Columbus State president: Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge aim to expand postsecondary access and meet regional labor demand

Dr. David Harrison, president of Columbus State Community College, told the Columbus City Council committee that postsecondary access and workforce partnerships will determine the region’s ability to fill high‑quality jobs. "This is a moment in time for our region," Harrison said, adding that talent will determine whether major projects succeed.

Harrison described two central initiatives. Columbus Promise guarantees full tuition at Columbus State for graduates of Columbus City Schools and pairs that promise with student supports. The program’s first phase relied on an initial $5,000,000 city investment, $1,000,000 from Columbus State and $6,000,000 in private fundraising; the city later committed $10,000,000 for a second phase. Harrison said Columbus Promise has increased enrollment of Columbus City Schools graduates and improved early measures of student success.

Harrison also described Buckeye Bridge, a partnership with The Ohio State University that will allow Columbus State associate-degree earners from families with gross incomes at or below $100,000 to transfer to OSU with tuition and fees covered. He called the combination of Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge a potential regional differentiator because it creates a predictable path from high school to a four‑year degree for many local students.

Why it matters: Harrison emphasized demographic headwinds — a projected decline in Ohio high‑school graduates and a falling college‑going rate — and that Central Ohio’s economic growth will depend on increasing postsecondary attainment and reskilling adults with some college and no degree. He said Columbus State serves roughly 10,000 high‑school students and 7,000 adult students yearly and that nearly 80% of entering students require remediation or developmental supports.

Employer partnerships and capital commitments were highlighted as essential. Harrison described a $25,000,000 endowment from OhioHealth to hire faculty and staff in perpetuity for health programs and noted a proposed YMCA partnership near campus that could provide fitness facilities and high‑volume drop‑in childcare for students and community members.

Committee members asked about costs and sustainability. Harrison said a full‑time Columbus State student pays about $5,500 in tuition annually; many Promise students are Pell‑eligible or part‑time, reducing that per‑student tuition burden. He said wraparound supports (housing, food, transportation and childcare) are harder to cost precisely but are a critical part of student success. The committee discussed levy authority for operating support; Harrison said state changes extended levy authority to some state community colleges and that four Ohio community colleges already use local operating levies.

Next steps: Harrison urged sustaining and scaling Columbus Promise for Columbus City Schools and exploring regional extension; he recommended combining early childhood investments with postsecondary guarantees to create a cradle‑to‑career pipeline. "If they grow up knowing Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge are there for them ... it becomes much more than a financial thing. It becomes a through line of hope," Harrison said.

Ending note: Council and committee members pressed for clarity on sustainable funding models, employer engagement and potential moonshot scenarios; Harrison said benchmarking and further modeling are under way and that Columbus State will continue to work with city, county and private partners.