The Ohio Board of Regents announced today its approval of Clark State Community College’s Tuition Challenge Program. The program will waive standard tuition rates to students who complete 12 or more credit hours in a semester, achieve a grade of C or better in each course and enroll in the successive semester for 12 or more credit hours. 

“Clark State is committed to making college as affordable as possible for students and families,” said Clark State President Dr. Jo Alice Blondin. “Our Board of Trustees demonstrated their leadership and dedication to student success in crafting this policy which goes into effect for Fall Semester 2015.”

In March of this year, the Clark State Board of Trustees approved a motion to implement the Tuition Challenge Program. It was then sent to the Ohio Board of Regents for review and approval. Blondin said this policy incentivizes students to complete their degree in a timely fashion and move into the workforce or transfer to a four-year higher education institution.

Clark State Student Senate President Dan Malone said the Board of Trustees went above-and-beyond for the students by approving the Tuition Challenge Program. “I think incentivizing education is a great idea,” he said. “Typically it can be a long turnaround for policy changes. To see it ready for this fall is amazing. The Board definitely has student concerns in mind.”

Ohio Senate Bill 4 legislation will require each state institution of higher education to develop a plan reducing in-state tuition costs by a minimum of five percent in time for the 2016-17 academic year. Clark State’s Tuition Challenge Program, not only meets those requirements, but also allows for the opportunity to exceed them by offering a ten percent tuition rebate to students enrolled in 15 or more course credit hours and meeting eligibility requirements.

“Clark State is leading Ohio in aggressively dealing with the costs of college education,” said Ohio State Senator Chris Widener. “While other two-year colleges are raising tuition, Clark State’s rebate plan shows the families they serve who is important to that college.”