Roads Scholars Tour

Roads Scholars Tour

NOTE: The Roads Scholars Tour is being evaluated and there will not be a tour in 2022. We will share more information as plans are finalized.

This annual, two-day, traveling seminar takes faculty, administrators and community partners through a region of Ohio to meet faculty and community partners who are collaborating, talk with current and future Ohio State students, learn from business and community leaders, and get acquainted with others who may be partners for future projects.

2019 Roads Scholars Tour

The 2019 Roads Scholars Tour traveled around central Ohio on June 18-19, following a Block O pattern for the first time!

Read more about the 2019 Roads Scholars Tour.

Check out #OSUontheroad to see the social media conversation from the 2019 Tour.

The 2019 tour stops were:

2018 Roads Scholars Tour

The 2018 Roads Scholars Tour traveled to northeast Ohio on July 10-11. The tour saw around 50 faculty, administrators and community partners join students from the Buckeye Bus to learn more about Ohio State's research, educational and economic community partnerships.

Read more about the 2018 Roads Scholars Tour.

Check out #OSUontheroad to see the social media conversation from the 2018 Tour.

Past Roads Scholars Tours

In 2017 the Roads Scholars Tour went to southwest Ohio on July 13-14. Around 50 faculty, community partners and administrators visited a diverse group of stops that higlight community-university partnerships along the way from Columbus to Cincinnati and back.

Read more about the 2017 Roads Scholars Tour.

Check out #OSUontheroad to see the social media conversation from the 2017 Tour.

2017 Stops:

Thursday, July 13

The Ohio State University Airport, Columbus
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Dayton
Emery Oleochemicals, Cincinnati
Plum Street Temple, Cincinnati

Friday, July 14

University of Cincinnati Community Design Center/Niehoff Urban Studio, Cincinnati
National Weather Service, Wilmington
Ohio State Western Agricultural Research Station, South Charleston

The Roads Scholars Tour, a two-day, traveling seminar that included President Drake and Provost McPheron, took more than 50 faculty, staff and community partners to northwest Ohio on July 14-15, 2016 to tour sites where the university has key partnerships. Participants viewed first-hand the reach and impact that engaged teaching and research collaborations have on communities and residents across the state. The Buckeye Bus, sponsored by the Office of Student Life, also toured the region and joined the Roads Scholars Tour at several stops. University Advancement hosted an evening event for alumni and friends in the region as part of our stop at the Toledo Zoo.

Media Coverage

Like Gordon Gee, Ohio State President Dr. Michael V. Drake has own style
The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State faculty visits Unverferth Manufacturing in Kalida
Lima News

Educating the Educators
Your News Now: Lima TV

OSU Faculty And Staff Stop At Cooper Tire For Tours
WFIN Radio

OSU president, faculty visit Cooper Tire
Findlay Courier

OSU faculty and staff on Roads Scholars tour
Delphos Herald

2016 Stops:

Thursday, July 14

COSI, Columbus
Transportation Research Center, East Liberty
Unverferth Manufacturing, Kalida
Toledo Zoo, Toledo

Friday, July 15

Toledo Museum of Art's Glass Pavilion, Toledo
The Andersons, Maumee
Cooper Tire, Findlay

The 2015 Roads Scholars Tour saw a group of more than 50 faculty, administrative leaders and community partners take a two-day road trip across northeastern Ohio on July 21-22. Participants toured sites where the university has key partnerships and saw first-hand the reach and impact that teaching, research and engagement collaborations have on communities and residents across the state.

As the state's flagship land-grant university, Ohio State has forged partnerships in each of Ohio's 88 counties and works with communities to address the state's needs and create opportunities for growth and progress.

Starting at the Havener Eye Institute near the Columbus campus and culminating with a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art, day one of this year's tour highlighted some of Ohio State's many vital connections with health care, industry and the arts. On day two, the tour ventured through Ohio's only national park, took a look at service-learning courses and concluded with a stop at Ohio State's Wooster campus.

2015 Stops:

Tuesday, July 21

Havener Eye Institute, Columbus

Next Generation Films, Lexington

ArcelorMittal, Cleveland

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland

Wednesday, July 22

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Independence to Akron

University of Akron

Ohio State Wooster

"I will never forget the interactions with my colleagues and the enthusiasm of those I met and their willingness to share what makes them proud. I am now even more proud of the quality and the breadth of Ohio State and the state of Ohio. It is an experience I recommend absolutely."

David C. Manderscheid, PhD
Executive Dean and Vice Provost
College of Arts and Sciences
2014 Roads Scholar

Read more from Dean Manderscheid's blog post about his Roads Scholars Tour experience.

The 2014 Roads Scholars Tour saw a group of more than 40 faculty head to Northeast Ohio to visit some of the university's community partners in the area. The Office of Outreach and Engagement would like to thank all of our participants and hosts. Your great energy made for an outstanding tour! The tour stopped at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Mansfield, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Goodyear Headquarters and Ohio State Wooster.

2014 Stops:

Tuesday, July 22
Ohio Stadium, Columbus (Connecting Academics, Athletics and Engagement)
Ohio State Mansfield
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland

Wednesday, July 23
Goodyear Headquarters, Akron
Ohio State Wooster

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee and Vice President for Outreach and Engagement Valerie Lee led a group of approximately 50 faculty and staff members on the 2012 Roads Scholars Tour, a two-day trip across southwestern Ohio, July 23-24. Along the way, participants saw some of Ohio State's amazing partnerships.

The Office of Outreach and Engagement thanks all of our participants and tour hosts! Our stops included the Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging, the Farm Science Review, Wright State University, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, GE Aviation and the OSU Urban Arts Space.

Stops included:

August 31 - September 1, 2011: Northern Ohio

2011 photos on Facebook

  • COSI Transportation Research Center
  • Ohio State's Marion campus
  • Wyandot Solar Field
  • Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island
  • Columbus State's Delaware campus

September 1-2, 2010: Southeastern Ohio

  • The Ohio State University Airport (Columbus)
  • Don Scott Farm Centers (Columbus)
  • OSU South Centers (Piketon)
  • Ohio University (Athens)
  • Appalachian Community Cancer Network (Pomeroy)
  • The Lafayette Hotel (Marietta)
  • Marietta High School (Marietta)
  • The Wilds (Cumberland)
  • Octagon Earthworks (Newark)
  • Ohio State Newark (Newark)

September 9-10, 2009: Northwest Ohio

  • Mad River Family Practice (East Liberty), a rural medical practice with Ohio State medical students
  • Ohio State Lima (Regional Campus)
  • Xunlight Corporation (Toledo), a Third Frontier partnership with the University of Toledo involving innovative technology
  • Secor Metro Park (Toledo), site of OSU Extension programs
  • Maumee Bay State Park (Oregon), dinner with Young Scholars, 4-H members, current Ohio State students, and legislators Driving tour of Lake Erie and the work of Ohio State's Sea Grant program
  • Toledo Central Catholic High School, discussion with K-12 students and administrators
  • Wyandot Fairgrounds (Upper Sandusky), presentation of an emerging "blight to light" project involving solar energy and OSU Extension economic development
  • Grant Middle School (Marion), where Ohio State students mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters in an ongoing university-community partnership

September 16-17, 2008: Southwest Ohio

  • Ohio State Marion (Regional Campus)
  • Honda Plant (East Liberty)
  • Farm Science Review (London)
  • Procter & Gamble (Mason)
  • Great Wolf Lodge (Mason)
  • College of Engineering/Kings Island Partnership (Mason)
  • South High Clinic (Columbus)
  • Urban Arts Space (Columbus)

April 12-13, 2007: North Central Ohio

  • Dentistry OHIO Project (Mansfield)
  • Ohio State Mansfield (Regional Campus)
  • Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (Wooster)
  • Young Scholars and 4-Hers (Canton)
  • Jackson High School (Massillon)
  • Alpine Cheese Company (Winesburg)
  • The Sugar Creek Watershed OSU Extension (Coshocton)
  • Newark Earthworks Center & Ohio State Newark

September 13-14, 2005: North Central Ohio

  • Ohio State Marion (Regional Campus)
  • Buurma Farms (Willard)
  • Ohio Sea Grant Program at Lake Erie
  • The OSU/Port Clinton Performing Arts Festival
  • Lorain Southview High School
  • Philips Medical Systems (Highland Heights/Cleveland)
  • Youth Outdoors, Cleveland Metroparks (Cleveland)
  • Ohio Agricultural and Research Development Center (Wooster)

September 14-15, 2004: West Central/Southwest Ohio

  • Transportation Research Center (East Liberty)
  • OSU Lima (Regional Campus)
  • Wright-Patterson Airforce Base (Dayton)
  • Adventure Central (Dayton)
  • Beavercreek High School National Afro-American and Cultural Center (Wilberforce)
  • Young's Jersey Dairy (Yellow Springs)
  • GroCo Family Farms (Jamestown)
  • Clark County OSU Extension Office (Springfield)

September 8-9, 2003: Southeastern Ohio

  • Ohio State Newark (Regional Campus)
  • The Longaberger Company (Dresden)
  • University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (Dresden)
  • The Wilds (Cumberland)
  • Waverly High School
  • OSU South Centers (Piketon)
  • Horizon Telecommunications (Chillicothe)
  • The Ohio Statehouse (Columbus)

September 9-10, 2002: Northwest Ohio

  • Ohio State Mansfield (Regional Campus)
  • Buurma Farms (Willard)
  • Owens Corning Corporate Headquarters (Toledo)
  • Bowsher & Waite High Schools (Toledo)
  • Toledo Botanical Gardens
  • Bowling Green State University
  • Hancock County OSU Extension Office (Findlay)

September 12-13, 2000: West Central Ohio

  • Robert Rothschild Farm (Urbana)
  • Ohio State Lima (Regional Campus)
  • BP Oil (Lima)
  • Adventure Central (Dayton)
  • Chaminade Julienne & Stebbins High Schools (Dayton)
  • Wright Patterson Airforce Base (Dayton)
  • National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (Wilberforce)
  • Clark County OSU Extension Office (Springfield)

September 14-15, 1999: North Central Ohio

  • Ohio State Newark (Regional Campus)
  • SmurfitStone Container Corporation (Coshocton)
  • Coshocton County Memorial Hospital (Coshocton)
  • Welch Brothers Farm (Newcomerstown)
  • Firestone & Woodridge High Schools (Akron/Peninsula)
  • Patterson Fruit Farm (Chesterland)
  • Downtown Cleveland/Cleveland State (Cleveland)
  • Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (Wooster)

September 10-11: Scarlet Tour in Southwest Ohio

  • Robert Rothschild Farm (Urbana)
  • Afro American Museum and Cultural Center (Wilberforce)
  • Warren Correctional Facility (Lebanon)
  • Valley Vineyard Winery (Morrow)
  • Hughes & Princeton High Schools (Cincinnati)
  • AK Steel (Middletown)
  • IAMS (Lewisburg)
  • Five Rivers Park (Dayton)

September 17-18: Gray Tour in Southern Ohio

  • Mead Fine Paper Division (Chillicothe)
  • Piketon Research Center (Piketon)
  • MACA Plastics-Aeroframe (Winchester)
  • Lebanon & Kings High Schools (Lebanon/King Mills)
  • Fort Ancient State Memorial (Oregonia)
  • Samuel Walker's and Murphy Theatre (Wilmington)
  • Peterson Farm (Washington Court House)
  • YUSA Corporation (Washington Court House)
  • Fayette County OSU Extension Office (Washington Court House)

September 11-12: Scarlet Tour in Northeast Ohio

  • The Wilds (Cumberland)
  • Longaberger Industries (Dresden)
  • Ohio's Amish Country (Holmes and Wayne Counties)
  • Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (Wooster)
  • St. Ignatius & Shaker Heights High Schools (Cleveland/Shaker Heights)
  • Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland)
  • Ohio State Mansfield (Regional Campus)

September 18-19: Gray Tour in Northwest Ohio

  • Honda of America (Marysville)
  • Transportation Research Center (Marysville)
  • Indian Lake Watershed (Indian Lake)
  • Ohio State Lima (Regional Campus)
  • The Sauder Farm (Archbold)
  • General Mills
  • Toledo Waite High School (Toledo)
  • Put-in-Bay Buurma Farms (Willard)