talking about a university that is quite close to, if not in, Appalachia.  Personally, I found that fascinating and delightful; not all will.  Finally, the search ended in a "star" being hired in as Full Professor for a job advertised as Assistant.  Go figure.

Now, some years out, I thank my lucky stars I didn't get the job.  The one person in the dept. who seemed smart and together left.  The rest are still there. 

[nocalprof]

The only thing I know about OU is that I have a senior very well respected (internationally) colleague there who is just awesome.  She seems to enjoy it, although I do hear from time to time about institutional silliness, but nothing you wouldn't expect anywhere.