COLUMBUS, Ohio — Many are calling for reform in the higher education space. 

What You Need To Know

• Richard Vedder believes DEI bureaucracy needs to be broken down 


• Vedder said universities and colleges also need more supervision


• Senator Jerry Cirino indicated that without transformational Ohio’s economic future will be at stake


• Cirino believes the biggest obstacle to the change is shared governance at colleges and universities

A number of issues appear to be hindering the change that some in Ohio and around the country want to see. Some of those issues were brought to the forefront during a discussion hosted by the National Association of Scholars and The Buckeye Institute.

Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) and Richard Vedder, a distinguished professor of economics emeritus at Ohio University, highlighted college affordability challenges, student debt, graduation rates, and poor learning outcomes. 

Cirino noted that if Ohio does not address its own issues in higher education sooner rather than later, the state will be in trouble as it cannot afford to wait for incremental change. For him, some of the solutions lie in universities and colleges voluntarily eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion offices through boards, as he believes it’s an ineffective way to spend money. In addition, he said it’s necessary to take a look at shared governance. That’s because when it comes to decision-making, “It needs a consensus from all stakeholders before the president or board can do anything. And that prevents them from being responsive to the changing marketplace for education.” 

For Vedder, some of the solutions include possibly merging more schools, potentially giving vouchers to college students, hiring professors with differing perspectives to bring more intellectual diversity, and more accountability. “From boards of trustees, from the legislature, from the general public, from large private donors in the case of private schools, I think these people need to make the universities a little more accountable.”

While there is much to tackle, the belief is that if changes can be made, Ohio would be in a better place when it comes to higher education. Senator Cirino hopes any changes will restore much-needed confidence in Ohio’s institutions, so that higher education will be a good investment for families.