Ohio's first report card on its 38 state-supported colleges and universities confirms that taxpayers are getting “a heck of a return” on meager public support, University of Cincinnati President Joseph A. Steger said Friday.

        The study is to be released Wednesday by the Board of Regents.

        Working from a Nov. 29 draft, Dr. Steger said Ohio's two- and four-year schools and major research campuses compare well to national averages in a range of criteria, even though Ohio invests only 7 percent of the state budget in higher education.

        However, that's not good enough, given national competition for research dollars, scholars, students and jobs, he said.

EXPENSE CRITICIZED

A new national study of four-year college affordability underlines what others say about Ohio's higher education: It's expensive and too few graduate.    USA Group, an Indianapolis-based foundation committed to higher education, looked at college costs and productivity.    Ohio was ranked “lowest productivity and affordability.”    Kentucky fared better, ranked “highest affordability but lowest productivity.”    Graduation productivity was based on the number of college students it takes to “produce” one graduate with a bachelor's degree.    Affordability involves statewide family income averages and college prices.    USA Group's findings coincide with recent comparative studies on post-secondary education's problems and assets.

        Without more money, “We're going into the tank,” he said.

        Dr. Steger pointed to other states pouring money into post-secondary education:

        • In November, North Carolina adopted a $3 billion bond issue to raise already impressive support for public colleges.

        • California, long a leader in higher education, this week created three Institutes for Science and Innovation with an initial $4 billion public/private commitment during the next four years.

        Coincidentally, other reports document how few Ohioans start and finish college and the paucity of skilled Ohio workers.

        “I don't understand why it's not a wake-up call,” Dr. Steger said. “I don't understand why it doesn't light a fire under the legislature or the governor.”

        Concern about Ohio schools did, however, ignite Gov. Bob Taft's curiosity a couple years ago, and the annual report card is the regents' response.

        Dr. Steger drew satisfaction from some of the report's 15 sections, including data from UC's main campus:

        • 45 percent of freshman credits are taught by associate or full professors, “exploding the myth” that UC research faculty don't teach undergraduates. Statewide, it's 30 percent. At Miami University, it's 41 percent.

        • 57 percent of freshmen are taught by full-time faculty. The statewide figure is 49 percent. At Miami, it's 60 percent. There are no national data.

        • 49 percent of the undergrads earn bachelor's degrees in six or fewer years. Statewide, the average is 50 percent and 5.3 years. At Miami, 79 percent finish in six or fewer years.
       
       

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