Taft proposes new tuition cap
Leonard Crist
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: pageone
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An annual cap limiting tuition increases and better funding for grants and student loans are among the higher education budget initiatives Ohio Gov. Bob Taft outlined in Tuesday's "State of the State" address.
"With college costs rising and the state budget under pressure, we must act to make sure no Ohioan is denied a college education because they cannot afford it," Taft said. "I challenge our state colleges and universities to keep tuition increases to a minimum by becoming more productive and more collaborative."
To that end, Taft proposed a 6 percent annual tuition cap that can only be exceeded for the purpose of needs based scholarships. The actual percentage increase allowed for the proposed scholarship exception, as well any changes in total higher education funding, will be revealed today when Taft unveils his final budget.
The current tuition cap allows for a 6 percent annual increase with an additional 3.9 percent allowable increase for the purposes of technological improvements and needs based scholarships.
Taft reiterated his goal of increasing university enrollment by 30 percent over the next 10 years and said he will expand the Ohio College Access Network so more young people and their families will have access to college information and financing options.
Taft also announced plans to increase funding and expand the state's needs based grant program, which will make an additional 11,000 students eligible for the aid, as well as a new program that will provide more than $100 million in low-interest student loans to Ohio students.
Youngstown State University President David Sweet said, "I thought there was a lot to applaud in his aspirations and hopefully the legislature will respond."
Sweet said increased money for grants was good, but he felt differently about increased loans.
"There's no question about it, I'd much prefer grants and scholarships to students taking out loans," Sweet said.
Sweet would not speculate on whether YSU would see funding cuts when today's final budget proposal is revealed. But, he said YSU has a record to boast about in terms of efficiency and effectiveness and feels the university was successful in making their case to raise tuition last month.
"With college costs rising and the state budget under pressure, we must act to make sure no Ohioan is denied a college education because they cannot afford it," Taft said. "I challenge our state colleges and universities to keep tuition increases to a minimum by becoming more productive and more collaborative."
To that end, Taft proposed a 6 percent annual tuition cap that can only be exceeded for the purpose of needs based scholarships. The actual percentage increase allowed for the proposed scholarship exception, as well any changes in total higher education funding, will be revealed today when Taft unveils his final budget.
The current tuition cap allows for a 6 percent annual increase with an additional 3.9 percent allowable increase for the purposes of technological improvements and needs based scholarships.
Taft reiterated his goal of increasing university enrollment by 30 percent over the next 10 years and said he will expand the Ohio College Access Network so more young people and their families will have access to college information and financing options.
Taft also announced plans to increase funding and expand the state's needs based grant program, which will make an additional 11,000 students eligible for the aid, as well as a new program that will provide more than $100 million in low-interest student loans to Ohio students.
Youngstown State University President David Sweet said, "I thought there was a lot to applaud in his aspirations and hopefully the legislature will respond."
Sweet said increased money for grants was good, but he felt differently about increased loans.
"There's no question about it, I'd much prefer grants and scholarships to students taking out loans," Sweet said.
Sweet would not speculate on whether YSU would see funding cuts when today's final budget proposal is revealed. But, he said YSU has a record to boast about in terms of efficiency and effectiveness and feels the university was successful in making their case to raise tuition last month.