COLUMBUS — A new version of the 10-year master plan for the University System of Ohio better incorporates the role of Ohio's two-year public colleges such as Sinclair Community College and Clark State Community College, and recognizes that the bulk of enrollment growth in both two- and four-year colleges will come from the adult work force.

"It is powerfully important we address the two-year institutions' role in education in Ohio," said Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, who presented his revised master plan Thursday in a meeting with regents. "We have to increase the educational attainment of the adult work force, and the two-year campuses are the best place to do that," he said.

Gov. Ted Strickland has ordered that Ohio's system add 230,000 students in the next 10 years to increase the number of Ohioans who earn degrees, diplomas and certificates.

But such an influx of non-traditional students will create challenges for Ohio's 23 community colleges and those four-year universities whose incoming freshman often are first-generation college students. Ohio has 13 public four-year universities, including Wright State University, Miami University and Central State University in the Dayton area.

"The need for remedial education is going to increase. Many of the students coming in may not be college-ready," Fingerhut said. Slightly more than one-third of Ohio's recent high school graduates who go on to college are enrolling in remedial math, according to board of regents data.

But those colleges said Monday they are prepared to help Fingerhut overcome the access barrier.

Wright State President David R. Hopkins said the four-year institution in Fairborn is already aligning its own strategic plan to the master plan's goals.

Forty-five percent of Wright State students come from families with incomes at or below $50,000, and 44 percent are first-generation college students. The average age of Wright State's 17,000 students is 25.

At Sinclair Community College in downtown Dayton, many students are wage earners whose employers pay for their education, and are completing certificates or targeted course work instead of associate degrees. "Measuring the number of degrees completed doesn't accurately reflect community colleges' mission," said Sinclair President Steven Lee Johnson.

The college is working with Fingerhut to help figure out how to measure two-year colleges' success in the master plan.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7404 or sgottschlich@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Master plan highlights

Action steps for the University System of Ohio master plan

Establish clear missions for each institution, including adult career centers.

Create an integrated system of campuses so students can seamlessly transfer from one institution to another, including distance learning.

All four-year universities will adopt the Voluntary System of Accountability, a national effort for making colleges' data consumer-friendly for college-bound families.

Create an accountability system for two-year colleges.

Help institutions keep tuition low by requiring them to diversify their funding sources and reduce their reliance on state funding, and identify ways they can save money.

Seek a compact with Ohio's employers to help workers get reimbursement for their education.