Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee is working with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to develop strategies to improve student success and keep financial aid access for Ohio students.

Jim Lynch, university spokesman, said that aside from advocating for financial aid, Brown and Gee are working together on Brown’s ‘Brain Gain’ initiative.

“(Brown) has compiled (the) best practices on internships and other opportunities to keep students in Ohio after graduation,” Lynch said.

Brown held his Fourth Annual College and University Presidents’ Conference on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. in an effort to discuss these issues and link educators with business leaders to enhance economic development.

Gee, along with other Ohio university presidents, attended to interact with officials from the Department of Education, the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Gates Foundation in order to “hear firsthand from federal policymakers about the outlook for higher education,” Lynch said.

One of the key speakers included Mark Milliron, the deputy director for post-secondary education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He encouraged educators to improve, and even completely change certain aspects of post-secondary education in order to achieve greater student success rates. 

“Your college is what your students experience,” Milliron said.

Cameron Mitchell, a third-year in computer science and engineering, said “more standardization” would help improve students’ success.

Dan Krasen, a fourth-year in finance, said a “greater emphasis on one-on-one help and more personal guidance” would improve student success at OSU.

“President Gee believes it is important to advocate collectively on behalf of higher education in Ohio,” Lynch said. “Ohio State will continue to work with Senator Brown on higher education issues, including protecting federal student aid and research programs.”