Press Releases
Media Release | view PDF version
Chancellor Seeks Proposals to Develop Innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEM) Programs That Attract and Retain Ohio’s Talented Students
Will Award Students up to $50 Million over Five Years as Part of State’s $100 Million Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program
For Immediate Release | November 14, 2008
COLUMBUS — Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today requested proposals from Ohio colleges, universities, and industry partners that seek to develop innovative academic programs to recruit and graduate more Ohio students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (the "STEM Fields"). The proposals are a part of Ohio's ongoing effort to remake its economy byincreasing the role of Ohio’s higher education institutions in building the talent and research pipelines critical to the state’s economic success.
This is the second year of the state's Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, a two-year $100 million investment to be awarded over five years targeting universities and colleges recruiting Ohio residents into current STEM programs, supporting the increased success of students in those fields, and making substantive improvements to the pipeline of STEM students and STEM educators. It is one component of the Ohio Innovation Partnership created by Gov. Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly to strengthen and reconstruct Ohio's economy by funding collaborations between colleges, universities, and their Ohio business industry partners that will have the most impact in advancing Ohio's positions in the world markets including aerospace, medicine, computer technology, and alternative energy.
It is estimated over the next five years that Ohio will graduate more than 10,000 STEM graduates who have been scholars in the state’s Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program.
"Choose Ohio First is important to the students earning the scholarships, as well as the State of Ohio as a whole," said Chancellor Fingerhut. "For students, it makes college more affordable and provides education in academic areas that are the most highly valued in the economy. For the State of Ohio, Choose Ohio First helps us keep our best and brightest students right here at home and it greatly increases the number of Ohioans with the knowledge, skills, and degrees critical to keeping and attracting 21st century economy jobs to the state."
Innovative STEM programs are already underway for Ohio’s first crop of Choose Ohio First scholars who received FY 2007-2008 competitive scholarships from the March and June 2008 award cycles. These awards fund 36 public and private colleges and universities across the state, where the average award to winning collaborations is $2.9 million. Educational/industrial partnership members total more than 950.
Public and private universities and colleges are invited to apply for FY 2009-2010 grants through the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program. The timeline is as follows:
Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program FY 2009 Timeline
- RFP Release Date – November 12, 2008
- Email Notification of Intent to Submit – December 2, 2008
- Proposals Due – February 6, 2009
- Public Meeting – February 11, 2009 – 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Awards Announcement – March 12, 2009
For a copy of the FY 2009 Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program RFP, go to: http://uso.edu/opportunities/partnership/chooseohio1st/proposals/info/COFSP_RFP_FY09_12Nov08.pdf
For information on the Ohio Innovation Partnership, including its Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program and Ohio Research Scholars Program components, go to: http://uso.edu/opportunities/partnership/index.php
Contact: Michael Chaney, Chief Communications Officer, Ohio Board of Regents
Office: 614-752-9480 Cell: 614-633-5909
Email: mchaney@regents.state.oh.us
###
