Program is the first of two components in the Ohio Innovation Partnership, a major new initiative designed to significantly strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM) and STEM education

COLUMBUS --- Following the General Assembly’s creation of the Ohio Innovation Partnership, Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today requested proposals from Ohio’s higher education institutions that seek to recruit and graduate more Ohio students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (the “STEM Fields”).

“Ohio is at a crossroads as we seek to chart our course for the future,” Chancellor Fingerhut said. “It is crucial that we provide the support for our institutions to become innovation leaders, and that starts with ensuring our science, technology, engineering, mathematical, and medical programs are competitive with the rest of the world. With the leadership of Governor Strickland, Speaker Husted and President Harris, Ohio’s leaders have committed to making our state a global leader in the new economy.”

The Ohio Innovation Partnership is a $250 million initiative designed to dramatically increase Ohio’s competiveness in STEM education. The investment consists of two components, which will be awarded over two years:

Ohio Research Scholars Program: The two-year $150 million Ohio Research Scholars Program will award up to $50 million to individual colleges and universities that provide winning proposals focused on recruiting world-class faculty in STEM and medical areas, and which have a special focus on long-term regional economic development. The Chancellor and the Third Frontier Commission are expected to issue the Ohio Research Scholars Program RFP on or around October 2.

Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program: This two-year $100 million investment targets 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. The program is open to both public and private institutions. Individual colleges and universities may receive up to $10 million per award to be used strictly to award individual tuition scholarships to Ohio students. Scholarship recipients must be residents of Ohio.


Public and private universities and colleges are invited to apply for grants through the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program. The RFP was issued today and is available at http://regents.ohio.gov/news/press_releases/2007/RFP092607.pdf. The Board of Regents will assist those institutions in developing creative solutions to attract and retain students in STEM programs, and will host a 3:30-5 p.m. October 2 statewide videoconference to answer questions from grant seekers.

Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program Timeline

RFP Release Date – September 26, 2007
Statewide Videoconference Consultation – October 2, 2007
Letters of Interest Due – November 7, 2007
Chancellor’s Response to LOI – November 28, 2007
First-Round Proposals Due – January 21, 2008
Public Meeting – January 31, 2008
First-Round Awards Announced – February 29, 2008
Second Statewide Consultation – April 3, 2008
Second-Round Proposals Due – May 7, 2008 (Tentative)
Public Meeting – May 14, 2008
Second-Round Awards Announced – June 26, 2008 (Tentative)

Tags: Chancellor