97-02-04 News Conference on Budget Thursday

NEWS ADVISORY
REACTION TO STATE BUDGET TOPIC OF THURSDAY NEWS CONFERENCE	

	The Ohio State University will hold a news conference on Thursday,
Feb. 6, at 3:30 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge of the Fawcett Center, 2400
Olentangy River Road, to present the viewpoints of its trustees and
administrators on the proposed state funding of higher education in the
coming biennium.

	The principal speakers will be Les Wexner, chair of Board of Trustees; E.
Gordon Gee, president of the university; and George Skestos, a trustee and a
member of the Higher Education Funding Commission.  They will discuss what
the funding levels mean for Ohio State, and why they are urging the General
Assembly to fund higher education at the level proposed by the Board of Regents.

	In the budget presented Monday (2/3) by state budget director R. Gregory
Browning, higher education would receive essentially flat funding with
increases of 3.4 percent in fiscal 1998 and 3.8 percent in fiscal 1999.  The
Board of Regents had requested increases of 6.97 percent in 1998 and 6.28
percent in 1999 to implement the goals of the Higher Education Funding
Commission, which called for greater access, high quality learning, focused
research, services to communities, and effective and efficient use of
limited resources.

	"We are encouraged by the willingness of our elected state representatives
to listen to the reasoning put forth by the higher education community," Gee
said.  "Higher education is a key resource for Ohio's future and must be
funded at a level that keeps Ohio competitive in today's and tomorrow's
economy.  Mr. Browning indicated that, as the budget process continues,
there may be some flexibility to increase funding for education at all
levels.  I see that as a very hopeful sign, and will continue to advocate,
along with my colleagues at Ohio's other fine universities and colleges, for
the resources we need to serve all the citizens of Ohio."

#  

Contact: Ruth Gerstner, University Communications, 292-8424.


[Submitted by: Ruth Gerstner  (gerstner.2@osu.edu)
               
Tue, 04 Feb 1997 12:22:15 -0500]
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