ABSTRACT
The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public university with growing national stature as a center of learning and research. Located about two miles north of downtown Columbus, OSU became increasingly convinced during the 1990s that it needed to address previous disinvestment in the neighborhoods around its campus, both to protect its ability to attract students, faculty, and staff and to fulfill its historic mission of public service as a land-grant institution. The university has a long tradition of civic engagement: it is the largest employer in Columbus; the campus accommodates a combined student, faculty, and staff population of almost 50,000 (greater than the city's downtown workforce); as a land-grant university it is interested in shifting its traditional public service focus from agricultural issues to urban problems; and large numbers of its alumni occupy leadership positions in local government, business, and civic affairs.
