Just a year after the online Western Governors University launched its Ohio affiliate , state lawmakers are considering eliminating recognition that lets its students benefit from certain state-funded aid, including need-based grants.
That’s part of the budget bill passed Thursday by the House. It now heads to the Senate.
The change was advocated by Republican Rep. Jay Edwards, a member of House leadership whose district includes Ohio University. He said the state’s recognition of Salt Lake City-based WGU was unfair to existing public schools in Ohio that are big employers, receive significant state funding, and already offer various online educational opportunities.
WGU Ohio has about 3,100 students.
“To allow a new university to come in and only take a portion of what these other institutions are doing, not hire the people, not have the brick-and-mortar investments … and duplicate the efforts that our institutions that we’ve been investing in are doing right now, we felt like that wasn’t being conscientious of the citizens of Ohio, of students, and it wasn’t a good, wise investment,” Edwards told The Associated Press.