TOSS:

Ohio tax payers are footing part of the bill for college dropouts. TV2 News reporter Kassandra Meholick joins us live in the newsroom

with the story.

INTRO:

States appropriate billions of taxpayer dollars to four- year

colleges and universities every year.

Figures released today reveal over six billion dollars helped pay for

the education of students across the country who did not return for a

second year.

Package Length [1:52]

CG: Dan Saunders, JR, History Major [0:27]

CG: Lexi Weber, SO, Dance Major [0:43]

CG: Jared Bartholomen, SR, Exercise Physiology Major [0:49]

CG: Kasandra Meholick, TV2 News Reporter [1:00]

CG Yvonna Washington-Greer, Assistant Director Student Financial Aid [1:38]

TOSS:

Ohio tax payers are footing part of the bill for college dropouts. TV2 News reporter Kassandra Meholick joins us live in the newsroom

with the story.

INTRO:

States appropriate billions of taxpayer dollars to four- year

colleges and universities every year.

Figures released today reveal over six billion dollars helped pay for

the education of students across the country who did not return for a

second year.

TAKE PACKAGE

Statistics released today reveal tax payers have paid over 6.2 billion dollars toward scholarships for students who did not continue beyond their first year of college between the years 2003 and 2008.

The report conducted by American Institute for research’s goal is to highlight state spending and the cost of losing students.

I spoke to Kent State student’s asking their response to the money spend on college dropouts.

SOT [SAUNDERS]:

I THINK THE KIDS THAT RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIPS HAD THE INTENTION TO GO TO SCHOOL… AND TRY TO GRADUATE AND THINGS… THERE ARE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THOUGH WHERE THEY HAVE TO DROP OUT OR FIND THAT COLLEGE JUST ISN’T FOR THEM… OR IT ISN’T WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

SOT [WEBER]:

IT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE IF IT DIDN’T END UP HAVING THE RESALT THAT IT WAS INTENDED.

SOT [BARTHLOMEN]:

I MEAN IF IT ACTUALLY WENT TO GOOD USE. I MEAN LIKE YOU SAID IF THE SMALL PROTION WENT TO BAD USE THEN NO, I DON’T THINK IT WAS WASTED. I THINK IT’S STILL A GOOD IDEA FROM IT’S FOUNDATION.

STAND UP [MEHOLICK]:

STUDENTS ATTENDING OHIO UNIVERSITIES CAN QUALIFY FOR BETWEEN 110 AND 800 DOLLARS FROM THE OHIO HIGHER OPPURTIUNITY GRANT FUNDED BY OHIO TAYPAYER DOLLARS.

According to Yvonna Washington-Greer, assistant director of financial aid, Ohio sets the requirements for the state funded aid, however standards may be changing.

SOT [Washington-Greer]:

THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS COMING IN THE WORKS IN REGAURDS TO THE STATE GRANT THAT MAY KIND OF SET A, KING OF LOOK AT GPA AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THAT’S TOTALLY UNOFFICAL. BUT CURRENTLY THE WAY, AND THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS IS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED.

Instead of solely using enrollment figures Ohio is now looking at courses and degree completion rates to determine how much money goes to public schools and Universities.

TAG:

Ohio students may qualify for 110 to 880 dollars in aid from the Ohio

College Oppurtunity Grant.

For TV2 News, I’m Kassandra Meholick.