BGSU’s Rogers testifies before Ohio House committees on aviation & higher ed funding

BGSU President Rodney Rogers testifying before Ohio House Aviation and Aerospace committee. (Screenshot from Ohio Channel video)

From BGSU OFFICE OF MARKETING & BRAND STRATEGY

Upon being invited by the Ohio House of Representatives to provide testimony, Bowling Green State University President Rodney K. Rogers appeared in Columbus, Ohio, before state lawmakers twice in the last week to advocate for funding and support of BGSU and higher education. 

On Tuesday, March 21, President Rogers provided testimony to the Ohio House Aviation and Aerospace Committee on the expanding aviation program at BGSU. 

BGSU is one of the few universities in the nation with an airport on its campus and has experienced significant growth in its flight training and operations program in recent years, nearly tripling its enrollment since launching a public-private partnership with North Star Aviation in 2014. The partnership has driven significant investments by the Bowling Green Flight Center, including $9 million in the construction of over 40,000 square feet of new facilities and $7 million in purchasing new aircraft and state-of-the art flight simulators. 

The previous week, on Tuesday, March 14, President Rogers spoke before the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education. President Rogers advocated for the full support of the State Operating Budget (House Bill 33), which calls for an increase of the State Share of Instruction (SSI) and the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG), supporting low- and middle-income Ohio families. 

“It is an honor to advocate for our students and programs at Bowling Green State University, as well as all Ohio universities, sharing our impact on Ohio’s workforce needs,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “As a public university for the public good, BGSU is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring any individual who wants to earn a degree has a path to do so and is supported throughout their experience. We are deeply appreciative of the opportunity to share our work with Ohio’s legislature, and we look forward to future efforts on how we can further support our students and our state.” 

Links to testimony:

PDF link of aviation testimony

Video of aviation testimony

PDF link of H.B. 33 testimony

Video of H.B. 33 testimony