ConnectED - Fall 2018

INSIDE:

Fall 2018

>Ohio Department of Higher Education Launches the Ohio Innovation Exchange Volume 6 Issue 4 >WSCC’s Registered ApprenticeOhio Program is Beneficial to Local Businesses >Increasing Student Capacity to Meet the Microelectronics Workforce Needs >OU and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio Expanding Youth Prevention Programs

Photo: The University of Akron FALL 2018

3 The new fall semester is in full swing, which means students are hard at work preparing for their future. It’s up to our colleges and universities to make sure those students are ready for whatever lies ahead.

RED BORDERS

Part of that preparation means keeping up with innovation and changes in technology. This issue of ConnectED highlights some ways our campuses are making sure their students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow – including those that may not even exist yet.

Stories in this issue highlight the newly launched Ohio Innovation Exchange, which connects Ohio’s research universities with the industries that can benefit from their expertise; a new initiative at The Risk Institute at Ohio State that looks to reduce the number of crashes caused by distracted driving; and new degrees at Lorain County Community College that will benefit industry partners in manufacturing. We’ll also get an update on a partnership in southeast Ohio that was covered in a previous issue of ConnectED. It’s exciting to see how our colleges and universities are preparing students for an ever-changing world, where success is dependent on being ConnectED.

John Carey Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education

ODHE Launches the Ohio Innovation Exchange New online platform drives innovation by connecting Ohio’s research universities with industry.

Putting the Brakes on Distracted Driving Ohio State researchers take the data-driven approach to the future of driver education.

WSCC’s Registered ApprenticeOhio Program Proving Beneficial to Local Businesses Thanks to the ApprenticeOhio grant program, local businesses can now get state-funded training for incumbent workers at Washington State.

Increasing Student Capacity to Meet the Microelectronics Workforce Needs

ODHE Chancellor John Carey announces a partnership that establishes a new online affiliate.

OU and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio are Expanding Youth Prevention Programs The expansion means economic growth and opportunity for Southeast Ohio.

4 6 8 10 12 FALL 2018

4

The Ohio Department of Higher Education Launches the Ohio Innovation Exchange New Online Platform Drives Innovation by Connecting Ohio’s Research Universities with Industry A new online research portal will more efficiently deliver research and innovation opportunities to both industry and Ohio’s academic institutions, facilitating partnerships, expanding workforce and funding opportunities, and fostering economic development throughout the region.

The Ohio Innovation Exchange (OIEx), launched by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), connects industry with faculty, students, equipment, and facilities available at Ohio’s research universities. OIEx consolidates these academic resources from multiple universities into a single, searchable, and easily accessible web portal at www.ohioinnovationexchange.org.

FALL 2018

5

OIEx provides extensive search functionality and an intuitive interface that allows visitors to: • Find relevant experts and suitable potential collaborators • Explore each institution’s publications, patents, and equipment • Connect with the OIEx network of industry liaisons to find more information and create relationships with researchers and institutions An initiative of ODHE and built by research technology company Digital Science, OIEx was originally developed by four Ohio universities with industry support from the Ohio Manufacturing Institute. OIEx is now a publicly available platform that, in its current phase, provides industry in search of expertise with free access to more than 8,250 faculty and 900 resources from the following universities: • • • • • •

Case Western Reserve University Cleveland State University The Ohio State University Ohio University The University of Akron University of Cincinnati

From research partnerships, intellectual property, and technology licensing opportunities to business development and even student internships, OIEx brings those connections to bear, and the scope of OIEx will expand further as other institutions join.

“It is critical to our state’s economy that we utilize every aspect of our knowledge and innovation talent across the public and private sectors” said ODHE Chancellor John Carey. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created with OIEx - better connecting the experts and resources at our state research universities to the industries that can utilize them to push their breakthrough ideas to fruition.”

“We have experienced much success working with universities to advance our research and product initiatives,” said Margaret Barkett, associate director, the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. “But it’s not always obvious who we should partner with, so making those connections in a timely manner can be difficult. We’re excited to use OIEx to jump-start these partnerships, and our own innovations.”

“We’re extremely pleased to be a part of this new initiative to bring our university’s professors, students, and resources to a wider audience of industry innovators,” said Daniel Kramer, associate vice president of the Industry Liaison Office at The Ohio State University Office of Academic Affairs. “And as part of the OIEx Rapid Response team, I personally look forward to connecting industry partners with the brightest minds at The Ohio State University, delivering a higher level of collaboration and introducing new breakthroughs together.”

FALL 2018

6

By Phil Renaud

Executive Director, The Risk Institute In late 2016, I was out to lunch with a couple colleagues in the insurance industry. During the course of our conversation, one of them mentioned that their company had noticed a dramatic uptick in rear-end collision claims since late 2007 and wondered what the culprit could be. After brief reflection, I picked up my iPhone, displayed it and said, “I think this may have something to with it.”

Steve Jobs arguably changed the course of human history on June 29, 2007 when he unveiled Apple’s new iPhone, selling more than 12 million units in its first 12 months on the market.

This sudden and fierce adoption of technology has played a part in the increase in distracted driving crashes.

According to the National HighwayTraffic Administration 2016 report on Distracted Driving: • Nine percent of fatal crashes were reported as distracted-affected crashes • 3,450 people were killed as a result of distracted driving • Drivers ages 15 to 19 are most likely to be killed as a result of driving distracted New research from Zhenhua Chen at The Risk Institute analyzed 1.4 million crash records in Ohio from 2013 to 2017 and found: • A 35 percent increase in distracted driver fatalities from 2013-2017 • A 23 percent increase in serious injuries from 2003-2013

FALL 2018

7 •

Distracted driving-related crashes account for 18 percent of Ohio’s traffic deaths

As a direct result of that lunch conversation, we began the Distracted Driving Initiative at The Risk Institute. The Risk Institute is a research center housed at The Ohio State University focused on an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to risk management. Our Distracted Driving Initiative is a nationwide collaboration among dozens of companies, organizations, and government entities focused on how we can predict and curb distracted driving behaviors. We take a unique four-tiered approach: legislation, behavior, technology, and urban planning.

standards across the U.S. Some of the key findings include: •

20 percent of states do not require drivers' education

•

Several states do not require in-class training or supervised driving hours

•

States are increasingly amenable to a hybridized approach to driver training – blending online and classroom learning

This research formed the capstone of their internship with The Risk Institute and serves as the cornerstone to our data-driven approach to the future of driver education. By utilizing app monitoring, and coaching with experiential training, we can gather data at every point and make data-informed decisions in UNKNOWN real-time to create an individualized experience.

OF STATES DO NOT

4% 20%

REQUIRE DRIVER EDUCATION

In the coming months, we’re putting our theoretical work to the test with practical OF STATES DO REQUIRE DRIVER EDUCATION experience. We’ve partnered with Maria’s Message in Columbus and AAA to develop a research-based curricula We’re committed to training the next generation of that can be implemented across the country that risk professionals to think creatively at every stage of will incorporate driving simulation experience, app their career. Because college-age students are most monitoring and coaching in tandem with traditional likely to be impacted by distracted driving, it seemed driver training. natural to allow our students to dive into researching it.

Just as awareness has grown around the dangers of drunk driving and the need to wear seatbelts, we From the outset, we had a hunch that driver education have to change the conversation around distracted hadn’t kept up with the times – that driver education driving. “Don’t Text and Drive” doesn’t cut it — curricula were devoid of any comprehensive distractions are evolving right along with technology, approach to curbing distracted driving behaviors, or and people cannot be punished into changing. anything beyond “don’t text and drive.” Three student Distracted driving is everyone’s problem — together, researchers embarked on an ambitious research we can do something about it. project – cataloging and analyzing drivers' education

76%

FALL 2018

8

WSCC’s Registered ApprenticeOhio Program Proving Beneficial to Local Businesses PHOTO: Local law enforcement

Thanks to the ApprenticeOhio grant program, local businesses can now get state-funded

agencies were among the

training for incumbent workers at Washington State Community College (WSCC). Local law

first to take advantage of

enforcement agencies were among the first to take advantage of this training that allows

ApprenticeOhio, which allows

Ohio businesses to partner with institutions of higher education.

Ohio businesses to partner with institutions of higher

Recently, 10 corrections officers from Washington, Morgan, and Noble counties completed a

education for the training of

required month-long Corrections Academy at WSCC to ensure all officers have the technical

incumbent workers. Shown is

instruction and are knowledgeable on state guidelines and regulations. Normally, the cost

Lieutenant Jeff Young, from the

for this compulsory training would be paid for from the county sheriff’s office budget, but

Washington County Sheriff's

thanks to ApprenticeOhio, the $1,350 expense is now offset by grant dollars.

Office, speaking to one of the classes during the monthlong,

ApprenticeOhio is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Ohio Department

state-mandated Corrections

of Job & Family Services to get training for incumbent workers. “They call it ‘earn while

Academy held at WSCC.

you learn’,” said Jesse Roush, executive director of workforce development andcorporate partnerships at WSCC. “Through it, we are able to establish customized training for a business to help strengthen its incumbent workforce.”

While apprenticeships are commonly associated with trade unions, in reality, the scope is much broader than just training for electricians or plumbers. “That’s the traditional model,” said Roush, “but that model rarely involves an institution of higher education. Most of

FALL 2018

9 the technical instruction [traditional model training] has

In the case of the Corrections Academy, the total cost

been delivered through trade schools or a career center

to train each officer is $1,350, which covers the cost

and is coupled with on-the-job training. ApprenticeOhio,

of the academy and provides much of an officer’s

however, works through higher education. The whole

required equipment, including uniforms, boots, duty

point behind this, from the U.S. Department of Labor

belt, flashlight, cut down tool, and more. “This is the

on down, is to change the perception of what an

best example in the state of an out of box application

apprenticeship program is while maintaining the

of the apprenticeship model per our program manager

integrity of the model.”

through ApprenticeOhio,” said Roush.

The state opted for this route to ensure the training

At present, WSCC has two apprentice models

provided met with strict standards. In fact, institutions

approved—the corrections academy and a maintenance

are required to qualify in order to be a registered

mechanic program. Moving forward, Roush is working

apprenticeship sponsor. “In a registered apprenticeship

to develop several other models, including a robotics

program, the caliber of education is much higher,

and automation technician in preparation for a robotics

because you're working with a sponsor that has to

program that the college hopes to roll out soon.

maintain strict standards established by its board

This particular model would be developed to offer an apprentice the option to earn a one-year certificate or a

of trustees and its accrediting body,” Roush explained.

Additionally,

being

a

Registered

Apprentice

two-year associate degree.

is

recognized by the Ohio Manufacturers Association as

Roush is also working to expand the current

the gold standard for an apprenticeship program.

apprenticeship program and is seeking additional businesses that need increased training for incumbent

Roush identified several benefits to the apprenticeship

workers. “I want people to understand that by engaging

program, including improved skills and competencies

WSCC and using this model for training incumbent

that meet the specific needs of the employer;

workers, they are going to, in essence, get free

occupation-focused education; and competency-based

development services for their own internal training

wage increases.

program.”

As a registered apprenticeship sponsor, WSCC is authorized to annually reimburse up to $2,500 per employee—up to $1,750 in tuition and up to $750 toward fees, supplies, and books.

FALL 2018

10

Increasing Student Capacity to Meet the Microelectronics Workforce Needs Lorain County Community College’s MicroElectroMechanical Systems Degree

Lorain County Community College (LCCC) is the first community college in Ohio to deliver a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in microelectronic manufacturing (MEMS), as well as an Associate of Applied Science degree in microelectromechanical systems.

The applied bachelor’s degree received approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission and classes began in October 2018.

These degrees are industry tailored, hands-on college degrees focused on training students for careers in printed circuit board manufacturing, microelectronic hardware, and biomedical industries. Graduates of the associate program find employment as engineering technicians, manufacturers, and lab techs, and bachelor’s degree graduates will gain

FALL 2018

11 the associate and bachelor’s degree programs. More than 45 companies in Ohio support the program.

Photos: Amanda Kosty/AACC

employment as process engineers, manufacturing engineers, and team lead/supervisors. Microelectronic manufacturing is an interdisciplinary field that combines mechanical and electrical engineering technology with science, mathematics, and communications. This emerging advanced manufacturing field helps companies make products and processes “smart” by embedding sensors and micro electromechanical systems.

The associate degree and bachelor’s degree curricula are designed with an Earn & Learn model that allows students to gain work experience while completing paid internships with industry partners. Students are often offered full-time employment at their internship site upon completion of their degree. By utilizing the Earn & Learn model, the MEMS program boasts a 100 percent job placement rate.

Johnny Vanderford, asstistant professor of MEMS and director of the Microelectronics Institute, said “Earn & Learn is the key here at LCCC. Students can attain affordable degrees and careers in an exciting and highly in-demand field, our industry partners provide feedback to our degree content so they have a talent pool of trained manufacturing workforce ready to help their company grow, and LCCC bridges the gap between industry and education.”

The LCCC MEMS associate degree program started in 2013 with three students. Six years later, more than 40 students are currently enrolled in

FALL 2018

12

Appalachian New Economy Partnership Powers Economic Growth and Opportunity in Southeastern Ohio Solutions to economic challenges are rarely simple, especially in Appalachian Ohio. But starting in fiscal year 2001, a modest dedicated appropriation in the state budget called the Appalachian New Economy Partnership (ANEP) through the Ohio Department of Higher Education provided funding to Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs that would ultimately prove to be one of the driving forces to propel a new era in regional economic growth and opportunity.

In fact, since 2012, the Voinovich School has generated nearly $2.5 billion in economic activity for the region and state by leveraging the $1.25 million ANEP annual line item. The secret to it's success is the ability to form public-private partnerships to bring a winning formula to Appalachian Ohio.

“The Appalachian New Economy Partnership funding has been one of the best investments ever made to transform southeastern Ohio,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey said. “By leveraging this capital with the resources, partnerships, and talent of Ohio University, the Voinovich School has been able to make real progress impacting communities and individuals in the region.”

The ANEP has meant that the Voinovich School has been able to attract more local follow-on investment to the region from

FALL 2018

13

The Appalachian New Economy Partnership funding has been one of the best investments ever made to transform southeastern Ohio.

- John Carey, Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor

“One of the strategic pathways for Ohio University’s future is focused on strengthening the university’s public service mission and engagement,” Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis said.

“The Voinovich School certainly does that for the state of Ohio,

businesses and federal agencies,

“The economic development and

exemplifying the university’s

such as the U.S. Department of

entrepreneurial ecosystem that

special commitment to Appalachia

Commerce Economic Development

the Voinovich School developed

through its important work in

Administration, the Small

through baseline ANEP funding

spurring economic development,

Business Administration, the U.S.

should be a national model of

environmental sustainability, and

Department of Energy and the

what can be accomplished by

quality of life. This work would not

Appalachian Regional Commission,

taking university resources and

be possible without the ongoing

to make a genuine difference in

applying them to really difficult

financial support by the state

boosting economic development.

community challenges,”said

legislature through the ANEP.”

Jeff Finkle, president & CEO For example, a new grant funded

of the International Economic

Building on the momentum

by the EDA’s 2018 Assistance to

Development Council.

created by ANEP, the Voinovich School secured Ohio Third Frontier

Coal Communities program and matched with ANEP funding was

ANEP’s economic impact is

funding to launch TechGROWTH

just awarded to a partnership

significant and growing. The ANEP

Ohio, Ohio University’s 20-county

between the Voinovich School

provides match funds for the

Appalachian entrepreneurial

and the Ohio Valley Regional

School’s 12-county Small Business

service provider whose mission is

Development Commission for the

Development Center, recently

to significantly increase revenue

development and operation of

named SBDC of the Year in a

growth and capital investments

the new Building Opportunities

six-state federal region. The Ohio

in technology-based businesses.

Beyond Coal Accelerating

University Procurement Technical

Since its inception 11 years ago,

Transition (BOBCAT) Network

Assistance program – recently

TechGROWTH has assisted 1,800

project. The BOBCAT Network is a

selected by NASA to host its multi-

entrepreneurs to generate more

regional development project that

state procurement conference

than $460 million in economic

will promote entrepreneurship,

- now serves 55 counties in

activity. Every $1 invested in

support economic diversification,

Ohio and helped 709 clients win

TechGROWTH generates $21 in

and identify infrastructure and

contracts worth more than $592

return – a remarkable return on

workforce needs in southeast Ohio.

million in 2017.

investment for the region.

FALL 2018

14

Global Cooling is one of the great successes of this partnership. A TechGROWTH Ohio portfolio client, Global Cooling, Inc. manufactures and sells the world’s most energy efficient ultra-low temperature freezers. The company grew more than 75 percent in 2017 and now has about 100 employees, 70 of which reside in southeastern Ohio.

“The investment from the state through ANEP and Voinovich School programs like TechGROWTH have created an entrepreneurial venture community right here in southeastern Ohio,” Lane said. “It’s been enormously valuable, because you want successes like Global Cooling to happen again and again. That’s the goal — it’s not to grow one great company, it’s to create an environment that grows companies as a matter of course.”

Another component of ANEP’s investment into rural communities includes helping nonprofit organizations to further their impact. Established in 2017 with funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and ANEP, the Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (SEE) Appalachia assists social enterprises to enhance and grow their organization. SEE also aids established organizations in measuring their social impact through a revolutionary return-on-investment methodology. In its first year, the SEE program helped 63 clients to earn more than $4.7 million and create 47 new jobs and 13 new businesses.

One of these clients is the Epicenter Makerspace founded in 2017 in Marietta, Ohio, and supported by ANEP. The Epicenter grows local businesses, enables innovators, and ties adult entrepreneurship to mentorship and internships for regional youth, as part of a larger ‘Building Bridges to Careers’ program. BB2C is a highly successful organization, which grew from a volunteer job shadowing program for youth into the thriving nonprofit it is today. Presently, it offers a multitude of services, programs and other opportunities for high school and college students to bridge the

FALL 2018

15

"We have always found that we make bigger advances when we work together." Cara Dingus Brook, President & CEO, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio

gap between education and employment, and is

leaders in the identification and implementation of

currently being replicated in adjacent counties.

evidence-based prevention strategies.

"We have always found that we make bigger

“The SEE program has helped us take a look at our

advances when we work together, but collaboration

fundraising practices. As we are a novice in this

requires support, or glue. The ANEP provides

work, they’ve given us experience - a sounding

the glue for the Voinovich School to help many

board. They’re incubating us, essentially, so to have

organizations achieve much more and we have felt

a group of people that can help you through all of

that support here at the Foundation for Appalachian

those parts and pieces is extremely helpful,” Tasha

Ohio through many years of partnership,” Cara

Werry, Epicenter Executive Director, said.

Dingus Brook, President and CEO, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, said.

Part of providing opportunity for communities and improving quality of life in southeastern Ohio

The Voinovich School also continues to tackle

involves addressing health and wellness for its

other health and wellness issues, through the

residents. Ohio – and especially rural Ohio – faces

ANEP. High incidence of chronic conditions, such

formidable challenges in this area, and opioid

as obesity and diabetes plague families statewide.

addiction has reached crisis proportions. Through

ANEP funding has enabled the School to work

numerous partnerships with organizations such

in partnership with the Ohio University Heritage

as the Ohio Department of Mental Health and

College of Medicine to restructure diabetes delivery

Addiction Services, the School has been building,

and education. Last year, the Diabetes Institute

evaluating and implementing innovative substance

released a groundbreaking new collection of data

abuse prevention and community outreach

on diabetes in the region and shared best practices

programs to begin healing this significant problem

for combatting the disease.

in Ohio. ANEP has helped to provide funding for this important work.

“Infusing state capital into a rural, economically disadvantaged region like southeastern Ohio

The School has recently partnered with the

has enabled the Voinovich School to activate

Foundation for Appalachian Ohio on a new

statewide public-private partnerships to lead not

ANEP co-funded collaboration. Building on the

only regional economic development, but also

Voinovich School’s track record of growing youth-

impact education, health and wellness, and the

led prevention across the state, the FAO and the

environment in the area,” Finkle said.

Voinovich School are focusing on engaging more of Appalachian Ohio’s young people in this work as

FALL 2018

16

FALL 2018

17 Photo: University of Toledo

A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles: The Ohio Department of Higher Education Launches the Ohio Innovation Exchange Margaret Barkett Daniel Kramer Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital

The Ohio State University

Putting the Brakes on Distracted Driving Phil Renaud

The Risk Institute

WSCC’s Registered ApprenticeOhio Program Proving Beneficial to Local Businesses Missy Richman Jesse Roush Washington State Community College

Washington State Community College

Increasing Student Capacity to Meet the Microelectronics Workforce Needs Johnny Vanderford Alison Musser Lorain County Community College

Lorain County Community College

Photos: American Association of Community Colleges

OU and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio are Expanding Youth Prevention Programs Laura E. Alloway, MBA Dr. M. Duane Nellis Ohio University Ohio University

Thank you for reading ConnectED. We appreciate any suggestions or ideas to improve this newsletter.

We welcome story ideas, links to articles of interest, and news releases.

Please send story ideas to Jeff Robinson at jrobinson@highered.ohio.gov.

FALL 2018