ABSTRACT
Ohio State University is one of 80 colleges and universities in the State of Ohio, of which 37 of these campuses are public institutions. The Ohio public universities are loosely governed under a coordinating board called the Ohio Board of Regents. The data suggests that gubernatorial and legislative priorities have played a very important role in determining the level of state support for Ohio State University. Many legislative views about Ohio State University generally followed those of Governor Voinovich, concentrating concerns about OSU's lack of efficiency. Higher education governance and the strength of regional campuses in Ohio are also important factors explaining the modest to low level of state support for Ohio State University. A problem that contributes to Ohio State University communication problems is its outreach and public affairs structure. Effective partnerships with states and research institutions rely on institutional commitments to serving state that are deeply reflected in mission and practice.
