Higher ed has a crucial role in Ohio’s growth, prosperity

When Gov. Ted Strickland and Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents Eric Fingerhut unveiled the “Strategic Plan for Higher Education” two years ago, this thought crossed our minds: Changing the direction of the state’s public universities and colleges would be as challenging as turning an ocean-going oil tanker on the high seas. The unwieldy nature of both makes the status quo a safer bet.

Yet, Strickland and Fingerhut, along with college presidents, legislators and experts in higher education correctly concluded that the education level of Ohioans was inextricably tied to the state’s growth and prosperity. Thus was born the 10-year plan that aims to make the University System of Ohio a significant driver of the state’s economy.

The time frame is a recognition that such systemic changes cannot occur overnight. Old habits die hard, special interests are not easily sold on new ideas, and public cynicism about all things government prevails. Against this backdrop, the governor and the chancellor knew that real progress in meeting the strategic plan’s goals was the only thing that would silence the critics.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Fingerhut jumps at the opportunity to present a two-year progress report.

Responding to a request sent to his office for data to support his contention that strides are being made to make the university system more accountable and transparent to the taxpayers, the chancellor wrote a letter to The Vindicator in which he detailed what has been accomplished to date.

Collective power

“Fundamentally, what has changed is a renewed focus on the collective power of Ohio’s unmatched higher education infrastructure when institutions collaborate with each other and their local businesses and communities,” he wrote.

As an example of such collaboration, Fingerhut pointed to the new Eastern Gateway Community College, which was authorized by the Ohio General Assembly in July 2009. The college serves Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, and Jefferson counties, and is designed to make college education accessible and affordable.

As for making the higher education system more efficient, the chancellor offered the following: Last year, $216 million was saved through the creation of a bulk pharmaceutical purchasing consortium; $130 million will be saved over three years through a virtual classroom program; and, $180 million in cost reductions were mandated for universities and colleges as part of the budgeting for higher education.

But challenges abound, including the fact that Ohio’s next biennium budget will be so tight that higher education will not be spared.

It is still too early to declare the initiative a success, but an analysis of all the data suggests that progress is being made to raise the education level of Ohio’s population.