I love solutions that address multiple issues at once, so it’s fitting that this tidbit of good news out of Ohio is the first diary from this Ohioan.
It’s no secret that Ohio has been struggling to find its footing and rebuild its economy after losing much of its manufacturing base to offshore locations. One of Ohio’s strengths, however, has always been its public college and university system. There are 13 public universities and 23 community and technical colleges (.pdf). I have benefited from two of them myself: Lakeland Community College and The Ohio State University.
To help rebuild the state, our new Democratic governor, Ted Strickland, and his administration are understandably looking to use the state’s public college and university system to attract and keep an educated population. Recently, they adopted a ten year strategic plan, which includes the goal of enrolling an additional 230,000 students.
We have for years had a net out-migration, not only for the state generally, but for people with college degrees," said Eric D. Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. "So one of our goals, specifically delineated in the strategic plan, is to reverse the out-migration of people with degrees. In order to achieve that, we have to graduate more students and keep them here, and also attract more from out of state.
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Where might some of those out-of-state students come from? Here’s where two issues get addressed at once.
On June 30, Senator Jim Webb finally saw his long-fought-for G.I. Bill for post-9/11 veterans signed into law. In short, it provides (.pdf) qualifying veterans (or family members) in-state tuition to public universities and colleges, plus stipends for housing. Because the tuition benefits are limited to in-state tuition rates, veterans make best use of their benefits by attending a public school in their home state.
Ohio, however, just became the first state in the nation to expand these veterans’ options. Yesterday, Governor Strickland signed an executive order making out-of-state veterans "honorary Ohioans" and thereby giving them in-state tuition rates in Ohio!
Part of what the governor dubbed "The Ohio G.I. Promise," the lifting of the residency requirement would save veterans from out-of-state big bucks should they choose to attend an Ohio college.
"There is a world-class education waiting in Ohio and a lifetime of opportunity after that," said Strickland as he spoke from his Statehouse office with a line of active-duty military personnel stoically looking on behind him.
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Once attending an Ohio school, veterans will also find additional programs aimed at encouraging them to stay in Ohio after graduation.
"If we are able to attract veterans to Ohio, we can link them and their families to internships, co-op and other opportunities, and if they get good jobs here, we’ll have Ohioans," [Mr. Fingerhut] said.
"We want veterans to know Ohio wants them to come here, and that we think they’re incredibly valuable high potential students," Mr. Fingerhut said. "We already have a number of very good programs, which we’ll be expanding, to provide the type of counselors, advisers, and mentors who can work one on one with veterans to help them make the transition to civilian life and navigate the academic environment."
Unfortunately, there is no marketing budget to spread the word about Ohio’s new benefit for veterans. So if you know someone who might be interested, please pass this along!
And to those veterans who come to Ohio for school, let this sixth generation Ohioan be among the first to say, "Welcome (and don’t forget to register to vote)"!