In my view, talking about merging the University of Akron and Cleveland State is a non-starter and a time sink.

Investing in centers of execellence at all our colleges and universities makes far more sense.

Northeast Ohio can look to North Dakota for inspiration. Since 2005, the state has been investing in centers of excellence in all its campuses. Here’s the latest.

Centers of Excellence recommends funding for Minot State center

Download a summary of investments

(By the way, North Dakota is home to a major research campus for Microsoft. Read more.)