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Ohio Regents Deliver Second Annual Condition Report on Higher Education to Chancellor

For Immediate Release | March 18, 2009

COLUMBUS – Today, the nine-member board that advises the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents released its second annual report on the Condition of Higher Education in Ohio.

The report focuses on higher education's facility and technology infrastructure. It identifies facility and technology challenges that must be addressed to assure that Ohio's citizens have the educational and workforce training they need to be competitive in the 21st Century.

"I look forward to reviewing the report and aligning its findings with areas of the state's Strategic Plan for Higher Education," Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut said.

The board operates in an advisory capacity to the Chancellor with two ex-officio representatives from the State Legislature. It was created in 1963 by the Ohio General Assembly. James M. Tuschman, of Toledo, serves as the board’s chair. Among other duties, the board is charged with issuing this annual report on the condition of higher education in the state.

Dated March 31, 2009, the Condition of Higher Education in Ohio: Meeting the State's future Needs Through a Competitive Higher Education Facility and Technology infrastructure, concludes:

Ohio's substantial facility and technological assets must be utilized to a greater extent and in different ways than in the past.
Larger investments by trustees are needed to address deferred maintenance, technology upgrades, building retrofits, and new facilities needed to accommodate program expansions for science, technology, engineering, math and health professions.
Debt levels are a concern for some institutions, and current trends cannot continue. Ohio must explore new funding streams and strategies to support its debt issuance.
Greater collaboration among institutions, business and industry, and other state services can result in greater cost effectiveness among institutions.
State regulations, particularly in construction, can be modified in ways that result in high quality facilities at a lower cost.
A statewide common IT infrastructure that focuses on shared services is an opportunity to deliver new programs in more locations and improve efficiencies.

The report also states that higher education in Ohio must focus on two key areas: economic development and productivity. Higher education must redouble its efforts as the growth engine for research and workforce development through expanded educational services for its citizens and redevelopment of its communities. It must also intensify its efforts on collaboration and productivity in administrative and academic services to effect system wide savings and efficiencies.

To view the full report, please visit www.uso.edu/downloads/.

Contact: Michael Chaney, Chief Communications Officer, Ohio Board of Regents
Office: (614) 752-9480 Cell: (614) 633-5909
E-mail: mchaney@regents.state.oh.us

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