Universities will use report to try to increase funding

The report attributes Ohio's high tuition rates to lack of state support.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A report released Thursday shows tuition at Ohio's public universities costs nearly 50 percent more than the national average, a fact college presidents will use to press Gov. Ted Strickland for additional state money that could hold the line on tuition, reduce class sizes and hire more full-time instructors.
Average tuition for a four-year public university in Ohio is 8,553 -- 47 percent higher than the national average of 5,836, according to the state Board of Regents' annual performance report.
Tuition at a main university campus ranged from 11,738 at Miami University in Oxford to 5,294 at Central State University in Wilberforce.
Support lacking
Without laying blame, the report attributes Ohio's high tuition rates to lack of state support.
"In order for this state to have a higher education system that is affordable to consumers, the state clearly needs to increase its support," said University of Akron President Luis Proenza. College presidents will gather in Columbus next week to meet with Strickland, Proenza said.
The report is intended to show Strickland, a Democrat who took office two weeks ago, and Republicans in the state Legislature where Ohio stands, said interim regents chancellor Garrison Walters.
More affordable
Strickland, whose campaign included promises to make higher education more affordable, cautioned Thursday that his upcoming budget proposal will be tight and likely will fall below the maximum 3.5 spending increase allowed by state law.
During last year's campaign, Strickland proposed using state money to fund college savings accounts for every child whose parents make a 15 minimum investment. The state would make an initial contribution of 500 and an additional 100 annually until the child reaches 18.
That plan is being considered for Strickland's budget proposal, Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said.
Despite budget restraints, Strickland can look to another part of the budget to find more money for higher education, said Matthew Filipic, a vice president at Wright State University and a former assistant state budget director.
Medicaid expenditures were 350 million below estimates as of November, according to the latest report by the state Office of Budget and Management.
"That's the only window, the only opening I'm aware of that can be used for new investments in colleges and universities," Filipic said.
Down 24 percent
Over the past five years, inflation-adjusted state support per student has fallen 24 percent in Ohio, from 4,921 to 3,738, the regents' report said.
Schools have responded by raising tuition and cutting costs, such as increasing class sizes and reducing the number of courses taught by full-time instructors, the report said.
About one-fourth of courses in 2005 had class sizes of more than 50 students, and 43 percent of courses were taught by someone other than a full-time instructor, such as a part-time instructor or graduate assistant.
The report noted that 80 percent of freshman at four-year public universities received some kind of financial aid.
"For at least a decade, tuition increases in Ohio have been two times the inflation rate, and that's unsustainable," said University of Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs. "You have to think about what that means for the long term. You will have fewer Ohioans able to afford a college education and that will decimate our middle class."
Ohio has 13 public university main campuses, 24 university regional campuses, one free-standing medical college, 23 public community and technical colleges, and 63 independent colleges and universities.