Tuition reciprocity agreement reached

By George Mauzy

Ohio and Kentucky have long been civil neighbors, but thanks to a newly formed tuition reciprocity agreement between the states, the relationship is better than ever.

The agreement, which will be announced at a Nov. 14 news conference at the Ohio University-Southern Campus in Ironton, allows residents of Adams, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike and Scioto counties in Ohio to pay the tuition rates of a Kentucky resident at Ashland Community College and Ashland Technical College in Ashland, Ky., and Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.

In return, Kentuckians living in Boyd, Carter, Elliot, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis and Mason counties will be charged the Ohio resident tuition rates when enrolling at Ohio University-Southern Campus in Ironton, Ohio, Rio Grande Community College in Gallipolis, Ohio, and Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio.

The agreement is designed to expand postsecondary educational opportunities in the southeastern Ohio/northeastern Kentucky area, while limiting the cost to the taxpayers of Ohio and Kentucky.

The initial agreement begins Jan. 1, 2003, and ends June 30, 2003, and must be renewed by all participating parties in order to roll over for an additional two-year term ending June 30, 2005.

The reciprocity agreement was approved by the Ohio Board of Regents, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky Community and Technical College System and the boards of trustees of the participating schools.

"This reciprocity agreement provides a tremendous opportunity because most residents view this area as one region despite the state borders," said Dean of Ohio University's Southern Campus Dan Evans. "The agreement gives us an opportunity to attract more students from nearby Kentucky and add more flexibility to our academic programs. I am hoping that the added flexibility and convenience will motivate more people in this region to participate in higher education."

George Mauzy is a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing.