Universities, community and career colleges urge preserving 2% SSI increase and parity for grants during HB 96 hearings

Representatives of Ohio’s higher-education sectors told the Senate Higher Education Committee they want the Senate to preserve the House-proposed 2% annual increase in the State Share of Instruction (SSI) and to avoid extending new operational mandates to private institutions.

Avi Zafini, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, said the 2% SSI increase is "a direct and efficient way to support our community colleges" and asked the committee to preserve it. Zafini added that, "if you're not able to maintain the full 2 percent increase, we would respectfully ask that the general assembly grant our community college boards of trustees the authority and additional flexibility to increase tuition by up to $10 per credit hour, if absolutely necessary." She also urged the committee to implement outcome-based SSI changes carefully so rural or lower-wage regions are not penalized and recommended streamlining duplicative reporting by allowing data already…