The Ohio Association of Community Colleges, which represents nearly two-dozen schools, largely favors the bill. In written testimony, an association representative contended that allowing community colleges to more easily offer bachelor’s degrees would help address nursing shortages and help nurses meet new requirements that they have four-year credentials.
Ohio has allowed community colleges to offer bachelor’s programs for several years, so long as they demonstrate that they meet a workforce need and don’t duplicate programs at the state’s universities. However, the bill would remove the latter requirement.
