CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE, THIRD FRONTIER COMMISSION ISSUE RFP, HOLD STATEWIDE CONSULTATION ON OHIO RESEARCH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The Ohio Board of Regents issued the following news release:

Following the General Assembly's creation of the Ohio Innovation Partnership, Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today requested proposals from Ohio's higher education institutions that seek to develop world class clusters of research excellence in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (the "STEM Fields").

Public and private universities and colleges are invited to apply for grants through the Ohio Research Scholars Program. The Request for Proposals (RFP), as well as information on joining today's 4-5:30 p.m. videoconference consultation, where members of the Chancellor's office and the Third Frontier Commission will answer questions from grant seekers, is posted at http://regents.ohio.gov/videoconference.

"Ohio is at a crossroads as we seek to chart our course for the future," Chancellor Fingerhut said. "It is crucial that we provide the support for our institutions to become innovation leaders, and that starts with ensuring our science, technology, engineering, mathematical, and medical programs are competitive with the rest of the world. With the leadership of Governor Strickland, Speaker Husted and President Harris, Ohio's leaders have committed to making our state a global leader in the new economy."

The Ohio Innovation Partnership is a $250 million initiative designed to dramatically increase Ohio's competiveness in scientific research and STEM education. The investment consists of two components, which will be awarded over two years:

Ohio Research Scholars Program: The two-year $150 million Ohio Research Scholars Program will award up to $50 million to individual colleges and universities that provide winning proposals focused on recruiting world-class faculty in STEM and medical areas, and which have a special focus on longterm regional economic development. The Chancellor and the Third Frontier Commission jointly issued the Ohio Research Scholars Program RFP yesterday. Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program: This two-year $100 million investment targets universities and colleges recruiting Ohio residents into current STEM programs, supporting the increased success of students in those fields, and making substantive improvements to the pipeline of STEM students and STEM educators. The program is open to both public and private institutions. Individual colleges and universities may receive up to $10 million per award to be used strictly to award individual tuition scholarships to Ohio students. Scholarship recipients must be State of Ohio residents.

Ohio Research Scholars Program Timeline

* RFP Release Date - October 30, 2007

* Statewide Videoconference Consultation - October 31, 2007

* Letters of Interest Due - November 21, 2007

* Chancellor's and Lieutenant Governor's Response to LOIs - December 21, 2007

* Statements of Intent Due - January 7, 2008

* Written Questions Responded to until - January 28, 2008

* Proposals Due - February 4, 2008

* Public Meeting - March 5, 2008

* Awards Announced on or before - May 20, 2008

Contact: Michael Chaney, 614/752-9480, 216/402-7229, mchaney@regents.state.oh.us