Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement in response to the decision by the Ohio State University and Cuyahoga Community College to freeze tuition for a third consecutive year.

“I applaud the Ohio State University and Cuyahoga Community College for the decision to hold undergraduate tuition steady for the third year in a row. President Gee and President Thornton truly understand that an educated workforce is critical to our ability to revitalize Ohio’s economy and to attract and retain talented young people.  At a time when state resources are scarce and many Ohio families are struggling to make ends meet, these institutions are ensuring that higher education is affordable and accessible for all students, regardless of their financial situation.”

The state’s biennial operating budget, passed by the legislature Monday, caps tuition increases at universities, regional campuses, and community colleges within the University System of Ohio to no more than 3.5 percent for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.