Ohio University Southern officials will showcase the campus' progress and development this week when Ohio University's Board of Trustees makes its first official visit in nearly a decade.

"It is a rare event. They have not been here in an official capacity for about 10 years," OUS Dean Dan L. Evans said. "A lot has happened on campus since that visit. This is a chance to show off the campus and the community."

Evans said university officials hope to highlight the aspects that make OUS different than the other OU branch campuses.

"Naturally, any time the board of trustees visits it is an historic event," Evans said. "This is our opportunity as a campus to show them how we are fulfilling the mission of OU in the region and offer programs that meet this area's needs in unique and innovative ways."

In addition to touring the campus and looking at the academic programs, the board will visit the Equine Center Thursday, hear presentations by faculty, staff and students at 8:30 a.m. Friday and host its regular meeting at 10:30 a.m.

Alan H. Geiger, secretary to the board of trustees, said the members are just as excited as Evans about the visit.

"They do not get the opportunity to visit the regional campuses that often," he said. "These campuses are one-third of Ohio University and are a very big part of what we do. It is always refreshing for them to meet students, faculty, staff and members of the communities the campuses serve."

University President Dr. Robert Glidden will attend the meeting to discuss several topics, including the state's budget situation and Gov. Bob Taft's proposal, Geiger said.

At least five of the nine board members must be alumni from Ohio University, and all have served the university in numerous capacities, Geiger said.

"It is a real plus for the university to have members who have gone here as students and been successful in whatever they do and have returned to serve the university," he said.

Members have diverse backgrounds and hail from across the state.

Patricia A. Ackerman is the former executive director of curriculum and instruction for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools.

M. Lee Ong of Hudson is a retired teacher who taught in Ohio, Maryland and Louisiana.

Chairman Gordon F. Brunner is the retired senior vice president of the Procter & Gamble Company.

C. Daniel DeLawder is president & CEO of Park National Bank and Park National Corp.,

of Newark.

Larry L. Schey is president and owner of Larry Schey Chevrolet of Athens.

M. Marnette Perry is from Westerville and is a member of the Kroger Corporation.

R. Gregory Browning, of Worthington, is a member of the State Medical Board of Ohio.

C. David Snyder is the chairman of Snyder International Brewing Group, Cleveland,

and president of Quest Investments. He may be unable to attend due to family issues, Geiger said.

Vice chairman of the board, Robert D. Walter of Dublin, is chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health Inc.

The two student trustees are Barry J. Spurlock of Napoleon, a communication systems management major, and Tara M. Stuckey, of Maumee,

a journalism major in the Honors Tutorial College.

Geiger and Richard P. Siemer, treasurer and vice president for finance, will also be joined by university vice presidents Gary North and Richard Siemer and Provost Stephen Kopp.