Chancellor Applauds Higher Ed Budget: Fingerhut Addresses Rhodes Graduates

By Beth L. Jokinen, The Lima News, Ohio

Jun. 8–LIMA — Now that the Legislature has made higher education a priority, the Ohio Board of Regents chancellor says schools need to accept the challenge to create a better system.

“I have been very clear with people that this budget should not be viewed as a reward for past good behavior,” Eric Fingerhut said Thursday before speaking at the Rhodes State College Commencement. “It should be viewed as a challenge to us to create a system of higher education that is truly world class and does provide the driver that Ohio’s economy needs.”

The newly appointed head of the planning and coordinating agency for higher education, Fingerhut applauded the proposed budget, which increases state funding for higher education and freezes college tuition for two years.

“It is a historic time for higher education in the state of Ohio,” he said. “You have on a bi-partisan basis, the elected leaders of the state understanding that higher education is absolutely central to the economic future of Ohio, and they are acting on it now.”

Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed budget increased higher education funding, and the House and Senate plans went on to increase it even more. The Senate’s version released earlier this week adds $161 million to the House budget for higher education over two years.

Fingerhut said the tuition freeze is unprecedented in Ohio’s history and possibly around the country. Ohio schools’ tuition is 47 percent above the national average.

“So we have a long way to go to make college affordable,” he said. “But a two-year freeze I think will send a very strong message to students around the state of Ohio that we are committed to making college affordable.”

Other efforts to use state funds to support raising private dollars for scholarships are also ongoing, including a scholarship named after the late Gov. James Rhodes.

Fingerhut said officials understand the No. 1 factor businesses look for when considering moving into an area is a talented work force.

“Talent is really the currency of a new economy,” he said. “Businesses can really locate anywhere. … Businesses want to locate where they can identify the talent to support their current business objectives, but also help them expand and grow.”

In return for the increased spending, Fingerhut said, schools must work toward meeting goals established by the state. One benchmark put forth by Strickland is the state enrolling 230,000 new students over the next decade. Fingerhut said two-year colleges like Rhodes will certainly be getting many of those students.

Fingerhut was appointed the seventh chancellor of the board by Strickland in March. He most recently served as an Ohio senator for eight years and was elected to Congress in 1993.

About 260 students graduated Thursday, which was the school’s 37th commencement. Twyla Rose, a 1978 Rhodes graduate, received the 2007 Outstanding Alumni Award. She is administrative assistant to the plant manager at General Dynamics Land Systems.

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