What makes YSU unique?



The above question was prompted by a conversation Congressman Tim Ryan, Democrat from Niles, had recently with Gov. Ted Strickland, Democrat from Lisbon, about the future of higher education in the state. Ryan had called Strickland for some insight into a proposal embraced by him and legislative leaders to make the chancellor of Ohio's universities and colleges a member of the governor's cabinet.
Currently, the chancellor is appointed by the nine-member board of regents.
The congressman, whose 17th District includes most of Trumbull County and a portion of Mahoning County, also wanted to get a sense of where the governor, who has been in office a month and a half, is coming from with regard to higher education.
Here's what he learned: Strickland, a former member of the U.S. House whose district included Columbiana County and a part of Mahoning County, is firm in his belief that the status quo is untenable. He has concluded that tax dollars are not being spent wisely because there is too much duplication of academic programs and other services. His ultimate goal is to ensure that Ohioans are academically prepared to compete in the global marketplace.
Ryan also discerned that the governor is of the opinion that every public institution of higher education should justify its existence.
Thus, the question in the headline.
Given the reaction from YSU President Dr. David Sweet, members of the university's board of trustees and community leaders to what they perceived was an unfair characterization of the institution in this space several months ago, let it be said clearly: In asking "What makes YSU unique?" this writer is not offering an editorial comment. Rather, the question is designed to trigger a community-wide discussion of Youngstown State University and its place in Gov. Strickland's blueprint for higher education.
Hometown connection
When Strickland was elected last November, his ties to the Mahoning Valley through his representing the 6th Congressional District and his Lisbon residence were viewed as advantageous to Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Finally, it seemed, this region would get the attention from state government it has long deserved.
But, in light of the governor's push to restructure higher education, decision-makers in the Valley would be making a mistake if they expect special favors from him with regard to YSU.
It is, therefore, up to the stakeholders -- the president, trustees, faculty and staff, officeholders, business and labor leaders and community activists -- to develop a solid case for the institution to not only continue in its current form, but become a center of excellence in certain academic disciplines.
Everyone knows that as an open admissions, urban university, YSU must deal with pressures that most other public universities and colleges do not face. The fact that it has received high marks from the Ohio Board of Regents in the 2006 Performance Report for Ohio's Colleges and Universities bodes well. Its enrollment has grown at a faster-than-average rate, and yet YSU receives the lowest per-student subsidy of all the 11 comprehensive public universities.
The organization of its academic structure to meet the growing importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the state and national levels represents the type of creative thinking the governor wants to see from the higher education community in Ohio.
Low tuition
The regents' report also highlights YSU's low tuition, small class size, above-average student retention rates and higher-than-average student scores on most national and state exams.
And yet, in the reshuffling advocated by Strickland, YSU could end up being shortchanged -- unless it can prove that it has a unique role to play in meeting the governor's challenge of increasing the number of college graduates.
The reshuffling has also made the future of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine uncertain. There is talk that the days of the stand-alone medical school -- it is a consortium of Youngstown State, Kent State and the University of Akron -- are numbered. In its new form, it could well become a part of Akron University.
That raises the question of YSU's participation. Currently, the three universities send graduates of their BS/MD programs to NEOUCOM.
With the stakes for YSU being so high, Congressman Ryan intends to host a meeting of Valley decision-makers to talk about the future of the institution. It could well be one of the most important discussions held in this region.

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