3 area colleges look to cash in on cooperation

12/2/2000

Three area colleges have decided to put more energy into synergy.

“We can do more together than we can individually,” said Dr. Frank McCullough, president of Medical College of Ohio.

Dr. McCullough met yesterday with his counterparts from the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University to discuss expanding collaborative efforts.

“It represents an optimal use of the resources that are made available to us,” Dr. McCullough said.

The meeting with William Decatur, UT interim president, and BGSU President Sidney Ribeau took place at a time when collaboration between universities is increasingly rewarded.

“Together, we've got a lot more opportunities, a lot more capabilities for competing for research dollars,” Mr. Decatur said. The next step, he said, is for college officials to research areas where the institutions are partners and make recommendations to help support future cooperation.

Existing joint ventures involving the institutions include a master's degree program in public health and programs in nursing and physical therapy. Faculty from the schools is working together on several research projects as well.

The plan is part of a $6.1 billion higher education budget for 2002-03 submitted to the state by the regents.

“There's a very good movement in Ohio right now to realize that the colleges and universities don't compete against each other, they compete together,” said Mike Brown, a spokesman for the regents.