On behalf of our students living in Ohio, the undersigned faculty and staff of Western Governors University, respectfully request that the Ohio Senate remove the harmful amendment language from HB 166 that would prohibit the Chancellor of Higher Education from granting or renewing authorization of WGU Ohio.

If enacted, this language would render Ohioans enrolled at WGU ineligible for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship, the Ohio National Guard and Reserve Scholarship, loans from the Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program (NEALP), and any other state-funded grant-in-aid for which they would otherwise be eligible. About a quarter of WGU Ohio students receive such aid. For those who do, any loss of assistance can mean the difference between continuing their studies and being forced to drop out.

Ohioans deserve the right to choose an accredited institution that best fits their needs. Our students chose Western Governors University (WGU) Ohio because the online, competency-based model is the right fit for people who need to complete or advance our degrees while working full-time, raising children or caring for elderly parents, serving in the Ohio National Guard or Reserves, or meeting other life obligations. When they graduate, they will be prepared to fill in-demand jobs across the state of Ohio, such as teachers, nurses, cybersecurity technicians, and human resources professionals.

For our students, their families, communities, and the future of Ohio, please remove the harmful amendment to HB166 that would threaten their ability to reach their education-to-career goals.

Sincerely,