‘Momentum is on our side,’ President Carter says
He thanks the university’s passionate and generous supporters for putting Ohio State on a path to even greater success and impact.
President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. and First Lady Lynda Carter participate in a service project at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. (Photo by Corey Wilson)
President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. hadn’t yet become a Buckeye when The Ohio State University first launched Time and Change: The Ohio State Campaign, the most ambitious giving campaign in its history. But Carter, who began his tenure on Jan. 1, 2024, will see the highly successful effort through to a celebration this spring—and the timing couldn’t be better. Carter is currently working with the university community to develop a 10-year strategic plan called “Education for Citizenship 2035.”
The name is a nod both to Ohio State’s founding values and a call to a bold future—and Carter says the historic success of Time and Change (811,000 donors as of mid-March, a record for any university) will put the university in an even stronger position to achieve his vision to set a new standard of excellence in public higher education. As Ohio State celebrates Time and Change, we asked for the president’s thoughts on how the campaign has transformed the university, why alumni are so crucial to its success and what’s next for the Buckeye community.
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What made Time and Change so successful?
In my mind, it’s the passion and genuine love our alumni have for Ohio State. It’s no small matter to consider giving some of your precious time or treasure to any organization. The fact that so many of our alumni and friends around the world have generously contributed to this campaign tells me that they love this university, they believe in our mission, and they want to help us be successful.
At the end of the day, Ohio State exists to change lives—whether that’s the lives of our students, the patients we care for or the people in the communities we serve. It’s a truly noble mission, and I think that’s what inspires alumni to be a part of it. I can’t say thank you enough to each and every person who has been part of this campaign.
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How has the campaign elevated the university?
It would be impossible to fully measure the impact of the campaign. Every contribution, every gift of time, allows us to expand our reach further than what would have otherwise been possible. A gift of any amount can change a life, and Ohio State is elevated anytime that happens.
Of course, philanthropic giving also helps us fulfill our vision for excellence. There’s no doubt excellence requires investment—in people, facilities, programs—and we wouldn’t be able to reach our full potential without the support of visionary and generous donors who don’t want to see us simply maintain the status quo but rather reach for a higher level of success and impact.
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Why is private support so important in higher education today?
Resources are necessarily finite no matter what industry you’re in, and higher education is no exception. At Ohio State, we’re fortunate to be supported by both public and private sources. But no single partner can support the university alone. Private support gives us the opportunity to make additional investments in things that will set Ohio State apart from the field—top-ranked academic programs, scholarships and financial aid to keep our best and brightest young people here, and world-class facilities for teaching, learning, research and patient care.
The higher education environment today is as competitive as I’ve seen in my lifetime. If we don’t invest in excellence, we risk falling behind. That’s why it’s so important for us to take every opportunity to make a case that an investment in Ohio State is an investment in the future.
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You’ve said you want Ohio State to be a higher education model for the nation. In what ways is philanthropy enabling your vision as you develop your strategic plan for the university?
Our vision is to change the conversation around higher education. Those of us who work at colleges and universities have a great opportunity right now to stand up, tell our story and remind the world that there is still no more transformative force in a person’s life than education. I’ve experienced that in my own life and career, and I’ve seen it time and again in the students I’ve been lucky to serve over the years.
This industry is changing fast, and somewhere out there, a university is going to get in the driver’s seat and define the future of higher education. As I see it, that university is going to be Ohio State. We have the talent, the traditions and the commitment to make it happen. With support from partners like those who have given to Time and Change, I absolutely believe the future is right here in Ohio.
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How can Ohio State build upon the momentum from this campaign and what role do alumni have in shaping the future?
The campaign is the perfect launching pad to our 10-year “Education for Citizenship” plan, which we’ll release on July 1. That plan will put specifics behind our goal to set the standard for excellence in public higher education. But as I’ve told our teams, the creation of our plan is just the beginning. Now comes the hard work. And it will require all of us—faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members—working together to bring our vision to reality.
Fortunately, momentum is on our side. I said at the beginning of 2025 that this was going to be a historic year for Ohio State, and so far it is—from a national championship for our football team to unprecedented philanthropic success. Our momentum just keeps picking up speed. There’s never been a better time to be a Buckeye!
