YSU receives high marks from board of regents

The glowing report on Youngstown State University from the Ohio Board of Regents could not have come at a better time. With the Republican-controlled General Assembly delving into higher education in Ohio and questioning whether the state needs 38 public colleges and universities, YSU can make a strong argument for its continued existence -- and growth.
In the midst of major cuts in state funding for higher education -- there was a 6 percent reduction in the current biennium budget, and there is the possibility of another 2 percent cut in the near future -- Youngstown State has emerged as one of the most cost-efficient universities in Ohio.
The state's annual performance report on higher education shows that YSU spends less than other universities in the state. In addition, its students pay less and get more financial aid. And of particular importance to the board of regents and to state lawmakers, YSU is above average when it comes to retaining students from year to year and getting them to graduate.
"We are very, very lean up here," says Dr. Jan Elias, YSU assistant provost.
That comment should be music to the ears of Gov. Bob Taft, House Speaker Larry Householder and Senate President Richard Finan, all Republicans, because it supports their contention that institutions of higher learning do not have to be bottomless money pits.
Even YSU's tuition of $4,204 for full-time students stands out because it is well below the $4,973 state average and ranks 11th out of Ohio's 13 four-year public universities.
Professors: And lest anyone think that students are being shortchanged in the classroom because of the relatively low tuition, there are more first-year student credit hours taught by full professors at YSU than at any other university in the state. That fact should ingratiate YSU to Republican leaders in the House and Senate.
The absence of full professors in lower-level classes has long been a point of contention in the General Assembly. Many legislators have argued that as tuition is increased, students have every right to complain about the large number of graduate assistants who are given teaching assignments.
When YSU's board of trustees imposed a midterm tuition increase of 5 percent to go into effect for the spring semester starting in January, President Dr. David Sweet made it clear that his administration would not only ensure that students receive their money's worth, but he pledged that no student would drop out because of not being able to afford the $120 additional fee.
Sweet said the university would provide loans and grants to help students meet the higher cost.
Assistance: The state report shows that 31 percent of YSU students receive some sort of grant money, the fourth highest percentage. Much of the money comes from the YSU Foundation, a private $132.1 million endowment. Last year, the foundation gave $4.75 million to the university, mostly for student scholarships.
Clearly, the report from the Ohio Board of Regents is a tip of the hat to Youngstown State University for meeting its responsibilities as an open admissions institution in an efficient manner -- without sacrificing academic quality.