COLUMBUS -- State-of-the-art equipment is needed if our students are going to have the state-of-the-art technology skills required for success in the 21st Century. We need to make a substantial continuing investment in new academic computing, enhanced learning, and technology infrastructure needs to meet our obligation to our students. While we intend to direct every available dollar for this purpose, the availability of a dedicated revenue stream for targeted strategic use would be enormously beneficial.

Our goals are driven by a need to stay competitive with the nation's top public research universities. But our ability to do so is limited by: (a.) the tuition & fee cap imposed by state law; (b.) our low level of tuition - currently 7 percent below the state average - and (c.) the low level of state support of higher education generally (currently ranked 42nd in the nation).

We sought permission from the Regents to assess a $50 per student per quarter fee to help pay for a portion of the needed technology investment. The fee would generate $4 million per year and would make an enormous difference in the education of our students. (The balance of the investment would come from existing revenues and fees.)

While the Regents agreed that Ohio State has a serious resource problem given the scope of its mission and the revenue available to it, we were unable to persuade them that the technology resource issue constitutes the type of "exceptional circumstance" normally required to grant an increase in the state's tuition & fee cap. Board members expressed a willingness to work with the university to address this resource problem. We look forward to working with the board and others in resolving this critical funding need.

Ohio State has an obligation to serve the state by educating its students and its work force. The challenge is great, as Ohio ranks in the lowest quartile in the nation in the number of high school students going on to college. Compounding that is the fact Ohio sends more talented students to colleges outside of the state than we attract into the state.

We will continue through all possible means to meet our obligations to our students and to be good stewards of the resources available to us. And we will continue to envision exciting futures for our graduates while seeking support for initiatives we firmly believe are in the best interests of all the people of Ohio.

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