Daniels Outlines Higher Education Efforts

Governor Daniels outlines goals to make higher ed affordable (Indianapolis, IN) At a higher education conference today, Governor Mitch Daniels outlined his goal to make higher education more affordable and accessible for Hoosier students and their families. The governor told college and university trustees, faculty and administrators attending a Commission for Higher Education conference that he wants to assure that Indiana high school graduates are guaranteed two years of paid tuition at Ivy Tech Community College (approximately $3,000 per year) or an equivalent amount to attend another Indiana college or university. Such an opportunity would be available to families earning up to the states median income, which is about $54,000 annually, and possibly beyond depending on the source and amount of funding that can be assembled for the program, either through new revenue sources or from moving funds from other programs that are not achieving results. The governor also challenged the states colleges and universities to consider their own participation in the effort to ensure that the tuition amounts the state provides remain affordable. Ivy Tech, for example, has committed to hold future tuition increases to the rate of inflation. The governor invited higher education leaders to offer input and ideas for the concept over the next several weeks. (Copyright 2007 Newsroom Solutions, LLC) Delivered by Newsroom Solutions RNS-04-16-08 1456CDT