Council of Chief Academic Officers Covenant

WHEREAS, the needs of the learning community and workforce have profoundly changed as we move forward through the 21st century, requiring new and more creative and collaborative responses from regional higher education institutions and organizations; and

WHEREAS, the member institutions of the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education represent an extraordinary human development resource serving annually over 70,000 college credit students, an equal number of residents in credit free educational and cultural experiences, and hundreds of companies and organizations throughout the Miami Valley and the State of Ohio; and

WHEREAS, place-bound adults and others with limited options need the opportunity to pursue higher education within their communities through the most cost efficient and effective connection within a seamless fabric of higher education opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the colleges and universities have demonstrated leadership in removing barriers to transferability for students and their credits, and in the management of resources to enhance educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the strategic focus of these institutions is not only on the needs of individuals and of the local community today but also, more importantly, on those of the twenty-first century and the expanded global community;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the member institutions do hereby commit to expand higher education opportunities for the learning community through concerted initiatives which reduce inter-institutional barriers and encourage an expanded number of residents to pursue higher education; and

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that these colleges and universities commit to expand and extend the Ohio Board of Regents Articulation and Transfer Policy through coordination of curriculum and student achievement expectations; and

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that these colleges and universities do hereby commit to work collaboratively to implement creative means for stretching the scarce resources of the region through effective use of technology, improved planning and management initiatives and continuous improvement for the pursuit of lifelong learning; and

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that these colleges and universities commit to collaborate strategically to meet the needs of the learning community through the rest of the decade and beyond.

This Covenant is effective beginning with this 6th day of June, 2001.

Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education COVENANT of Lifelong Learning and Collaboration Action Plan

The signatories to the Covenant, being committed to the philosophy of collaboration, resolve to foster the intent of the Covenant through an action plan to be implemented through the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education. The following activities are proposed for discussion:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that these undersigned colleges, universities, corporations, and organizations do hereby commit to expand higher education opportunities for the learning community through concerted initiatives which reduce inter-institutional barriers and encourage an expanded number of residents to pursue higher education...

• Expand access and encouragement of under-represented populations.
• Create a financial aid network for information sharing.
• Explore joint application procedures to reduce paperwork and encourage access.

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned colleges and universities commit to expand and extend the Ohio Board of Regents Articulation and Transfer Policy through coordination of curriculum and student achievement expectations...

• Expand institution-to-institution articulation agreements.
• Explore dual admissions between selected institutions.

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned colleges and universities do hereby commit to work collaboratively to implement creative means for stretching the scarce resources of the region through effective use of technology, improved planning and management initiatives and continuous improvement for the pursuit of lifelong learning...

• Share distance learning resources.
• Share World Wide Web resources.
• Post advising information on the Web.
• Use OhioLink and the Ohio Learning Network to its fullest capacity.

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned colleges and universities, commit to collaborate strategically to meet the needs of the learning.

• Develop joint academic programs.
• Share bench marking information.
• Collaborate in seeking grants.