OH SB345

Creates the Higher Education Evidence-Based Innovation Fund in the state treasury to award competitive grants to state institutions of higher education for adopting evidence-based reforms and practices focused on student success

Grants support development, piloting, scaling, and assessment of student success programs aimed at improving retention rates, completion rates, and time to degree, with emphasis on low-income students

Chancellor of Higher Education must open competitive grant periods at least once every two years beginning in 2027, with preference given to applications proposing tier-three (highest evidence level) reforms or practices

Grant criteria developed in consultation with Department of Education and Workforce and Department of Job and Family Services must include metrics on student outcomes, student access, sustainability/scale, and evidence/evaluation

Requires the Chancellor to conduct a feasibility study on including employment and earnings criteria in retrenchment processes for degree programs, with a report due to the General Assembly within one year