Announcements

Statement from Chancellor Eric Fingerhut on the Bi-Partisan Jobs Package

April 2, 2008

"The agreement reached today by Governor Strickland, Speaker Husted and President Harris on the Bi-Partisan Jobs Package is another milestone in this state's recognition that higher education is central to our short-term and long-term prosperity.

The goal of the Strategic Plan for Higher Education, released March 31, is to raise the educational attainment of Ohio's workforce, and to close the gap on our competing states and nations. To accomplish this goal, the state must do three things: (1) graduate more people, (2) keep them here, and (3) attract more people with college degrees to Ohio. The plan sets specific, aggressive goals in each area.

The proposal today by the governor and the legislative leaders will dramatically accelerate our ability to keep our graduates here and to attract Ohioans who left the state back to Ohio for graduate school and for jobs. Co-ops and internships at both the undergraduate and graduate level are proven feeders of the talent pipeline. An investment such as the one proposed today will make Ohio a national leader in keeping and attracting talent to our state.

I congratulate the governor and legislative leaders on this achievement and pledge to work with them every step of the way to see it enacted and implemented precisely as they have intended."