The Ohio State University

2000 OSU CARES Seed Grants

Expanding Marketing Capabilities of Business through E-Businesses: A Comprehensive Education Program for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Ohio

Small businesses have been slow  to join the "new economy" of e-business. A May, 2000 report by Ecom-Ohio showed Ohio to be below average in terms of e-commerce and use of the Internet for business purposes. They also reported that small- and medium-sized businesses and local governments are slow to adopt the Internet. Planning and building a sales presence on the Web is a challenge for businesses. It is also a challenge for communities and economic developers to address the fast-changing demands of the information technology economy. There have been few comprehensive educational programs in place to raise awareness and teach about e-businesses strategies for small- and medium-sized businesses. This program was the first of its kind at Ohio State University, integrating expertise across multiple disciplines and introducing a comprehensive program to teach about e-business.

The program taught operators of small- and medium-sized businesses how to plan, establish, and expand business presence through the Internet. E-business techniques were demonstrated and planning strategies taught to expand traditional markets and business strategies. This project gave Ohio businesses hands-on training in skills needed to capture national and potentially global market opportunities through e-business. Participants learned to assess their situation, build strategies for the role of information technology in their operation, learn technical skills needed to bring e-business to their firm, and plan the use of electronic marketing principles. Training occurred through workshops at Ohio State University's three Learning Centers and other locations across Ohio. Supporting materials and planning tools were produced for distribution as print and online resources. Learning modules developed by this project were part of an evolving larger curriculum for public e-business education.

Local telecommunications business owners (Internet Service Providers, E-consultants, etc.), chamber of commerce representatives, economic development officials and Extension agents were encouraged to be a part of this program. They were invited to participate in workshops and help develop e-business information resources specific to their community. A pilot program provided additional training for these key people to build partnerships and promote volunteerism in the area of e-business.

The grant was submitted by Nathan Watermeier, OSU Extension; Curt Haugtvedt, Fisher College of Business and Stan Ernst, Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences

Taking Spanish-Speaking Countries to the Country

Taking Spanish-Speaking Countries to the Country was a pilot project which exposed rural elementary-age students to early language learning and cultural diversity. The students at Washington Elementary School in Pickaway County studied Spanish three times per week for a year and a half. Lessons were hands-on and designed to reinforce Ohio's educational competencies for elementary students. This program was a partnership that was initially funded through OSU CARES. The program sustained itself through local support without the seed grant money for the 2001-2002 school year. Partners in the program included OSU Extension through the local 4-H  program, the College of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University, and the local school. In addition, financial support came from the school PTO and a local organization. 

The grant was submitted by Gwen Wolford, OSU Extension;  Judy Conrad, OSU Extension; Scott Scheer, Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and Deborah Robinson, Education 

Using Youth Leadership Opportunities to Encourage Sun Safety and Sun Protection Practices for Ohio Teens

The focus of this program was to work with youth serving in leadership positions on the incidence of skin cancer and the importance of developing good sun safety practices during the teen years that will continue throughout adulthood. The program involved providing sun-safe hats and sunscreen to teens who function in leadership positions. They were expected to wear the hat as well as complete an initial survey on sun safe behaviors and a follow-up mail survey evaluating the hat and their experiences working with other youth.

The educational program included education on the dangers of sun exposure and skin cancer, strategies to reduce risk, and placing sun-safe hats in the hands or on the heads of a group for which developing good sun safety practices early in life is critical. Use of role models among teens to wear hats, use sunscreen, and participate in the program encouraged more teens to adopt head coverings which offer adequate sun protection. Getting the message out and changing behaviors was the short term goal; however, the ultimate goal was reducing risk and incidence of skin cancer long term and collecting research data to be shared with hat manufacturers who make hats from which consumers, including youth, make choices.

Campus units cooperating in this effort included the Departments of Consumer and Textile Sciences (CTS) in the College of Human Ecology, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Public Health in the College of Medicine. CTS contributed expertise in design, selection and use of textiles and apparel that provide protection from ultraviolet rays, as well as contributing to the development of exhibit, survey and program materials and conducting educational programs. FABE was involved with determination of appropriate hat design, exhibit development, and developing and conducting educational programs with youth. The School of Public Health contributed medical expertise to help develop the skin cancer education delivery component, and assisted with survey development, implementation and analysis. 

The grant was submitted by Joyce Smith, OSU Extension; Dee Jepsen, Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Thomas Bean, Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Ronald St. Pierre, School of Public Health

You Gotta Love Parents: A Building Family Strengths Partnership

Society sends messages every day to parents about how they need to do more for their children, how they are to blame for many of the ills facing our communities, and how they must make superhuman efforts to raise happy, healthy children in an ever-changing world.  Few parents, however, hear the much-needed accolades for a job well done or receive recognition or gratitude for the ongoing sacrifices that fill the lives of parents and so greatly improve children's lives. In response to the need for parental recognition, Congress passed a resolution to observe a National Parent Day.  The 4th Sunday in July was voted as National Parent Day.  Agreeing that recognizing parents was a wonderful idea, Ohio's First Lady, Hope Taft, recommended a week-long celebration of parents. In order to accommodate a week of activities and to bring the entire community into the celebration, the 3rd week of September was identified as Ohio Parent Appreciation Week.