The Evolving Role of Regional Public Universities

Ohio's regional public universities - including Cleveland State, and the Universities of Akron and Toledo - collectively serve more students than any single university in the state, including the state's flagship. Yet they're often overlooked in both local and national big-picture conversations about higher education, even though most Americans who do go to college attend an institution within 50 miles of their home.\r\n\r\nThese colleges are being forced to reinvent themselves--dealing with local workforce demands, adapting to shifting student needs, and, sometimes, fighting for survival. It all comes amid enrollment drops, changing demographics, and pressure at both the state/federal levels. So, what is working? What's not? And what would it mean for Ohio\'s communities if these universities close their doors?