Office of the President

Education for Citizenship 2035 - DRAFT

Announced as part of President Carter’s 2025 State of the University address, Ohio State’s Education for Citizenship strategic plan outlines a bold vision for excellence at an important moment for higher education. The plan charts the next decade of growth and success for Ohio’s flagship university.

A message from President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.

Ohio State President Ted Carter

Dear Buckeyes:

Ohio State's motto of “Education for Citizenship” speaks directly to our founding mission as a land-grant university and comes with the inherent charge to evolve and advance in ways that continue to benefit Ohioans, our nation and the world. This inspiring meaning is why our motto will be our North Star for the next 10 years as we define the future of higher education at Ohio State and serve as a model for the nation.

The Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan reflects the need to always push ourselves as Buckeyes. Working together, we will ensure that Ohio State continues to lead the next chapter for American higher education, with a relentless focus on excellence and opportunity for all Ohioans. That is our commitment as a land-grant university, and that is the meaning of Education for Citizenship.

I look forward to taking this opportunity to invest in ourselves as never before and build the future together.

Ted

Education for Citizenship 2035: A Bold Vision for Excellence

Developed by President Carter with input from the extended Buckeye community, Ohio State’s “Education for Citizenship 2035” strategic plan charts an exciting path forward for the university’s next 10 years.

The plan is built on seven primary themes – starting with academic excellence, the university’s highest priority and the goal that informs all others:

1 Academic Excellence

Relentlessly pursuing excellence by creating a distinct student experience, supporting faculty and investing in strengths.

2 Research and Innovation

Promoting transformative impact in research, innovation and knowledge to advance our society, serve our community and drive economic prosperity and vitality.

3 Healthcare

Advancing the Impact 2035 strategic plan and bolstering the reputational excellence of academics and research at Ohio State.

4 Intercollegiate Athletics

Elevating Ohio State as the nation’s leader in student-athlete development, while adapting to the evolving state of the intercollegiate athletics model.

1 Talent and Culture

Fostering a vibrant culture to attract, retain, and develop top talent by investing in our people and encouraging innovation, collaboration and excellence.

2 Operations

Building institutional capacity for innovating teaching, learning, research, creative expression and clinical care.

3 Artificial Intelligence

Ohio State will be a national leader in artificial intelligence to empower Ohio’s workforce, create solutions to grand national challenges, and transform enterprise operations. 

Each priority area contains exciting new initiatives that will advance Ohio State’s vision for excellence, expand access and opportunity for students, ensure world-class patient care, and support the university’s greatest asset, our people.

As outlined in the Education for Citizenship plan, over the next 10 years, Ohio State will invest in ourselves by doing the following:

1 Add three new scholarship programs that will expand access and opportunity for more Ohio students.

  • The President’s Scholars Program: Will provide full cost of attendance scholarships and academic support to Ohio students who score a perfect 36 on the ACT or a perfect 1600 on the SAT.
  • Buckeye Bridge: A partnership with Columbus State Community College that will cover tuition and fees for qualifying Ohio residents transferring to Ohio State from Columbus State.
  • Cover tuition and fees for qualifying students who begin at a regional campus before transferring to Columbus.

2 Launch a $100 million effort to attract and retain the world’s most eminent faculty.

  • Funds will come from the university and philanthropic donations.

3 Hire 100 new faculty to support our groundbreaking AI Fluency initiative.

4 Grow our research enterprise, which already is setting records, to $2 billion.

1 Double undergraduate enrollment in the College of Nursing.

  • Meet an urgent workforce need that is particularly acute in rural areas.
  • Offer graduates designated rotation slots, early job offers and job guarantees at the Wexner Medical Center.

2 Expand enrollment in our College of Veterinary Medicine to 200 students.

3 Become the No. 1 university in the nation for veterans.

  • Be the first choice and gold standard for every veteran in America seeking postsecondary education, career transition and lifelong well-being.

4 Open a Career Services Center of Excellence with a goal of expanding opportunities for internships and experiential learning.