Chancellor Delivers 10-Year Plan for Higher Education to Governor Strickland, General Assembly

On March 31, Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut presented a 10‐year strategic plan for higher education to Governor Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly that details strategies to meet the governor’s goal of enrolling 230,000 more students while keeping more graduates in Ohio and attracting more talent to the state.

The plan promises to raise the overall educational attainment of the state of Ohio.

"This report builds upon the principles I put forth last year in creating the University System of Ohio," Strickland said. "This 10‐year plan for Ohio’s institutions of higher education will ensure not only that we dramatically expand educational opportunities for Ohioans but that we do so in a way that makes our state a world‐class economic competitor."

The plan will provide Ohioans with access to a high‐quality education with a low‐cost tuition by:

Creating distinctive missions for each university leading to the establishment of Centers of Excellence that will drive the economy.

Offering many educational options to students who can then hoose the best programs at the best price to meet their needs.

Offering associate and bachelor’s programs in core fields available at a University System of Ohio campus within 30 miles of every Ohioan.

Allowing "Dual Admission" for students entering a community college with the intention of continuing on to a University System of Ohio university.

Reframing the relationship between business and higher education to create new jobs and a highly skilled workforce.

Encouraging high school students to earn college credit through "Seniors to Sophomores" and other early college credit programs.

Chancellor Fingerhut said, "Over the past year, I have met with and visited presidents, faculty, students, business leaders, legislators, and national experts to form a uniquely Ohio approach to higher education, drawing on our strengths to reclaim our premier role in the global economy."

The plan also calls for a higher level of accountability both for individual institutions and the University System of Ohio. Additionally, it establishes performance measures that will reward excellence and efficiency. Universities will join the national Voluntary System of Accountability, which will make data available regarding price, financial aid, degree programs, retention and graduation rates, campus safety, student satisfaction, and student learning outcomes. All of these results will be available to prospective students in an Ohio College Portrait. The performance of the University System of Ohio as a whole will be gauged according to 20 performance metrics, each measured and updated in real time at www.universitysystem.ohio.gov/dashboard.

The University System of Ohio, created through a directive of Governor Strickland, consists of 13 public universities, one medical college, 24 regional branch campuses and 23 community colleges, as well as adult literacy and adult workforce centers. In creating the University System of Ohio, the governor recognized that the primary way to make Ohio’s economy more competitive is by raising the aspirations and the educational levels of its citizens.

To view the full report, please visit www.universitysystem.ohio.gov.

Author Jeff Biggers at Jesse Stuart Foundation

Jeff BiggersOn March 29th, from 11 am until 1 pm, national award-winning author Jeff Biggers will be at the Jesse Stuart Foundation signing copies of his critically acclaimed book, The United States of Appalachia: How Southern Mountaineers Brought Independence, Culture, and Enlightenment to America.

Mr. Biggers’s background as an educator, radio correspondent and community organizer informs his award-winning stories that appear regularly on NPR, PRI and in scores of magazines and newspapers including USA Today, Newsweek and The Atlantic among others.

OACHE was honored to have Mr. Biggers as a keynote speaker at the annual conference last October.