Ohio is advancing Eastern Gateway Community College $6,091,917 from its Share of Instruction funds to keep the institution solvent through the spring term.

The Ohio Controlling Board on Monday approved the three-month advance of instructional subsidies at EGCC’s request because the college is waiting for the United States Department of Education to review individual student aid files before the college is reimbursed for federal financial aid.

The college has been on a "Heightened Cash Monitoring 2" status in 2022, as the Department of Education investigates how Eastern Gateway Community College used the Department’s Free College Benefit Program.

Eastern Gateway, with campuses in Youngstown and Steubenville, announced last month that it was pausing admissions after the spring semester.

State law allows adjustments to State Share of Instruction payments and other subsidies distributed by the Chancellor of Higher Education to state colleges and universities for exceptional circumstances, with the approval of the Controlling Board.

In its request to the Controlling Board, the EGCC Board of Trustees noted that are taking what they say are aggressive actions to significantly reduce operating expenses, pause registration/enrollment beyond the spring semester, and pursue opportunities to transfer existing students to other educational institutions.

Eastern Gateway says its efforts with other educational institutions as the college works to provide uninterrupted higher education access for students constitute unique and exceptional circumstances.

Under terms of the advance payment, the Ohio Department of Higher Education will distribute funds in limited amounts as necessary to permit positive cash flow.

The exact timing and amounts of the disbursement would be based on the level and timing of other revenue received, implementation of expense reductions, and adherence to other conditions, as applicable, according to the request.

Eastern Gateway's spring semester ends in mid-May.