Dec 17, 2010
COLUMBUS — Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut announced on Wednesday, Dec. 15 the second Ohio Center of Excellence in the category of Cultural and Societal Transformation, Immersive Technology at Shawnee State University.
Cultural and Societal Transformation, the final category of Centers of Excellence, seeks to recognize those programs which promote economic vitality by fostering the human instinct toward creativity and expression.
"Ohio's Centers of Excellence recognize places where colleges have built on their strongest areas of expertise to bring together diverse specialties, top-quality faculty and students, and academic programs to produce cutting-edge innovations," said Chancellor Fingerhut. "Not only has Shawnee State University long been a powerful driver of the local economy and talent, but today's announcement highlight's the university's aggressive progress in job-creating research."
Immersive technology refers to computer-based simulation of reality with physical, spatial and visual dimensions. In line with the state's economic development efforts, the gaming and simulation industry promises explosive growth. Shawnee State University offers one of only a handful of gaming and simulation programs in the nation. Last year, as part of Shawnee State University's continued growth in this field, the university added a Motion Capture Studio which will be shared with business and industry when not in academic use.
"We are proud of the pioneering programs we have in place in digital simulation and gaming," Dr. Rita Rice Morris, Shawnee State University President, said. "This designation from the State of Ohio reaffirms the commitment of our faculty and staff to prepare our students for the world of the future. This Center of Excellence combines immersive technology with our strengths in teaching to deliver a unique collaboration that promises to create new opportunities for economic growth in the region and state."
The Center of Excellence in Immersive Technology includes SSU's digital simulation and gaming programs in Fine Arts and Engineering, the Motion Capture Studio, and SSU's developing Immersive Technology and Arts Commercial Center.
About the Centers of Excellence
The Centers of Excellence, as outlined in Ohio's 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education, will position the University System of Ohio to be a magnet for talent and a leader in innovation and entrepreneurial activity. The Centers will accomplish this by developing distinct missions for each institution that are recognized by students, faculty and business leaders, while eliminating unnecessary competition for resources, students and faculty within the state.
This Centers of Excellence category focuses on contributions to culture and society. The five other categories are specific to Ohio's growth industries – advanced energy, biomedicine and health care, agriculture, food production and bioproducts, technologies that cross-cut Ohio's growth industries such as advanced materials and sensors, and aerospace, transportation and logistics.
Wednesday, Dec. 15 marked the first announcement of the sixth category of Ohio Centers of Excellence, which will be released individually.
In October 2009, Ohio's Centers of Excellence in Advanced Energy at http://www.uso.edu/opportunities/centers-of-excellence/advanced-energy/index.php were announced at eight of the state's universities.
Ohio's Centers of Excellence in Biomedicine and Health Care at http://www.uso.edu/opportunities/centers-of-excellence/biomeds-healthcare/index.php at 14 universities were announced in February.
In March, the Ohio's Center of Excellence in Agriculture, Food Production and Bioproducts at http://www.uso.edu/opportunities/centers-of-excellence/agriculture/index.php was announced at The Ohio State University's Food Industry Center. Ohio's Centers of Excellence in Enabling Technologies: Materials and Sensors at http://www.uso.edu/opportunities/centers-of-excellence/materials-sensors/index.php at five universities were announced at The University of Akron's Goodyear Polymer Center in April.
In July, six centers in the Advanced Transportation and Aerospace at http://uso.edu/opportunities/centers-of-excellence/advanced-transportation/index.php category were announced at the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering, Herman Schneider Quadrangle.
Finally, in October of this year, announcement of the centers in Cultural and Societal Transformation began with the designation of Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication. For more information, see Ohio Centers of Excellence at www.uso.edu/centersofexcellence and the 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education at http://uso.edu/strategicplan.
