2001 Year In Review - News at OU: Year In Review

Construction of the $21 million student apartments began in September. The apartments, to be completed in August 2002, will hold up to 459 residents in 132 units.

The year 2001 built on the last several years of extraordinary innovation and growth at Oakland as the university continued to provide visionary programs that offer undergraduates an enriching and diverse combination of liberal arts, professional education, and cultural and social experiences.

OU started work on two significant additions to the campus: the School of Education and Human Services building and student apartments. Adding these facilities along with new programs and services shows Oakland's commitment to meeting the needs of its students — tomorrow's leaders — so they can succeed in a rapidly changing, high-performance workplace and society. The university's accomplishments during 2001 show Oakland's progress toward becoming the institution described in the 2010 Oakland University Profile, highlighted in the points below.

Construction of the $21 million student apartments began in September. The apartments, to be completed in August 2002, will hold up to 459 residents in 132 units.

Strong Undergraduate Experience | Quality Graduate Programs | Inspired Faculty | High-Quality Students | Research | Partnerships | Community Outreach | Growth

Strong Undergraduate Experience

National Recognition

Oakland University was ranked among national universities in U.S. News and World Report in the 2001/2002 edition of America's Best Colleges, moving up from a regional university classification in previous years.

Recognized as one of the country's 110 doctoral research-intensive universities by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Oakland University offers students opportunities to work directly on research projects with expert faculty who bring current knowledge to the classroom.
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Accreditations

OU students perform in "Cabaret," one of the plays presented by the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance during 2001.

Oakland University's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance (MTD) received three separate accreditations for all three of its disciplines for a period of five years. The university is one of the few in the country to receive accreditation in music, theatre and dance in the same year.

Oakland University's School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) achieved accreditation renewal from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization responsible for professional accreditation of teacher education. OU is one of only 60 schools of education that received either initial or continuing accreditation from NCATE. NCATE-accredited schools must meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public. Professional accreditation is one way to ensure the public that schools of education are graduating well-qualified teachers ready for today's classrooms.

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education reaccredited OU's physical therapy program in October for eight years at the professional doctoral level.
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Retention Programs

Oakland University's Trustee Academic Success (OUTAS) Program was ranked as one of the top seven best student retention programs in the nation by Black Issues in Higher Education magazine. OUTAS also was among seven U.S. university programs awarded the Noel-Levitz 2001 Retention Excellence Award in recognition of its student retention efforts. The OUTAS program, administered by the Office of Equity, is designed to create an ethnically and culturally diverse group of high-achieving students.

COM 101 students help each other during class to improve their communication skills.

Enrollment and retention figures show that Collegiate Communication (COM 101) is successful. The one-credit course helps new OU students learn strategies for success by applying communication techniques in an academic setting. Among the course objectives are learning the value of a college education, becoming aware of campus resources, developing relationships with classmates and career planning. Enrollment in the course grew from 133 students in nine sections in 1995 to 279 students in 17 sections in fall 2001. On average, the sophomore year return rate for students participating in COM 101 is 5.8 percent higher than the return rate for the overall campus population.
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Research Opportunities

The Biological Sciences Department offered a unique forum for its students to share their talents and research findings and gain valuable experience in their field at the 24th Annual Student Research Conference in Biological Sciences. Presentations covered cancer research, DNA vaccines for parasitic viruses and cell biology.

An undergraduate student conducts research at the Eye Research Institute.

Six Oakland University undergraduate students received the Eye Research Institute Summer Fellowship Award for their research efforts. The ERI program provides a unique opportunity for OU undergraduates to conduct independent research projects under the guidance of ERI faculty.

Oakland received an award from the Merck Company Foundation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The 2001-03 Merck/AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program Award supports student research in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry and related programs and activities.
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Other Educational Programs

OU's Math Plus program continued to provide economically disadvantaged students academic support through greater interaction with professors, advisers, counselors and peer mentors. The program helps students succeed in college-level math, which is the gateway to several degrees and careers in technical majors such as math, business, the sciences, computer science and engineering.

Oakland University received its first Emerging Technology Challenge Fund grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for its new Center for Entrepreneurship in Information Technology (CEIT). The grant will help OU faculty, students and alumni transform their ideas into viable products. CEIT is a joint project between the School of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Business Administration.
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Online Offerings

OU began offering online courses and online class registration. The Office of the Registrar launched its new website, allowing students and alumni greater access to university information and services, and OU instituted a system for students to make online payments for tuition and fees, which was available for winter 2002 payments.

Oakland was the first Michigan university to provide students with wireless network access in its residence halls in March.

Oakland launched a new and improved News & Information website, accessible from the university's News & Information button. The new site - The News @ OU - offers comprehensive coverage of university news.

Students learned how to create their own online portfolio during an Oakland University Career Prep Week workshop.

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Cultural and Educational Events

Several people from the OU community gathered, a week after the terrorist attacks on the United States, to listen and express their feelings at the first campus forum held on the issue.

In the weeks and months following the terrorist attacks on the United States, Oakland University hosted several forums, drawing hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members to discuss their feelings, to ask questions and in some cases to answer questions. Forum topics included “Why is the United States the most loved and most hated country in the world,” “Religion and terrorism: are they compatible,” “Economic impact – locally and globally,” and a bioterrorism panel discussion.

Oakland University observed African-American Celebration Month with many activities in February, featuring Kweisi Mfume, president and chief executive officer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

In celebration of Women's History Month in March and April, Oakland hosted lectures, discussions, films and other events promoting women, featuring a lecture by Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm.

Oakland University's International Student Organization hosted an International Night in April, featuring ethnic food, music and dance performances from a variety of countries as well as displays presenting OU's diverse community.

Oakland's Diversity Programming Project, the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and the Office of Equity hosted talks emphasizing different cultures and the importance of foreign language skills in the international business environment.
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Student Organization Success

Oakland University's chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society received a Key Chapter Award in August at the 2001 International Convention in Dallas. The OU chapter was one of 32 from around the world to receive this prestigious award.

Oakland University's Beta Alpha Psi, a professional/honorary organization for students in accounting, finance and information technology, was recognized by the national council as a superior chapter, the highest level of recognition available for chapters.

The Oakland University chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, received an honorable mention for the R.C. Matthews Most Distinguished Chapter Award at the Tau Beta Pi National Convention in October and won its sixteenth consecutive Project Award, the second longest streak in the nation.

OU Dance Team members practice for an upcoming performance.

Images, Oakland University's Dance Team, placed second in Division I at the 2001 National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Fla., in January. The team put on another impressive showing in August by winning its third consecutive Universal Dance Association College Spirit Camp competition at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Oakland University's Phi Sigma Sigma sorority became the first Greek organization to have a house on campus. Seven members of the sorority moved in August into a university-owned home east of Adams Road near the west campus entrance.
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Quality Graduate Programs

New Graduate Programs

Oakland University approved three new master's degree programs and two new doctoral programs in fall 2001: Master of Science in Information Technology Management, Master of Science in Information Systems Engineering, Master of Science in Embedded Systems, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy.

The School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) started a Microcomputer Applications Certificate Program, a 16-credit program for integrating technology in the classroom. Designed for teachers, administrators and professional staff, courses include application of web-enhanced instruction, multimedia and the Internet.
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Lifelong Learning

The Lifelong Learning Department launched a new website in August. The Lifelong Learning website helps students obtain information on all continuing education and professional development courses at Oakland University.
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Graduate Student Achievements

Diana Wells, a master of public administration graduate from Oxford, was chosen to receive a Presidential Management internship. The internship is a "fast-track" program for federal employees.

Five graduate students in the Biological Sciences Department shared their talents and research findings and gained valuable experience in their field at the department's 24th Annual Student Research Conference in Biological Sciences in March. Presentations covered cancer research, DNA vaccines for dealing with parasitic viruses and cell biology.

Karen Cullen, a History Department graduate assistant, won the James Madison Memorial Fellowship, which recognizes promising and distinguished teachers.

Darrin Hanna, a doctoral student and OU faculty member, received an award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for his company, Technology Integration Group Services, which he established when he was a sophomore at OU.
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Inspired Faculty

Interim Provost Named

Virinder Moudgil was selected in July to serve as interim vice president of Academic Affairs and provost for the next three years.

Virinder Moudgil, professor and chair of the university's Department of Biological Sciences, was named interim vice president of Academic Affairs and provost in July. One of his goals is to emphasize interdisciplinary programs and encourage multifaceted approaches to teaching and research.

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President's Colloquium Series

History Professor Linda Benson presented "Muslims, Missionaries and Warlords in Northwestern China" on Feb. 8 as part of the President's Colloquium series.

Terri Orbuch, associate professor of sociology, examined marriage and divorce in the "Race, Gender and Marital Stability in America" lecture in March, which was the final President's Colloquium of the 2000-2001 series.

Barry Winkler, professor of biomedical sciences, presented "Understanding the Contribution of the Retina to Vision" in November, which was the first President's Colloquium of the 2001-2002 academic year.
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Travis Professor Program

OU named the first recipients of the Doris and Paul Travis Professor Program, the first such endowment in the College of Arts and Sciences. The award honors one faculty member from music, theatre, dance, and art and art history. The four recipients are selected for their outstanding accomplishments in teaching, research and/or professional services. Each receives an annual salary supplement of $5,000 and a faculty development fund of $1,700 per year for three years. The endowed professorships were made possible by a generous gift from Doris Travis and the estate of the late Paul Travis. It is the single largest gift to the College of Arts and Sciences in its history.

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Research Forum

The Center for Biomedical Research held a research forum in September featuring presentations by highly acclaimed Oakland professors.

Michael Chopp, professor of physics, spoke about his research, "Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Therapy for Stroke and Neural Injury;" Sitaramayya Ari, professor of biomedical science for the Eye Research Institute, presented "S100 Protein Signaling in Health and Disease;" John Seeley, assistant professor of chemistry, presented "Rapid, Non-Invasive Diagnostic Applications of Multidimensional Gas Chromatograpy;" and Douglas Wendell, assistant professor of biological sciences, discussed "Control of Estrogen-Dependent Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis."
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Fulbright Scholars

Two Oakland University faculty members received Fulbright Scholar grants, given each year by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars

John Kelly, assistant professor of political science, was selected to lecture and conduct research on "Comparative Federalism in Canada and the United States from the Provincial and State Perspectives" at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Quebec, Canada.

Barbara Ann Nelson, lecturer in the Department of Communication, Rhetoric and Journalism, was selected to lecture on "Image Building and Cultural Haunting" at the University of Bucharest in Bucharest, Romania.
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Faculty Awards and Honors

Three researchers at Oakland University's School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) were recognized for their research and contributions to industry. Qingchong Liu received an award from the National Science Foundation, Gautam Singh received an award from DaimlerChrysler Corporation and Lorenzo Smith received an award from Valeo Inc.

The OU community gathered to honor the 20 faculty members who were recognized for their teaching, scholarship and service accomplishments at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon.

Oakland University's sixth annual Founders' Day in April featured a faculty recognition luncheon honoring 20 of OU's outstanding teachers and researchers.

Todd Estes, associate professor of history, was honored as the 2001 recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award. The award honors faculty whose teaching efforts have achieved singular praise or recognition.

Estes teaches Early American History and brings distant history within reach by focusing on the "human impact" of historical events. His research specialty is the development of political culture in early America. He teaches a course and has written a book on it, "The Politics of Public Opinion: The Jay Treaty Debate and the Democratization of American Political Culture."

David Maines, professor and chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department, received the 2001 Research Excellence Award. The award honors faculty whose research efforts have achieved singular praise or recognition. Leading scholars routinely cite Maines' work and follow his lead to new understandings of sociology.

Kathleen Pfeiffer, assistant professor of English, was named the 2001 recipient of the New Investigater Research Excellence Award. The award honors faculty whose research efforts have achieved singular praise or recognition. Pfeiffer also received OU research fellowship awards in 1998 and 2001.

Djamel Bouchaffra, assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, was named a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE). Senior member is the highest professional grade and only 8 percent of 365,000 IEEE members achieve that level.
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High-Quality Students

High ACT Average

The average ACT score for freshmen entering OU in fall 2001 was 21.3, higher than the national average score of 21.0. The average GPA for those OU freshmen is 3.1.
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Student Achievements

In May, Oakland honored the 2001 recipients of its most prestigious student honors, the Alfred G. and Matilda R. Wilson Awards and the Human Relations Award. Charles Archer of Clinton Township and Cristina Kapustij of Sterling Heights won Wilson awards, while Natasha Vanover of Pontiac won the Human Relations Award.

OU President Gary Russi (left) congratulates one of the six Oakland University students who received a $5,000 scholarship during the ninth annual Keeper of the Dream banquet.

Six Oakland University students each received a $5,000 scholarship in February during the ninth annual Keeper of the Dream banquet, which celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Heidi Kook-Willis, a sophomore School of Nursing student, received a Fuld Fellowship. The national award is part of a leadership development program for outstanding nursing students. Kook-Willis was one of 20 nursing students chosen nationwide to be a fellow.

Six Oakland University undergraduate students received the Eye Research Institute Summer Fellowship Award. The ERI summer undergraduate research program provides a unique opportunity for OU undergraduates to conduct independent research projects under the guidance of ERI faculty.

OU student Jacquelyn Wagner won the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's Mozart Vocal Competition in November. Wagner was one of 19 vocalists from Michigan and Ohio to compete in the symphony's highly competitive event.

Oakland University students' work was published in the Meeting of the Minds: Journal of Undergraduate Research, Volume 3, after a May conference that was co-hosted by OU to celebrate undergraduate research. The students' research covered topics in chemistry, biomedical sciences, psychology and literature..

The Atlanta Braves selected Oakland University senior pitcher Adam Sokoll in the 21st round of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. Sokoll is the second OU player in as many years to be selected in the draft.
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Research

Biological and Medical Research

OU Physics Professor Michael Chopp, scientific director of the Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute, led a study that was selected as one of the top 10 research advances in heart disease and stroke in 2001 by the American Heart Association. Chopp's team used for the first time in research bone marrow cells to reduce stroke-induced disability.

Assistant Professor Anne Hitt conducts research on an amoeba to better understand certain diseases.

Anne Hitt, assistant professor of biological sciences, continued research on an amoeba that may hold the key to understanding diseases, such as cancer and arthritis. With a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, she is studying the workings of a cell's outer membrane.

The OU Biological Sciences Department offered a unique forum - the 24th Annual Student Research Conference in Biological Sciences - for students to share their talents and research findings and gain valuable experience in their field. Presentations covered cancer research, DNA vaccines for parasitic viruses and cell biology.
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Eye Research Institute

Andrew Goldberg, assistant professor in the Eye Research Institute (ERI), is contributing to scientific understanding of why and how inherited eye diseases cause partial and total blindness. The National Eye Institute awarded him a $284,000 grant for 2001-02 to study retinal photoreceptors and to define cellular and molecular underpinnings for several inherited eye diseases.

Frank Giblin, ERI professor and associate director, is researching how to prevent development of nuclear cataracts, a loss of transparency in the center of the eye's lens. He continued research with support from the National Institutes of Health, examining the role of certain molecules in cataract formation and how antioxidants protect against the disease.

The ERI's other investigators continue to advance vision research. Sitaramayya Ari, ERI professor, is deciphering the neurochemistry of the eye, studying the process of how retina cells respond when exposed to bright light. ERI professor Barry Winkler also studies the retina, looking for trends in pathways of energy metabolism in the functioning of retinal cells.
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Engineering and Technical Research

Ishwar Sethi, professor and chair of OU's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, shows the face recognition software system he helped develop with former and current doctoral students.

Ishwar Sethi, professor and chair of OU's Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and former and current doctoral students developed the Omni Face Detector, a software system. The system, developed in 2000 and 2001, could have applications in detecting the faces of terrorists in airports.

OU's researchers are helping to propel the auto industry into a new generation of innovation that will enable car companies to build vehicles at lower cost and to develop high-tech safety features. Engineering Professor Ka C. Cheok is developing car systems that will avoid or minimize impacts through early driver warning and automatic slowing of the vehicle. He's also working on a virtual curb to keep drivers from accidentally drifting into oncoming traffic or off the road.

Engineering Professor Michael Hung is developing the principles of his shearography defect detection system to make an affordable car that can get 80 miles per gallon.
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Research Awards and Honors

Three researchers at Oakland University's School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS) were recognized for their research and contributions to industry. Qingchong Liu received an award from the National Science Foundation; Gautam Singh received an award from DaimlerChrysler Corporation; and Lorenzo Smith received an award from Valeo Inc.
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Partnerships

Arts and Science Partnerships

The first recipients of the Doris and Paul Travis Professor Program - Janice Schimmelman, professor of art history; Michael Gillespie, associate professor of theatre; John-Paul White, professor of music; and former MTD chair Carol Halsted, standing in for Laurie Eisenhower, professor of dance - join Doris Travis at the banquet held in their honor.

With a $200,000 visionary donation (half of which was made in 2000, and the other $100,000 in January 2001) from the family of Pierre Heftler to honor his memory and his long association with Oakland University, the College of Arts and Sciences established the Distinguished Programs Fund. This fund is a new and unique way to benefit the goals and dreams of the college, to feed the spirit of innovation and outreach across the college's 15 departments and strengthen programs and research in the humanities, social sciences, biomedical sciences and create continued excellence in the performing arts.

The Department of Modern Languages and Literature received a donation to its Japanese studies program. Half the grant will be used to add books in Japanese to the library to assist students who major or minor in this area. The other half will be part of a grant to students who study in Japan during their course of study at OU.
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Business and Technical Partnerships

OU's School of Business Administration (SBA) received a $50,000 grant from Ameritech-Michigan to establish an Entrepreneurship Institute (EI), which, as part of its activities, provides 23 high school students from underserved communities with entrepreneurship training. EI consists of phases, including a one-week camp on OU's campus where students participate in experiential exercises, followed by writing business plans and meeting weekly with SBA mentors. Students who successfully complete all aspects receive a $500 scholarship.

Michael Polis, professor of engineering and computer science, spearheads an ongoing initiative that has been awarded several economic development and job training grants through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. These grants help keep highly trained, technically skilled workers in Michigan and foster the creation of new jobs. Most projects involve technical training, from blueprint reading to advanced software languages.

ATiB juniors and seniors made their fall project presentations to their classmates and corporate sponsors in December.

Oakland University's Applied Technology in Business (ATiB) students demonstrated their team-developed workplace solutions during the ATiB Fall Project Presentations in December. The unique ATiB business minor allows students to use information technologies to solve business problems in real-world corporate settings.

The innovations developed by OU's Product Development and Manufacturing (PDM) Center were chronicled in "CIO Magazine," a leading resource for chief information officers. Patrick Dessert, assistant professor of engineering and PDM director, is working with OU students on programs designed to improve efficiency in the auto industry.

Students continued to benefit from the Oakland University and Macomb Community College partnership, established in 2000, to provide Macomb County residents with the education necessary for high-paying engineering and technical positions. Through the partnership, Macomb University Center students can complete the last two years of coursework leading to an OU bachelor's degree in electrical, computer or mechanical engineering, or computer science.

The School of Business Administration received its second installment check in August from the Oakland University Branch of the MSU Federal Credit Union for the Instructional Computer Lab in Elliott Hall. The lab is funded in the amount of $40,000 per year for five years. (return to top)

Education Partnerships

Oakland University's School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) continued work on its three-year, $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, awarded in 1999. The grant helps teachers learn how to incorporate technology into their teaching.

SEHS continued work on its five-year, $1.5 million GEAR UP grant, awarded in 1999, to partner with the Pontiac School District. The grant allows OU student tutors and counselors to help Pontiac middle school students and their families prepare for college.
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Medical Partnerships

In a partnership with Pontiac hospitals and other local civic and community organizations, Justine Speer, School of Nursing professor, directed a program that helps to address the national shortage of nurses, particularly those able to care for culturally diverse patients. The RN-BSN Educational Mobility program helps meet the high demand for nurses in Pontiac by helping to pay tuition for registered nurses who live or work in that city and who want a BSN degree.

OU President Gary Russi (left) signs an agreement with William Beaumont Hospitals to enhance the recruitment and training of new nurses.

Oakland University's School of Nursing and William Beaumont Hospitals signed an agreement in January that will enhance the recruitment and training of new nurses through collaborative educational, research and community efforts. The three-year agreement will allow Oakland University to preferentially place nursing students at Beaumont facilities to obtain their clinical training and provide opportunities for Beaumont nurses to enhance their professional growth through learning experiences at OU.

Oakland University and Providence Hospital, a member of St. John Health System, signed a collaborative agreement in September that addresses recruitment of student nurses, educational opportunities, for OU students, support for student retention through scholarships, and clinical research opportunities for OU faculty and the Providence staff.

Oakland's Meadow Brook Health Enhancement Institute partnered with St. John Health System and Providence Hospital to focus on preventive medicine and creatin, g a healthy community. The collaboration links national health care providers with the institute's national reputation for blending research and academics. The alliance helps provide a continuum of care, including prevention and education.
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Community Outreach

Education Outreach

Students in the AmeriCorps program work with children at a local shelter.

Oakland University's AmeriCorps program received a one-time grant of $20,000 from the United Way of Oakland County Community Investment Steering Committee. AmeriCorps Oakland recruits 40 individuals to help children with reading, math and science and enrichment programs.

Some of Metro Detroit's best writing teachers met at OU in the summer to hone their skills and enhance their teaching practices in the Meadow Brook Writing Project. OU is one of 170 sites selected to be part of the national writing project, a professional development program for teachers looking to improve student writing. Partners include Detroit Public Schools, OU's Public School Academies, Oakland Community College, the Pontiac School District and Macomb Intermediate School District.
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Helping the Community

The Southeastern Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross honored Oakland University as being the only university in the nation to hold quarterly blood drives and for its collection efforts in the Summer Blood Drive.

Oakland University, OU's Meadow Brook Theatre and the OU Student Program Board (SPB) donated $8,680 to the American Red Cross to benefit victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Oakland University's marketing students developed marketing plans to help promote the Pontiac School District within the community.
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Honoring Community Members

Oakland honored eight registered Michigan nurses for excellence in areas of nursing practice at its prestigious 13th Annual Nightingale Awards for Nursing in May.

In May, OU co-sponsored WXYZ-TV's Brightest & Best Celebration, a tribute to more than 200 graduating seniors throughout southeast Michigan who have demonstrated excellence in academic, extracurricular and community pursuits.
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Community Programs and Events

Thousands of people participated in the 2001 Metro Detroit American Heart Walk at Oakland to raise $1.6 million for heart disease and stroke research.

A record number of walkers arrived in September to participate in the 2001 Metro Detroit American Heart Walk at Oakland, organized in conjunction with the American Heart Association to help raise funds for heart disease and stroke research. OU has hosted the nation's largest heart walk for three consecutive years, and the most successful in terms of overall money raised. In 2001, 17,000 walkers participated, raising $1.6 million. During the 2001 walk, the OU campus community raised the second highest amount of money for a college campus in the nation.

More than 13,000 visitors enjoyed viewing rare and valuable automobiles on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall in August during the 23rd annual Concours d'Elegance. The hall also hosted an exhibit on John and Horace Dodge and the company they built, Dodge Brothers Motor Cars, in July and August. The exhibit on the auto industry pioneers featured historically significant photos, films, advertisements and documents dating back to the 1880s.

In September, Meadow Brook Hall kicked off a monthly program - the Free Family Fun Festival - by inviting the public to explore the decade of thrill seekers, heroes and social change and the stories of the auto baron family that lived at the mansion.

In December, Meadow Brook Hall hosted its annual holiday walk, with the theme of "Flappers and All That Jazz," celebrating the roaring '20s.

Meadow Brook Theatre held the world premiere of the award-winning play "Killing Time," by playwright-in-residence Karim Alrawi, in February. The play is based upon ethical issues raised during the controversial career of Michigan's Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a leading proponent of physician-assisted suicide. The theatre also presented many other award-winning performances during the year including "Little Shop of Horrors," "Pump Boys and Dinettes," Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Nile," and Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

In January and February, Meadow Brook Art Gallery hosted the Detroit Institute of Arts' exhibit, "Punch's Progress: A Century of American Puppetry," which traced the changing face of American puppetry from 1850 to 1950.

Troy Scott, an OU police officer and child passenger safety technician and instructor, shows parents how to properly secure their children in a car seat.

In July, Oakland offered a program to help parents save the lives of their children. Oakland University Police Officer Troy Scott, one of the few certified child passenger safety technicians in the country, demonstrated how to properly choose and install child safety seats.

OU students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters learned about state government and the legislative process during the fifth annual OU Day at the Capitol, in Lansing. The March event featured a unique interactive, program called "Congressional Insight" where participants were divided into groups to learn what it is like to be or work for an elected official.

OU hosted former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walesa who lectured on "Democracy: The Never-Ending Battle" in October.

Legendary Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell spoke of his career highlights in his address, "My Life in Baseball," at Oakland in September in the first of the 2001-2002 Student Life Lecture Board Series.
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Athletic News and Events

Oakland marked the loss of its founding father of athletics, former athletic director Hollie Lepley, who died in November in Englewood, Colo., at the age of 89.

The OU women's soccer team celebrates after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

For the first time in its history since moving to Division I athletics, an Oakland University team — women's soccer — qualified for an NCAA post-season tournament after a win in November. The team achieved its three goals of the 2001 season: to win the Mid-Continent Conference regular-season title, win the Mid-Continent Conference tournament and earn the first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Oakland finished the season at 16-4-1, which ties the most wins an OU team has ever had.

The Golden Grizzlies earned their first-ever national rank from one of the major college women's soccer polls, Soccer Buzz. OU debuted in the poll at No. 23 during the week of Oct. 22, riding its nine-match unbeaten streak.

The men's soccer team repeated as Mid-Continent Conference regular-season champions. In 2001, they shared this title with Or, al Roberts and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. OU ended the 2001 season with an 8-6-3 record and was 3-2 in conference play.

The men's and women's swimming and diving teams captured their third consecutive Mid-Continent Conference championship in December. Coach Pete Hovland earned his second straight Coach of the Year award. During the 2000-01 season, the women finished second in the 2001 National Independent Conference championships, while the men nabbed third place.

Romica Clint helped the 2000-2001 women's basketball team reach the Mid-Continent Conference finals.

In only its second year of eligibility, the women's basketball team reached the Mid-Continent Conference tournament championship. The team finished the 2000-01 regular season with an 18-9 overall record and a 12-4 mark in the Mid-Con.

The men's basketball team finished 12-16 overall in 2000-01 and was 8-8 in Mid-Continent Conference play. After a four-year transition, the men's basketball team in the 2001-02 season is finally eligible for the Mid-Continent Conference tournament on March 3-6, 2002, and the automatic berth to the NCAA championship.

OU's softball team claimed the re, gular-season Mid-Continent Conference title with a 16-6 record and a 24-27 overall record. The team went into the Mid-Continent Conference tournament as the number one seed, to be later defeated and end the season with a 25-29 record.

The baseball team ended the 2001 season with an 11-43 overall record and 7-19 record in the Mid-Continent Conference.

Oakland's cross-country teams finished second in both the men's and women's Mid-Continent Conference races. Oakland head coach Paul Rice was named Mid-Continent Conference Men's Cross-Country Coach of the Year.

In only its second year competing at the Division I level, the men's golf team won two tournaments and placed third at the Mid-Continent Conference championships during the 2000-01 season.

The women's golf team ended the 2000-01 season at the Mid-Continent Conference championship, finishing fifth out of five teams.

The volleyball team ended the 2001 season with a 6-22 record overall and a 2-10 record in the Mid-Continent Conference.

The tennis team's 2000-01 season was a bumpy road as the Golden Grizzlies went 1-11 overall and 1-6 in the Mid-Continent Conference.

OU's men's ice hockey club competes against Michigan State during the 2000-2001 season.

The OU Grizzlies men's ice hockey club qualified for the playoffs, held in March, in its first year of eligibility. The club team later joined the newly formed, highly competitive Great Midwest Hockey League, which is associated with the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II.

Admission Efforts

Future students found out what Oakland University has to offer by attending almost 50 college fairs in Michigan and Ohio. OU admissions advisers also were on hand during three national college fairs in those states

Oakland invited high school students to get a taste of college life by visiting campus during one of the scheduled Saturday tours in November and December. OU also offered campus tours to fit almost any schedule.

College-bound students and their parents were invited to check out Oakland during its Preview Days in October and November. Preview Days allow future students to tour campus and attend an OU Academic and Resource Fair to help them prepare for college.

WXYZ Channel 7 viewers got an up-close look at Oakland University — and seven other Michigan colleges and universities — by watching College Tour 2001 in September. The program featured a broad range of information for college-bound students and their families.
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Growth

Enrollment

Fall 2001 enrollment was 15,875, a 4.2 percent increase over the previous fall's figures, marking the sixth straight year of climbing student enrollment.

Spring 2001 enrollment totaled 7,133, climbing 8 percent as compared to spring 2000's total of 6,596 students.

Winter 2001 enrollment was 14,359, an increase of 522 students from winter 2000, marking Oakland's highest winter enrollment ever. Enrollment increased 3.8 percent overall and 4.8 percent among undergraduates.
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Construction of the School of Education and Human Services building began in the spring of 2001 and is expected to be completed in August 2002.

Construction

Construction on the four-story, $31.5 million School of Education and Human Services building began in the spring. The building, scheduled to be completed in August 2002, will consolidate all SEHS programs under one roof, including academic programs, new clinical facilities that will allow for more research and services to the community, and the Lowry Center for Early Childhood Education. The building also will make room for new faculty members and doctoral students.

Oakland began construction in September on the $21million student apartments, which will house up to 459 residents in six Tudor-style buildings. The apartments, scheduled to open in August 2002, will include full kitchens with appliances, furnished bedrooms and living rooms, basic cable TV, and free parking.

The new Office of Student Financial Services opened in November to provide students with faster service in financial aid and billing matters.

Oakland University's new Office of Student Financial Services opened in November to provide students with faster service in financial aid and billing matters. The remodeled office, at 120 North Foundation Hall, houses the offices of Financial Aid, Financial Aid Accounting, Student Accounts and the cashier.

In December, the OU Board of Trustees approved the schematic design of a proposed three-level parking structure, authorized proceeding to the completion of the final design and authorized the solicitation of competitive bids from contractors.

To meet the growing parking demands on campus, OU began construction in October on a new overflow parking lot, which opened in January 2002. The new lot, located south of Pioneer Drive near Library Drive, has about 170 parking spaces.
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