As chairman of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio (AICUO), President Baird Tipson testified before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee during a budget hearing this spring.

Because of political pressure in Ohio to increase funding for K-12 education, leaders of higher education in Ohio presented a strong case not to cut resources to support the state’s college students.

Tipson was joined by Ohio State University President Brit Kirwan, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Roderick G.W. Chu, Regent Tom Noe, and Sinclair Community College President Ned Sifferlen.

Tipson argued in favor of continued state support for student financial aid. In Ohio, only 17 percent of the population has earned at least a bachelor’s degree — far below the national average, he said.

Such an undereducated workforce has dire consequences for the state’s ability to attract and retain new economy or even old economy employers.

“This has led to a decline in Ohioans’ personal income and standard of living in relation to the rest of the nation,” Tipson said. Ohio suffers from a widespread misperception that college is financially out of reach for most families, Tipson added.

The fact is that Ohio colleges work hard to make college affordable, such as the $22 million Wittenberg commits annually to student aid. Ohio’s 50 independent colleges are a vital part of higher education opportunity in the state, Tipson said.

Three out of four students at those institutions receive financial aid, he said, and 90,000 of them are Ohio residents.

“It is only with sufficient state, federal and institutional resources that the doors of a college education can be opened for those who can’t afford it.”

On behalf of the AICUO colleges, Tipson argued that Ohio’s Student Choice Grant program is underfunded and will result in smaller student grants over the next two years.

“Please also remember the financial aid programs that are also at the center of efforts to provide an educated citizenry for the state,” Tipson said. — Jim Dexter