In his testimony, McDavis praised Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly for their support of higher education, and emphasized the importance of continuing that support for the economic future of the state.

"We commit to you that we will do the hard work necessary on our individual campuses to utilize our resources wisely, to improve our efficiency, and, most importantly, to educate our students and prepare them for the jobs of the future," McDavis told the lawmakers in Columbus. "We know that we are shaping the next generation of leaders, of entrepreneurs, and of researchers who will complete Ohio's transition from the Rust Belt to the knowledge economy."

McDavis touted Ohio University's continuing improvement in student retention, multicultural diversity and test scores and the increasing number of students and faculty receiving nationally competitive awards.

He also outlined the economic impact of the university's research on the nation and region: Ohio University's Technology Transfer Office more than doubled the number of patent applications between 2007 and 2008 and Ohio University's Innovation Center contributed $15 million in labor income and brought 386 jobs to the region in 2007.

To read the entire text of McDavis' testimony, click here.