With Cincinnati State and UC’s new collaborative agreement in the news lately, I thought I would take a look at what seems to be RWC’s greatest competitor. I wanted to see what I might have missed when I chose to come to the campus close to home rather than checking my options, so I went to www.cinstate.cc.oh.us to check them out.What I found has convinced me that RWC must look towards offering a competitive advantage if it is to survive the current “education crisis,” as some in the media are calling it. The fight for funding and against tuition caps imposed by state and federal governments requires that we move quickly to gain an edge.
First, I’ll share some quick Cincinnati State numbers: they charge tuition by credit hour ($80.20 for Ohio residents), so roughly $1,200 will get you 15 credit hours. An additional $50 for parking, $25 for technology (yes, they have wireless), $6 for facilities, and a $10 enrollment fee will get you started toward a technology, associates, or certificate program.
So what would those fees get for you at Cincinnati State?
Well, for starters, they offer food services until at least 6:30 p.m. They have wireless Internet and computer labs and a library-and an active Student Senate. They have walk-in and online tutoring services and an online supplemental learning center. They also have student organizations, political groups, honors programs, distance learning courses, mandatory co-op, and intramural sports.
Plus they have competitive sports-basketball, soccer, and golf. Oh, and did I forget to mention that they have a game room, a fitness room (complete with a new full time trainer), swimming pool, cyber caf, racquetball courts, and a gymnasium?
Yes, and their daycare is open days and evenings and from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. over their summer quarter.
So now that UC is offering full transfer credits and new scholarships to Cincinnati State grads, what can RWC offer to potential students who might not find it logical to pay $450 more per quarter to come here?
I hate to be the harbinger of doom and gloom, but I think Dust Bunnies might be the least of our issues. Do we have any plans to bring in new students?
So, uh, Got Wireless?
By the way, I know it seems daunting, but Student Government will be no more if people don’t start stepping up to the plate; we need recruits, we need executive officers for next year, and we need nominees for Student of the Year. (Hold your enthusiasm; I’m not eligible.I know, I know, we’re all heartbroken, but I’ll let you know if we start any “Most Likely to.” awards. I have first dibs at winning Most Likely to Be Burned at the Stake.)