Earlier this year Gov. Ted Strickland released his first budget, which includes new proposals for institutions of higher education. Receiving a higher education is a key to future success in the increasingly competitive workforce; however, college is becoming less accessible to the average citizen.
Tuition for college continues to increase at a quick pace, and Ohio University raised tuition for the 2005-06 school year by 6 percent. The budget proposed by Strickland includes several recommendations for the 2008 budget for institutions of higher learning. The Strickland administration makes proposals to take steps to build accountability and efficiency into the current education system. The budget recommendations will make college more accessible and more affordable to all Ohioans, thus assuring that all Ohioans will have the opportunity to attain skills for high-quality jobs. The four primary goals of the Executive Budget are:
1) Close the gap in higher education costs for students, making college affordable for Ohioans
2) Compact with higher education institutions to control costs, stem tuition growth and increase collaboration and cooperation between the state and institutions of higher education
3) Create truth in tuition to eliminate unexpected costs for those attending college
4) Seamlessly link education, workforce development and the needs of business so that high school graduates obtain the appropriate levels of post-secondary education and high-demand skills they need to support the needs of Ohio's growing businesses.
In addition to increased funding for institutions of higher learning, the executive budget includes a compact that must be signed by state institutions to come into existence. This compact states that state-supported institutions participate in the Higher Education Compact in order to obtain a 5 percent increase for fiscal year 2008 and 3 percent in 2009, and restrain tuition growth to 0 percent in fiscal year 2008 and 3 percent in 2009.
I strongly encourage the administration of Ohio University to sign and accept the governor's Higher Education Compact because the acceptance would benefit all current and future students of Ohio University and the future of the state of Ohio.
' Zachary Noble is a junior international studies major.
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