ConnectED | Summer 2023

Photo: OSU Newark / COTC campus

A Message from Chancellor Randy Gardner

As I write this, the Ohio State Fair is wrapping up and a new school year is on the horizon. Normally, those two things wouldn’t have much in common. But this year in an exception.

For the first time, many of our colleges and universities came to the State Fair to be a part of the Rocket & Space Zone – a collaboration between the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Department of Education, and COSI. The Rocket & Space Zone, housed within the Youth Exploration Space, gave families an opportunity to learn about jobs relating to aviation, aeronautics, engineering, and more available at such Ohio companies as Intel, NASA, and Battelle. Families could then learn - through hands-on activities and demonstrations - about the college and university pathways that would provide the education to lead to those jobs.

A recap of this year’s State Fair is found in this issue, along with several other stories about how our campuses are working to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. It’s all part of how business and education stay ConnectED to ensure the future for our state – and its students – is bright.

IN THIS ISSUE:

How Ohio Helps Students into Tech-based Internships

Jessica Poiner

July 27, 2023

Since he took office in 2019, Governor DeWine has consistently prioritized work-based learning and workforce development. In conjunction with the legislature, his team has launched initiatives like the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program (IWIP), which provides funding to school districts to help them establish new programs for students to earn qualifying credentials in “priority” industry sectors like advanced manufacturing and information technology. It also awards schools an additional payment of $1,250 when a student earns such a credential. During fiscal year 2022, Ohio students earned a total of 5,744 eligible credentials, and 123 school districts received over $7 million in incentive payments.

Such impacts are worthy of praise. But so, too, is an under-the-radar internship program

under the purview of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. The High School Tech internship began in 2021 as a pilot program. It was designed to provide high school students with valuable work experience in technology-related roles while giving businesses a competitive opportunity to bolster their talent pipelines (among other benefits). Under this program, employers who hire high school interns in tech-related roles can be reimbursed for wages if students are employed for a minimum number of hours (150 under the first iteration of the program, 120 under the latest guidelines) and are paid at least $12 per hour.

At the outset, two education pilot sites were selected in each of the state’s six JobsOhio regions to facilitate relationships between employers and students. Site staff were

OHIO GADFLY DAILY

responsible for recruiting employers, working with schools to identify students to apply for internships, developing work-based learning agreements for those who were hired, and monitoring interns’ progress. The initial goal was to place 100 high schoolers during the summer of 2021 in roles focused on software development, data, cybersecurity, and cloud and IT infrastructure. According to the program’s 2021 education pilot site report, more than 70 students were successfully placed.

The third year of the program is now under way. (Internships can start at any time once funding is approved, though no student can be placed after June 15.) Media reports indicate that up to 535 students statewide are participating in techrelated internships thanks to the program. While 500 students won’t transform the state, the

significant increase since year one suggests an appetite from students and employers for this type of opportunity. Furthermore, without this program, many students might not have access to work-based learning experiences at all.

The state also deserves kudos for being attentive to feedback. Consider the following:

» The 2021 education pilot site report notes that most sites identified “timeline challenges” as an issue, and suggested starting the employer recruitment process in January. This year, applications for the program started in January.

» The report indicates that sites with intermediary organizations were more successful at placing larger numbers of students. This year, the state is piloting an intermediary model in two JobsOhio regions—Dayton and Cincinnati—with the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) and the INTER Alliance of Greater Cincinnati serving as intermediaries that will facilitate the program and serve as a resource for educational entities and businesses.

» The report emphasizes that financial incentives for employers can help businesses “mitigate the financial risks” of providing opportunities to students. Maintaining wage reimbursement has been crucial. But there are also additional incentives at play. Under 2021 guidelines, employers were eligible to receive an extra $100 in reimbursement if an

intern earned a credential on the IWIP list. The most recent program guidelines upped that amount to $1,000. With a financial incentive that’s 10 times bigger, it seems likely that more businesses will prioritize helping students earn qualifying credentials while they participate in internships.

The latest program guidelines also include additional incentives for educational entities (districts, career-tech centers, and ESCs are all eligible to participate in the program). For example, participating schools may be eligible to use qualifying credentials earned by students during these internships to obtain the $1,250 IWIP incentive. Educational entities are also eligible for a separate incentive payment based on the number of interns they place who work a minimum of 120 hours: Placing four interns is worth $400, six is worth $750, and eight can net an additional $1,200.

Compared to some other initiatives overseen by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, the High School Tech Internship program isn’t big or flashy. But it does benefit students, schools, and employers, and it seems to be getting better with age. That’s exactly the kind of program Ohio needs right now—and hopefully, more programs like this will soon be available.

OHIO INNOVATION TOUR

Ohio’s Partnership with Intel’s Semiconductor Research and Education Program

The Ohio Innovation Exchange (OIEx), an initiative of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, has been focusing on building a sustainable future for our college, university, and industry partners. A recent series of virtual events featured Intel awardees from across the state. Panel presentations featured unique talent and workforce development programs to position students for semiconductor careers. Sponsored by the OIEx and co-hosted by the OhioX, an Ohio industry technology association, each of these events also included updates from state/regional economic development professionals.

Recordings from this popular webinar series are available for viewing at: https://highered.ohio.gov/initiatives/workforce-development/oiex

The OIEx is uniquely positioned to catalyze and promote economic development through impactful collaboration between universities and industry partners. The OIEx provides access to university scholars and industry partners seeking to build their research impact and partnerships. Visitors enjoy access to more than 10,000 experts to drive innovation and increase economic development. Every week thousands of people from across the globe visit the OIEx to discover new partners and promote research discoveries.

For more information and to explore strategic partnerships to grow your business, contact the Ohio Innovation Exchange at connect@ohioinnovationexchange.org

OHIO’s College of Business Provides Students with Key Experience, Connections, and Opportunities

The Ohio University College of Business is a national leader in preparing students for successful careers due in a large part to its focus on experiential learning.

“It is very important to us that we provide our students with real-world experiences to best prepare them for their careers,” explained College of Business Dean Jackie Rees Ulmer. “And thanks to the national business and industry connections that our faculty, staff, and alumni bring to the College, we are able to provide our students with a wealth of opportunities.”

Every day, experiential learning propels the College of Business students forward with a professional skillset highly sought after by top companies worldwide.

In fact, 70 percent of the College of Business courses offer applied experiential learning, allowing all College of Business students to receive meaningful experience while they are in school.

"Experiential learning is critical to the value proposition that we have made with our undergraduate Business Bobcats," explained Jim Strode, Ph.D., director of undergraduate

programs in the College of Business. “We are educating students with a built-in reputation. When recruiters and hiring managers meet our business Bobcats, they immediately know that this student has the soft skills, technical skills, grit, and resilience to communicate, organize, problem-solve, collaborate, and lead. Our students graduate with these universally in-demand attributes thanks to our efforts in applied learning.”

Ohio University, we areise opportunity for hands-on experiences. It is also introducing them to industries and careers not typically considered by business students, including careers in event planning, music, and esports, to name a few.

Business of Games Summit provides life-changing experiences

In 2018, for example, the Center for Entrepreneurship collaborated with OHIO’s Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, the Scripps College of Communication, and TechGROWTH Ohio to hold the first Business of Games Summit. The summit provided life-changing experiences for many of the participants, as the event featured

Ohio University Staff Report | July 20, 2023

prominent entrepreneurs from the software and hardware side to business development and marketing.

One Bobcat who attended the Business of Games Summit as a senior now leads a booming tech/esports business, Efuse. Matthew Benson, CEO and founder of Efuse, developed his business idea as an entrepreneurship student at OHIO while involved in the inaugural Business of Games Summit. Efuse is now generating over $10 million in revenue, and in 2021, Benson was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 Gaming list.

Ohio Export Internship Program allows students to receive hands-on training

This spring semester marked the start of the College of Business’ newest offering in applied learning. Ohio University was recently added to the Ohio Export Internship Program with the Ohio Department of Development. This hands-on internship provides export training to students, who can use their knowledge to help small-to-mid-sized southeast Ohio businesses strengthen their export programs through the Ohio Export Internship Program (OEIP).

"The College of Business is committed to making a societal impact in southeast Ohio

by ensuring the next generation of business professionals possesses the vital knowledge and skills in exporting operations," College of Business Dean Jackie Rees Ulmer said. "Ohio University is well-positioned to provide such experiences, both in the classroom and in the field, through its world-class faculty's expertise and established internship ecosystem.

This program also allows students to prepare and complete the Certified Global Business Professional micro-credential by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) Student Pathway Program.

Ohio University Student Fixed Income Management Group gives OHIO students a unique opportunity

The Ohio University Student Fixed Income Management Group (OUSFIMG) is one of three investment groups in the College of Business (the other groups are the Student Equity Management Group and the Derivatives Management Group). The group is unique because many universities have only an equity management group. OUSFIMG manages a portion of Ohio University's working capital in fixed-income securities.

The group currently has an assets-undermanagement of $3.3 million split between two portfolios, traditional and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). OUSFIMG provides professional growth and knowledge and teaches soft skills needed to excel in the financial industry.

Students in the group receive real-world experiences weekly that directly correlate to prestigious internship opportunities at world-renowned banks and asset management firms. Weekly bond pitches, advanced financial training, and Bloomberg training all ensure students are well-versed in financial knowledge and prepared for Wall Street.

Despite the group's seriousness, the students are also great friends who help and support each other personally and professionally, leading to truly rounded members.

"With the technical knowledge I have gained from this group, I have been lucky enough to have two Wall Street internships,” said senior Jack Hueter. "I have also accepted a full-time position with JP Morgan Chase in New York City after graduation."

This is the power of experiential learning. Giving students the resources necessary to learn, experience real-world scenarios, and get in front of alumni and industry connections where they can secure their dream job. This is where Ohio University's College of Business shines.

Program to Assist Adults with Earning High School Diploma

Audrey Gutman, UVCC

July 26, 2023

Through special grant dollars, Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) is able to help adults earn their high school diploma while also learning a skilled trade and earning an industry-recognized credential…at no cost to the student.

To participate in the program, students must be an Ohio resident over 18 years old with no current high school diploma or GED. Training programs are available in HVAC/R, Precision Tooling & Machining, Welding Fabrication & Allied Processes, STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant), and Rise Up Customer Service.

Classes begin September 5, 2023 for this program, so interested adults should apply as soon as possible HERE or by contacting Sarah Quick at 9379.778.1980 x501 or quicks@uppervalleycc.org.

For more information on the Aspire offerings at UVCC or the Adult Diploma specifically, visit the Aspire webpage.

Ohio’s Community Colleges, Technical Schools, and Career Centers Will Offer Intel-specific Courses

Ohio’s community colleges, technical centers, local career centers, and school districts will offer new programs and career pathways for students who want to work at Intel.

Silicon Valley semiconductor maker Intel made an initial $20 billion investment to build two new microchip factories in Licking County that is expected to create 3,000 jobs. Those jobs include more than 2,000 technicians, more than 700 engineers, and about 150 support workers.

“Every Ohio resident has the opportunity to earn an in-demand tech credential at no charge to them,” said Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. “Ohio is no longer the rust belt. We are the Silicon heartland. … We want to be the economic juggernaut of the Midwest. We want to have the best education trained workforce in the Midwest.”

MEGAN

Intel announced they picked Ohio for the new site in January 2022 and construction started last fall with President Joe Biden stopping by for a ceremonial groundbreaking. The first factory is expected to be completed by 2025.

Husted said he started getting lots of questions from folks after the initial Intel announcement.

“What happened immediately was people said ‘Where can I get one of those jobs? What kind of skills do I need to do these things? Where will I need to go? Well, all of those questions are being answered today.”

New curriculum

Intel tasked the Ohio Association of Community Colleges' Semiconductor Collaboration Network to add semiconductorspecific courses and equipment to engineering technology and advanced manufacturing programs.

“The goal was to meet the expected demand for thousands of new semiconductor industry employees,” said Jack Hershey, president of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

This is part of the $17.7 million that Intel announced in the fall it would give over three years to Ohio colleges and universities to create semiconductor education and workforce programs, which is part of a larger $50 million the company plans on spending on the education pipeline to prepare 9,000 workers for jobs.

Students who earn the two-semester semiconductor manufacturing certificate can start as entry-level technician roles. They can also earn an Associate of Applied Science to become a midlevel technician and a Bachelor of Applied Science to become a process or quality engineer.

NEW ALBANY, OH — SEPTEMBER 09: Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, Gov. Mike DeWine joined by politicians and business leaders break ground ceremony for Intel’s new semiconductor manufacturing site, September 9, 2022, in Licking County, Ohio.

(Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal)

NEW ALBANY, OH — SEPTEMBER 09: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted at a groundbreaking ceremony for Intel’s new semiconductor manufacturing site, September 9, 2022, in Licking County, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal)

“The power that this is going to have is immense. … There is so much interest and so much opportunity,” said Central Ohio Technical College President John Berry.

The courses are part of a standardized curriculum, so courses can be transferred to a different college or university in Ohio. While the curriculum is being provided free, the courses and programs will come with a price tag for students.

“We want people to realize there are affordable pathways,” Husted said. “In some cases, free educational pathways to earn these skills. You don’t have to run up college debt.”

Three new courses are being offered — manufacturing foundations, semiconductor 101, and vacuum systems. Manufacturing foundations will teach standard operating procedures, basic measurement and maintenance schemes. Semiconductor 101 will prepare students

for careers in the semiconductor industry. Vacuum systems will teach students how to use and maintain vacuum systems in the semiconductor industry.

The courses are offered in 16-week and eightweek formats with online and lecture classes and labs depending on the course.

“People who want to take advantage of these types of career pathways should be looking to their community colleges and technical centers,” said Kristi Clouse, the senior managing director of talent for JobsOhio.

Intel in Licking County

Ohio’s colleges, universities, career and technical schools are among the things that led to Intel selecting the Buckeye State as the site of the two new factories, said Intel Ohio General Manager Jim Evers.

“Access to top talent is a priority to Intel,” Evers said.

It’s crucial that Ohio is able to provide the workforce for Intel to attract more businesses and create more jobs, Husted said.

“We have to have a workforce if you are going to be successful at recruiting businesses and supply chains to go with it,” he said. “The better we are at proving to businesses that we can supply a workforce, the better off we are at securing the Intels and other businesses that come here.”

"Access to top talent is a priority to Intel . "

- Intel Ohio General Manager Jim Evers

2023 OHIO STATE FAIR WRAP-UP

The 2023 edition of the Ohio State Fair marked a first-time collaboration between the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Department of Education, and COSI. The three partnered to create the Rocket and Space Zone within the Youth Exploration Space in the Lausche Building.

The Rocket and Space Zone featured an aeronautics and aviation theme, with support from a variety of corporate and collegiate partners.

Guests to the Rocket and Space Zone could learn more about career opportunities at companies such as Intel, Honda, Battelle, and NASA while getting information on education pathways that could lead to those careers.

Several universities and community colleges brought interactive demonstrations to educate and entertain fairgoers while teaching them about such programs as video game design, mechatronics, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.

At left, Chancellor Gardner visits with staff from The Ohio State University on opening day of the Ohio State Fair.

Above, Frieda and Freddie, mascots from Bowling Green State University, showed their school spirit in the ODHE space at this year's Ohio State Fair.

Chancellor Gardner stopped by the Washington State Community College booth in front of the stage in the Rocket & Space Zone.

Young students learn about engineering technology at the Central Ohio Technical College booth during the Ohio State Fair.

Josh Montgomery, a robotics professor at Southern State Community College, introduces Governor Mike DeWine to a working replica of the R2D2 robot from Star Wars.

Ohio Department of Education Interim State Superintendent Chris Woolard and Chancellor Gardner pose for a photo in the space cutout that was part of the Rocket & Space Zone.

The University of Cincinnati is one of several campuses that took part in the 2023 Ohio State Fair.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted took part in the official opening of the Rocket & Space Zone within the Youth Exploration Space at the State Fair. Afterward, he and Chancellor Gardner stopped at the North Central State College booth.

A vehicle from the Honda Automotive Labs of Ohio.

The greatly expanded Ohio Department of Higher Education space at the Ohio State Fair drew several visitors.

A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles:

How Ohio Helps Students into Tech-based Internships

Jessica Poiner

Thomas B. Fordham Institute / Ohio Gadfly Blog

Ohio Innovation Tour

Jeffrey T. Agnoli

Senior Liaison Strategic Partnerships | Office of Corporate

Office of Innovation and Economic Development

The Ohio State University

OHIO’s College of Business Provides Students With Key E xperience, Connections, and Opportunities

Dan Pittman

Senior Director of Communications

University Communications and Marketing Ohio University

Program to Assist Adults With Earning High School Diploma

Sarah Quick

Aspire/Diploma Pathways Supervisor

Upper Valley Career Center

Ohio’s Community Colleges, Technical Schools, and Career Centers will Offer Intel-specific Courses

Megan Henry Ohio Capital Journal

2023 Ohio State Fair Wrap-up

Thank you to all of the schools that participated in this year's Ohio State Fair.

Thanks for reading ConnectED. If you have any story suggestions, links to articles of interest, or news releases to share, feel free to send them to Jeff Robinson at jrobinson@highered.ohio.gov.

Photo: Shawnee State University