Charter universities idea piquing interest

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Specifics are few, but the idea of charter universities in Ohio is piquing interest among higher education officials.

“Everyone is interested in hearing about charter universities and what it truly means,” said Cynthia Anderson, president of Youngstown State University.

Gov. John Kasich has mentioned the charter university idea as a way to relieve those public institutions of some regulatory burdens. He has issued no formal proposal.

Bruce Johnson, president and CEO of the Inter-University Council of Ohio, said there is no formal definition of a charter university.

“It’s amorphous,” he said.

The council represents Ohio’s 14 public universities. Also unknown is what charter universities mean in terms of state funding. Published reports have predicted that charter universities would receive less money from the state.

Higher education is already expecting a cut as federal funding provided in previous years won’t be made up by the state.

“We’re for deregulation in higher education and for providing better service at a lower cost,” Johnson said. “Whether or not that means charter is a different issue.”

The council’s executive committee emphasized its desire for less regulation in a January letter to Kasich.

“There are several issues that would be worthy of an initial discussion with a new governor, however we want to emphasize only one: relief from the volumes of unnecessary state regulation that hamper the effective management of our state universities,” the letter said. “We are requesting additional flexibility in order to unleash the creative potential on each of our campuses.”

Johnson listed public construction, purchasing, collective bargaining and human-resources requirements as some of the regulations from which universities are seeking relief.

“We are aware that the notion of Charter Universities is being discussed, and we consider the concept to be one way that regulatory reform could be accomplished,” council executive committee members wrote in the letter to the governor.

The executive committee is composed of Johnson and the presidents of Miami, Shawnee State, Ohio and Wright State universities.

Their letter identified some principles they believe should guide discussion of charter universities. “First, charter universities will remain completely committed to the people of Ohio and to the policy goals established by our elected leadership,” they wrote. “Second, all universities should be eligible to participate. Third, some state regulations and legal protection provide assistance to state universities and should be retained. Fourth, the IUC is committed to attaining state goals and individual efficiency through collaboration.”

Laura Meeks, president of Eastern Gateway Community College, said that what she’s heard regarding the charter idea pertains to four-year universities. She’s heard of no such proposal for two-year community colleges.

This year, about 39 percent of EGCC budget is from state funding, she said.