Save Ohio Higher Ed
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Formed in May 2020, Save Ohio Higher Ed (SOHE) is a coalition of faculty, staff, students, and policy advocates across Ohio who have come together to protect higher education as a public, equitable, and fair-labor good. Our forum events educate on key issues and bring community members into conversation. The founding members of SOHE are local chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) at Ohio State, Miami University, and Ohio University.
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What We Do
- combat non-transparency by sharing information
- share strategy for changing the narrative around higher education in Ohio
- build alliances and support initiatives among coalition partners
- serve as a place for testimony on the effects of current higher ed practices on lives and education
See our Solidarity Pledge and sign on.
Our Coalition PartnersIn addition to AAUP-Ohio State, AAUP-Miami University, AAUP-Ohio University, and AAUP-Ohio Conference, our partners include the Ohio Student Association, Policy Matters Ohio, and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. We welcome ties with other organizations devoted to our goals. |
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Past Forum Events
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April 16, 2021: "The Debt Trap: Students, Equity, and the Ohio Economy" This forum highlighted the massive financial burden many Ohio graduates face as a result of state and institutional policies. Student Jake Kravitz, recent graduate Akii Butler, and Ohio Student Association organizer Kalesha Scott spoke about shouldering many thousands of dollars in debt (with substantially accumulating interest) and the obstacles this creates for building a home and career in Ohio: "Are there places where I can raise a family that are cheaper, where I can succeed?" Black borrowers face particular obstacles, as University of Pennsylvania postdoctoral scholar Jalil Mustaffa Bishop discussed; debt practices are an extension of discriminatory loan practices like sharecropping and mortgage redlining, creating a "life sentence." Piet van Lier, educational researcher at Policy Matters Ohio, noted that Ohio is one of only five states in which colleges and universities are required to turn over student debt to the Attorney General. Transcripts are withheld until debt is paid, which hinders educational and career opportunities. Ohio ranks 45th in higher education affordability. Lastly, Cathy Wagner of Miami University discussed how the debt for capital investments at colleges and universities is passed on to students, increasing their ultimate financial burden. (speaker video) (presentation slides) ................................................................................................................................................... February 12, 2021: "The Economic Importance of Higher Ed" Higher education in Ohio is crucial to the state's future. It's not only key to informed citizenship; it's a powerful economic engine for broad-based prosperity. But our institutions of higher education are in grave trouble after decades of declines in funding. In this forum, we heard about how the state's starving of higher education strains university budgets, eliminates jobs in local communities, and drives up tuition for students. Speakers included:
................................................................................................................................................... October 22, 2020: "Shared Governance for the Current Crisis and Beyond: A Primer" The presentation was aimed at helping faculty senators and other faculty involved in shared governance to understand their shared governance rights. It explained why shared governance matters and proposed pathways for making a difference. (presentation slides) ................................................................................................................................................... September 4, 2020: "Where Does Tuition Go?: Students Speak Out" COVID-19 is not the main culprit in today's higher education crisis. In reality, the crisis stems from years of state defunding and financial mismanagement based on private-sector principles. Together, students and faculty are taking action to address systemic failures at both state and institutional levels. At this forum, two student activists - Abby Stidham, University of Cincinnati undergraduate and cofounder of BoldlyBankrupt.com, and Angela Glotfelter, graduate student at Miami University - analyzed the misplaced budget priorities that have led to the current crisis in Ohio higher education. Hope Jennings, professor at Wright State University, described the importance of student/faculty solidarity in the success of the 2019 Wright State strike. Past Ohio AAUP president John McNay discussed the firings and other mission-eroding cuts at Akron University and elsewhere, along with with proposals to the Ohio legislature to give voting rights to students and faculty on Boards of Trustees. (video; list of video contents) (presentation slides) ................................................................................................................................................... June 19, 2020: "Overcoming Inequities" This event took place during the mass protests against the police killing of George Floyd. Our forum asked: what are the austerity effects of the public defunding of higher education, and how are these related to the inequities of well-funded public services? Chris Newfield, professor at University of California, Santa Barbara and an expert in critical university studies, showed that state disinvestment in universities is historically parallel to the increased admission of students of color. Speakers also included Sarah Szilagy, editor of OSU's student newspaper, the Lantern, who recounted being teargassed while covering the Columbus Black Lives Matter protests; Roaya Higazi, president of OSU's Undergraduate Student Government, who discussed her group's joint effort to cut OSU's ties to the Columbus police; and Genesis Vaughan, organizer against the 2015 killing of Sam Dubose by a University of Cincinnati police officer. ................................................................................................................................................... May 13, 2020: "Academic Workers Speak Out" This was our inaugural meeting, and it drew people from across Ohio. Cathy Wagner, president, Miami University AAUP, laid out the political economy of higher education. Her presentation traced links between the state legislature, Boards of Trustees, and university administrations. We also heard from Ohio University faculty speakers recently laid off despite longstanding employment and work in crucial programs, and about other threats to academic mission in university responses to the pandemic. |
Get in Touch
If you would like to learn more about Save Ohio Higher Ed or if you're interested in being a coalition partner, contact us at saveohiohighered@gmail.com.
We're also on Facebook and Twitter.