[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6680185,"mediaKeyId","2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8","parentId",2171659,"title","Ohio college leaders push back on political interference and fret about federal accountability measures","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2402000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8&start=2402&end=2402","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8/thumbnail_2402000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6680185/Ohio/Ohio-college-leaders-push-back-on-political-interference-and-fret-about-federal-accountability-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680185-cf25ebcd75a5cd6be0634168e10b2a95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186418&Signature=onUU8pNnePCMjyePOCe5LsZLEeFqyjtUziCCfnvzxuvzmhIVEdbvgeLOZMFiQhRt2zXZv1oTACBTs0n8p3SmXkXtkc~vF6lIPeojqiOf8jq578y0K3OA4JxLTGbfutzCDtcIuodhfJ9-TrqxXZpZUuZ3tFw80Tn-FJmfu~Vo2EPH8h1c-ScJ~dR4EHz4G25m-tBs5NIi5QDS0Al5Ynod9d5MgxlDNIRDztPZcqmqro~299~s2QAE1AElTZOp~IArDPrON1sp029teP-ckHX~ygLPoH9YRW-gQrhv4JycWCFB1dLpSKY3GBvRUKrYHwEvl4bywT2g6zv4hah8AYVN-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbus","date","2025-01-30T05:10:07.943Z","article","Panelists at the Columbus Metropolitan Club raised concerns about political and regulatory pressure on public higher education institutions, naming Senate Bill 1 and new federal accountability initiatives among the threats they said could reshape how colleges operate.

John Comerford, president of Otterbein University, said proposed state legislation that he and others described as Senate Bill 1 risked political interference in campus curriculum and academic decisions. \"Senate bill 1 is specific to public institutions ... it certainly sets a precedent of political interference in higher education that I think is ... a dangerous place to go,\" Comerford said.

The forum also addressed a federal rulemaking effort described in questions from audience members as the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment act. Comerford cautioned against short-term metrics for degree value: \"You gotta take a longer view than, like, they wanna measure 6 months after graduation, what are they making? And that's just not the right way to think about this,\" he said, arguing that narrower measures could undervalue humanities and liberal-arts training over a full career.

Panelists also warned of broader accountability and market consolidation. In his remarks, Comerford predicted greater state and federal scrutiny and said the higher education market is likely to shrink: \"There will be fewer colleges in Ohio in 2 years and in 5 years, and in 10 years than there are today. And frankly, we're overbuilt,\" he said, calling for institutions to adapt or risk externally driven consolidation.

The Inter-University Council of Public Universities was reported on the panel as taking a neutral stance toward Senate Bill 1, a point noted by Central State's representative.

Why it matters: Changes in state law and federal accountability regimes can directly affect public funding, program offerings and institutional autonomy. Panelists warned that measures that tie funding too tightly to short-term employment metrics could alter curricular choices and the availability of certain majors.

No formal position or vote by the institutions was taken during the forum; remarks reflect speakers' perspectives and answers to audience questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbus Metropolitan Club: Ohio Higher Education Innovates for a New Era","oneSentenceSummary","Panelists at the Columbus Metropolitan Club forum discussed proposed state measures such as Senate Bill 1 and federal accountability tools (referred to in the session as the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment initiative), warning of political intrusion and of rising outcomes-based pressure on institutions.","taxTitle","Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",75950,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6680190,"Colleges expand food pantries, childcare and employer 'earn-and-learn' programs to retain students",2085,939000,3024000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8&start=939&end=3024","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8/thumbnail_939000.jpg","/articles/6680190/Ohio/Colleges-expand-food-pantries-childcare-and-employer-earn-and-learn-programs-to-retain-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680190-2fcc9e4076cccb9263a9affab5348c22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186418&Signature=nqghdJLhv9wdZwHqVk~jx6lSCoERJORE8A6wi~lw8qr~HzEB4dw18-y3ruVd0~4FabtunJPbU7wSBmcAFRiF1a9Z3PhTZ2T2c~cLBGlh6qVP1qa8xEnYWcgnAVVcuYwtr-AVRJ09yY8VCQFNZ9u2RxOnCPefXnPDvy-uterRNkNtiPhKNY4-dve7p9~Ffxk8hhiTDCAqo3c-jI3hjqjYq9wJJd0G8ksIJChKAe8wN19MtROnixBUwtplHswjmHcBX9u3L-jsW1go-gNrkavieXGHu8i5aEZ5MHeId-sN09ZnZVs8AdzvfTNzGxIvrrTdwCp5~1n-8Xy0psOWz7FWVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders from several Central Ohio colleges described a series of student-support programs and employer partnerships they say are intended to improve retention by addressing food insecurity, childcare, transportation and housing.

David Harrison, president of Columbus State Community College, said the college partnered with Mid-Ohio Food Collective to open a free grocery store on campus and recently opened a child development center. \"We got a free grocery store, not just a market, a free grocery store on campus,\" Harrison said. He added that Columbus State partnered with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority in a pilot designed to study the effect of removing housing insecurity on student success.

John Comerford, president of Otterbein University, said his campus has operated a food pantry for about a decade and recently sought a federal Title III grant to support first-generation, low-income students. \"We have had a food pantry on campus for a decade now,\" Comerford said, and he noted the Title III application and related staffing were underway.

Panelists said employer partnerships are being used to create short-term credentials and degree programs tied directly to workforce needs. Comerford described arrangements in which employers host credentialing and degree programs for employees; Columbus State and other institutions reported employers paying tuition reimbursements or upfront tuition to enable students to work while earning credentials.

Why it matters: Panelists said academic supports alone are not enough to keep many students enrolled. Nonacademic barriers, from childcare to transportation, commonly cause students — particularly working adults and parents — to leave before completing credentials.

Speakers also discussed stackable credentials and pathways that let students earn certificates and later convert those credits to degrees. Otterbein described a partnership bringing Antioch University adult programs to central Ohio to capture adult learners; Columbus State described the use of employer partnerships to create \"earn-and-learn\" pathways that reduce student debt and allow students to be paid while they study.

Panelists urged local employers and funders to sustain supports that begin on campus and continue into the workplace, such as tuition reimbursement, on-site childcare and affordable housing options.

No formal campus policy changes or votes were taken during the forum.","Panelists at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum described campus food pantries, child-development centers, housing partnerships and employer-integrated credential programs aimed at removing nonacademic barriers to student retention.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6680194,"Central Ohio colleges brace for a \"demographic cliff,\" widen access through adult programs and employer partnerships",1506,238000,1744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8&start=238&end=1744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171659-d870f7785a621bba0d5551055ab9cdc8/thumbnail_238000.jpg","/articles/6680194/Ohio/Central-Ohio-colleges-brace-for-a-demographic-cliff-widen-access-through-adult-programs-and-employer-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680194-20166835b88128c6162dca6708f57537/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186418&Signature=kStfvkhCsOFCUSmgJskRLA1A2bObe~DbslQ1X3VMYG4xGPNMWT5sUkyzmsXpRfb-ZMN4JVp4NuZ~awbTELxapen0lZI~x2r98JaP1Zk-n3bAL5571izW-lubvid2-iaeAaTmcf08Fpltgm~BkTBo6rntmEgEo1Fy0FHDY6Z~~piyCSqPvDCez2i-qPHE8mof9nQ44k8XIiq9k4EwZWqnkvhi6R~obHwPmsG2uAAqQzdxfJPaU2oMtRbT~-56j8Lh1yPQ7APCt8wtU-Lw185DiQ6lza24vq9fIKSyL-LAUeZAUDY2GBl~imlIkNQdCjlT5u1ConxyIyxlgRH2kqBJNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders of Central Ohio colleges told an audience at the Columbus Metropolitan Club that they are preparing for a projected drop in the number of traditional college-age students by expanding programs for adult learners, deepening employer partnerships and adjusting financial aid.

James Orr, vice provost for strategic enrollment management at The Ohio State University, cited research showing a future decline in high school graduates and a lower college-going rate. \"In 2008, a researcher and economist by the name of Nathan McGraw ... projected is that starting in 2025 this fall, that there would be a decline in the number of high school graduates,\" Orr said. He added that Ohio's college-going rate fell from about 72% in 2010 to roughly 66% in 2023.

Why it matters: Colleges statewide rely on tuition and enrollment-driven funding; a sustained fall in numbers of 18-year-olds and a lower share choosing college would put pressure on budgets and on strategies for access and completion.

Panelists described a range of responses. John Comerford, president of Otterbein University, said his campus now meets the full tuition need of students who are Pell-eligible after they complete the FAFSA, an approach intended to attract and retain lower-income students. \"If a student's Pell-eligible ... then we meet their full need for tuition with no loans,\" Comerford said, describing the policy as unique among Ohio institutions.

David Harrison, president of Columbus State Community College, emphasized partnerships with employers and with other universities. He highlighted a set of agreements Columbus State calls \"preferred pathway\" programs that guarantee admission or transfer opportunities to four-year partners and cited a tuition figure for full-time study: \"A full time student at Columbus State pays $5,000 a year.\" Harrison also described a Tuition Match partnership with Ohio Wesleyan University that aims to keep junior- and senior-year tuition affordable for students who start at Columbus State.

Central State University, represented on the panel by its president (identified in the forum as Dr. Kuti), said HBCU enrollment has remained steady and showed signs of strength after the pandemic. Central State said it had increased campus enrollment-staff capacity to focus on recruiting in Ohio, a change the university described as roughly a 30% staffing increase to support in-state recruiting.

Panelists also described tapping the adult-learner market. Comerford described Otterbein's work with Antioch University to bring adult graduate programs into new markets, and several speakers cited employer-hosted credentialing and short-term certificates as growth areas. \"We're doing professional development credentialing, short term certificates, and even degree programs inside the employer for their workforce,\" Comerford said, describing deals with local and national employers.

Speakers repeatedly framed their strategies as a combination of expanding access for nontraditional students while preserving the features that appeal to traditional undergraduates.

Looking ahead, panelists said institutional collaboration, clearer pathways from certificates to degrees and sustained employer partnerships will be key to offsetting demographic pressure.

Panelists and their roles were identified during the forum and are quoted or summarized above. No formal decisions or votes were taken during the session.","At a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, leaders from Central State University, Otterbein, Columbus State and Ohio State described strategies — from Pell-first tuition coverage to employer-delivered credentials — intended to offset projected declines in traditional college-going cohorts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ohio college leaders push back on political interference and fret about federal accountability measures

Colleges expand food pantries, childcare and employer 'earn-and-learn' programs to retain students

Central Ohio colleges brace for a "demographic cliff," widen access through adult programs and employer partnerships