BGSU breaks ground on state-of-the-art Technology Engineering Innovation Center
> Bowling Green State University's new center features seven labs and reimagined engineering programs
> The University of Akron's Timken Foundation Center unleashes quest for new frontiers in manufacturing
> Western & Southern and the University of Cincinnati team up for first-of-its-kind partnership
> Cuyahoga Community College celebrates Manufacturing Month in October
> Ohio Wesleyan University's entrepreneurship competition and inaugural winners help drive Ohio economy
Photo: Miami University
A Message from Chancellor Mike Duffey
Ohio is engaged in a fierce campaign for talent. As a result, our ability to compete and win requires deepening our talent pipeline. There is no more direct way to achieve this goal than through postsecondary education.
With autumn leaves revealing their splendor and classes well underway, now is a great time to highlight how our colleges, universities, and career technical centers are working to prepare Ohio’s students for Ohio’s new economy.
In this issue of ConnectED, we take a closer look at the Technology Engineering Innovation Center at Bowling Green State University, a partnership between the University of Cincinnati and Western & Southern Financial Group, and several manufacturing programs in northeast Ohio.
In education, we are reminded that the fruits of our labor often require years of effort to harvest. We can measure our impact in the lives we change and the social and economic mobility we enable.
Governor DeWine’s 2019 inaugural address reflects this reality: “For much of what we do, we will not see the results in the life of this administration, nor in some people’s cases, in our lifetimes. Yet we do these things nonetheless, grounded in the faith and grounded in hope that we can change the future.”
Fall harvest is when the crops grown in spring and summer are ready to be picked. It is a time when we are thankful for what we receive, for our friends and our family. It is a great opportunity to reflect on our current work in education and be thankful, knowing we will start the cycle again in the spring with more knowledge and perspective.
Best wishes for a great autumn season.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Building Future Innovations
Bowling Green State University's new center features seven labs and reimagined engineering programs
UA hosts grand opening of the Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing
The University of Akron's new center unleashes quest for new frontiers in manufacturing
Western & Southern and the University of Cincinnati team up for first-of-its-kind partnership
Highlighting student pathways to real-world experience, benefits, and employment
Cuyahoga Community College celebrates Manufacturing Month in October
Tri-C joined in a statewide celebration of the largest sector of Ohio's economy
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During a groundbreaking on Sept. 27, BGSU and state leaders and students celebrated work on the cutting-edge Technology Engineering Innovation Center, which will house seven specialized labs and high-tech equipment and tools for collaborative, hands-on learning. (BGSU photo/Haven Conn '22)
BUILDING FUTURE INNOVATIONS
BGSU breaks ground on state-of-the-art Technology Engineering Innovation Center
The Technology Engineering Innovation Center will feature seven cutting-edge labs and will house the University's reimagined engineering programs
With longstanding ABET-accredited programs in applied engineering, Bowling Green State University is building for the future with the stateof-the-art Technology Engineering Innovation Center to house its newly reimagined degrees in robotics engineering, electronics and computer engineering, and mechanical and manufacturing engineering.
While construction began this summer, BGSU held the official groundbreaking during its Homecoming celebration to highlight the renovation and expansion of the existing Technology Building, originally built in 1971.
Set for completion in spring 2026, the Technology Engineering Innovation Center will add 24,000 square feet to the current structure for seven
specialized labs with flexible spaces to support hightech equipment, tools, and innovative learning.
“As a public university for the public good, Bowling Green State University is continuously looking to ensure our academic programs are relevant for the 21st century, creating opportunities for our students and meeting critical workforce needs for our state,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said.
equipment – the same equipment they will use in their future careers,” said Dr. Wael Mokhtar, dean of the College of Technology, Architecture, and Applied Engineering. “The building's design will allow the right tools to be inside the labs, whether it be virtual reality, semiconductors, or robotics, giving students hands-on experiences with the latest technology and advanced equipment they will encounter in the workforce."
“This facility will support our growing engineering programs and advanced technologies, providing our students with state-of-the-art facilities and learning experiences and opportunities to ensure they’re ready for career and life.”
The facility will include collaborative spaces to support experiential learning alongside BGSU School of Engineering faculty, alumni, and industry professionals.
“Our students will enjoy a larger facility that allows them to use the latest technologies and advanced
Supporting Ohio's long history of global leadership in manufacturing, the Technology Engineering Innovation Center will bolster the University's engineering programs while supporting the state's evolving advanced manufacturing sector.
“Here in Ohio, we build cars, drive agriculture, and work in energy fields. However, industries and old-time manufacturing that required manual labor are disappearing and are being replaced by automation and robotic
Beyond updated infrastructure and state-of-the-art equipment, the Technology Engineering Innovation Center will encourage collaboration and create a sense of belonging.
applications,” Mokhtar said. “This new facility will also allow industry partners to send their employees to BGSU for upskilling. Those partners will also lean heavily on our students during co-ops and internships. Our students will enter the workforce prepared and familiar with the technology, programs, and machinery used in the real world.”
Following the conclusion of BGSU Campus Master Plan 1.0 in 2022, the Technology Engineering Innovation Center marks the start of work in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics corridor under the newly launched Master Plan 2024.
“We're taking an adaptive approach with this facility, as technology ebbs and flows and new equipment is needed,” said Kristi Peiffer, associate director of campus construction.
“We wanted to be able to adapt and allow for maximum flexibility for the future. This new space will not only have today’s most advanced equipment and technology, but also
the physical space and infrastructure will allow for our engineering programs to change and evolve as needed.”
Located adjacent to the newly opened Kokosing Hall, home to the School of the Built Environment and named after Kokosing, Inc., highlighting the importance of industry collaboration, the Technology Engineering Innovation Center will encourage collaboration with industry and create a sense of belonging for students.
“Something important with this project, beyond adding seven labs and dedicated faculty space for the School of Engineering, was creating a 'front door' to engineering education,” Peiffer said. “We wanted a sense of entry and belonging for everyone within the College of Technology, Architecture, and Applied Engineering. This new facility will offer that with increased visibility into classrooms and labs to spark curiosity, conversation, and ideas to allow for student growth.”
The Technology Engineering Innovation Center marks the start of work in BGSU's science, technology, engineering and mathematics corridor under the newly launched Master Plan 2024. (BGSU photo/Keira Ellenberger)
UA HOSTS GRAND OPENING OF THE TIMKEN FOUNDATION CENTER FOR PRECISION MANUFACTURING
The University of Akron (UA) hosted the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing (CPM) on Sept. 20, 2024, to a group of more than 150 educators and industry professionals. This state-of-the-art, 15,800-square-foot facility, funded by a $3 million grant from The Timken Foundation of Canton, features an open bay area, classrooms, and offices. The advanced
manufacturing equipment housed in CPM, funded by grants from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, contributes to workforce development for local manufacturing industry as well as opportunities for research and student education.
CPM is a cooperative center, where industry members define their research and workforce
University of Akron's Dr. D. Dane Quinn, left, President R.J. Nemer, Bob Timken, and Jack Timken cut the ribbon on the new Timken Center for Precision Manufacturing on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Akron, Ohio. Photo: Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon Journal
needs, and the faculty and students at UA address these needs through collaborative research, technological innovations, and workforce training.
The Center was born in response to industry needs for a workforce trained in critical areas such as grinding, machining, hard turning, etc., i.e. traditional manufacturing processes that create precision products by removing materials. In addition, Industry 4.0, combining traditional manufacturing process with smart digital technology, is a research
focus within CPM, bringing the tools of the digital infrastructure including sensors, cloud networks, AI/ML, data collection/interpretation, and digital twins to bear on manufacturing processes that date back decades. Ultimately, CPM is dedicated to producing the talent and the technologies that serve the manufacturing industry of Ohio.
For more information about the Center for Precision Manufacturing at the University of Akron, please contact Dane Quinn, CPM Director, at quinn@uakron.edu
Western & Southern and the University of Cincinnati team up for first-of-its-kind partnership
Western & Southern Financial Group and the University of Cincinnati 1819 Innovation Hub have partnered on a program that allows UC students to work on campus as part of the Western & Southern Accelerated Career Program.
UC President Neville G. Pinto and Western & Southern Chairman, President, and CEO John F. Barrett recently joined stakeholders for a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the partnership, the first of its kind for UC, at the state-of-the-art office space located at 225 Calhoun St., Suite 352.
A groundbreaking partnership
Western & Southern’s program provides students with real-world professional experience at a top company while creating a direct pathway toward full-time employment.
“Our students are thrilled that they have this opportunity because they know their experiences will be so much richer since Western & Southern is now going to coeducate them,” Pinto said, explaining the advantages of this latest cooperative education opportunity and thanking Western & Southern for yet another collaboration with UC.
UC President Neville G. Pinto (center) and Western & Southern Chairman, President, and CEO John F. Barrett cut the ribbon alongside UC co-op students. Photo / Greg Glevick y
Under the partnership, students employed through the Western & Southern Accelerated Career Program work with current and prospective clients of Gerber Life Insurance, a nationally recognized and trusted brand and a member company of Western & Southern. Students also can obtain a life and health insurance license, with costs for the test and study materials covered by the company. Additionally, students have access to employer-provided benefits such as tuition reimbursement, professional development resources, and courses through the company’s award-winning Guilford Institute.
"Gerber Life is a tremendous growth vehicle for us,” Barrett said. “They wrote the book on the digital sale of insurance. So, what we're doing is having a call center here dedicated to the sale of Gerber Life's products through the University of Cincinnati."
America’s co-op leader
UC, the birthplace of cooperative education, has offered students hands-on learning experiences since 1906. Consistently ranked among the top universities in the nation for cooperative education, UC students earned $88.8 million through workplace education programs during the 2023-24 academic year.
“The College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies is excited to partner with Western & Southern to launch the Western & Southern Accelerated Career Program,” said Michelle Clare, vice provost for continuing education and dean of the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies.
“Western & Southern’s investment goes beyond the new program and involves providing UC students access to professional development resources and scholarships and serves as a model for collaboration between education and industry. This partnership is
Western & Southern Career Accelerator.
Photo/Greg Glevicky
another example of UC’s commitment to make education more affordable while also equipping our students with the experience and knowledge they need to prepare them for the workforce.”
The Western & Southern Accelerated Career Program employs 18 part-time student associates from UC and two full-time managers to provide coaching and development. Sixteen student associates have earned life and health insurance licenses since the program’s inception in May.
The Western & Southern Accelerated Career Program’s office on Calhoun Street opened in August and operates weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with students’ work schedules tailored around their individual classes.
UC co-op students working at the W&S Accelerated Career Program stand with President Neville Pinto and John Barrett.
Photo/Pete Schram
CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE CELEBRATES MANUFACTURING MONTH IN OCTOBER
In recognition of Ohio's vital role in the manufacturing sector and the ongoing developments in high-tech industries, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) has participated in a statewide celebration of Manufacturing Month throughout October.
This month, Tri-C has been actively engaging with students, high school counselors, employers, and the community to showcase its degree and certificate training programs in the manufacturing industry. The focus has been on the bright future for advanced manufacturing in Northeast Ohio.
Manufacturing Month has spotlighted Ohio's and the nation’s manufacturing capabilities, emphasizing the critical need to prepare the next generation of skilled workers. The initiative, proclaimed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, has been celebrated nationwide by manufacturing leaders.
According to the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, manufacturing is the largest sector of Ohio's economy, accounting for 17% of the state’s GDP and employing approximately 700,000 workers. Cuyahoga County boasts the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the state, with more than 1,600 companies employing nearly 70,000 individuals. Recent high-tech investments in Ohio— focusing on semiconductors, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, aerospace and defense, and solar panel production—have positioned the state as a key player in advanced technology and modern manufacturing.
As these industries expand and companies adopt advanced manufacturing technologies, Tri-C has launched several programs this month to equip students with the skills they need for the evolving job market:
• Tri-C introduced its first bachelor's degree this fall: a Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Digital Manufacturing Engineering Technology (IDMET), also known as "smart manufacturing."
• Tri-C received a $658,000 grant from the Ohio Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation to establish a utility technician program, serving as the designated training location for the 16-county Northeast Ohio region.
• An online EV technician program was launched in the spring, providing flexible learning options to meet the growing demand for skilled technicians.
JobsOhio, the state’s economic development entity, has highlighted the need for about 37,000 advanced technicians to fill upcoming 21st-century manufacturing positions. Community colleges play a vital role in meeting this demand, as one in three students enrolled in postsecondary education in Ohio attends a community college.
"Ohio has a strong history of manufacturing strength, educational excellence, and technological innovation," said Shana Marbury, J.D., executive vice president of Workforce, Community, and Economic Development at Tri-C. "As our state embarks on an exciting new economic chapter, Manufacturing Month has provided us with an opportunity to showcase the innovative prospects in high-tech manufacturing and connect our students with local and state leaders driving this transformation."
From certificates in semiconductor technologies to associate degrees in smart manufacturing, Tri-C continues to provide pathways for students to acquire the skills needed to thrive in Ohio's changing manufacturing landscape.
For more information, email sarah.baldwin@tri-c.edu.
Learn more about Tri-C’s manufacturing programs at www.tri-c.edu/manufacturing.
With the U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition at Ohio Wesleyan University, "we're creating jobs, we're fostering innovation, and we are driving long-term prosperity for everyone in our state," OWU President Matt vandenBerg said in announcing the winners of Ohio's largest and most lucrative business plan contest.
vandenBerg spoke Oct. 5 at the Ohio Statehouse, where six teams gathered to learn who had placed first, second, and third in their competition categories. All were named finalists in OWU's inaugural U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition (USEC) following a "Shark Tank"-style competition Sept. 26 on the Ohio Wesleyan campus.
TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE Ohio Wesleyan's Entrepreneurship Competition and inaugural winners help drive Ohio economy
They are sharing in a total prize package worth $450,000.
"These college and professional teams absolutely exemplify all the grit and perseverance and can-do attitude that you need to be successful entrepreneurs," vandenBerg said. "Every team who is here is going to earn a significant prize package: either $100,000, or $75,000, or $50,000. So no matter what happens, each one of you is a winner today."
Becoming 'Founder U'
Before announcing the results, vandenBerg also told the crowd that all six teams will receive access to the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University, or DEC OWU, "the very first liberal arts business accelerator in the United States" and "the nation's very first collaboration of its kind –between a city, a county, and its university."
"Most universities who are involved in entrepreneurship, they focus their efforts on later-stage development when companies are scaling or seeking big-time investment," vandenBerg said. "And while we do that, too, at Ohio Wesleyan and through the DEC OWU, we're reimagining that entire process by focusing on the very beginning. We are working to become Founder U – the preeminent university for supporting founders and for launching startups. …
"By attracting top talent and supporting them through every single stage of their venture," vandenBerg continued, "we're creating new businesses and driving economic growth. We're ensuring that Ohio isn't just a place that launches businesses, but this is a place that launches businesses, nurtures them through their development, and helps them to thrive right here, to everyone's benefit. …
"We're empowering them to create and to innovate, and build – right here in Ohio – and we're doing it in a way that's truly transformative for our state. That's what makes Ohio Wesleyan a leader in this space. … Today is an electrifying inflection point for entrepreneurs and economic development in Ohio."
President Matt vandenBerg discusses
And the Winners are…
Phil Smith, director of the DEC OWU, took to the West Plaza stage at the Statehouse to announce the winners and invite everyone to compete in or observe next year's even more lucrative U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition.
WaterWise Technologies, represented at the Statehouse event by Kendall Byrd, earned first place in the professional track. The Columbus, Ohio, startup is developing an aquatic drone, or unmanned surface vehicle (USV), to target pathogens, algae, and toxins in freshwater ecosystems without using potentially harmful chemicals. It seeks to integrate real-time water monitoring, contamination prevention, and treatment into a single device.
SearchOwl, represented by Jadon Wyant, Dale Berkove, Cullen Combi, and Ryan Kaiser, earned first place in the college student category.
Founded by five Case Western Reserve University students, SearchOwl seeks to improve the online shopping experience with an ad-free algorithm that learns user preferences over time and suggests appropriate products to explore. Currently, the students are using skincare products to help them build "a better shopping paradigm."
Both winning teams earned investment packages valued at $100,000 in addition to office space and
mentorship at the DEC OWU. The second- and thirdplace finishers received investment packages worth $75,000, and $50,000, respectively.
The second- and third-place professional track winners are, respectively:
Industrial Hyperspectral Solutions, represented by Todd Tucky. This Delaware, Ohio, startup seeks to help address the deadly fentanyl epidemic with a handheld scanner that uses tunable LED light to enable law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians to identify the drug on scene without any physical contact.
Mobile Med, represented by Gregory LaFontaine and Dr. Bethany Recker. This Worthington, Ohio, company provides medical house calls to clients for a monthly membership fee. Unlike some of its competitors, Mobile Med provides primary, comprehensive care in addition to same-day urgent care.
The second- and third-place college student and new graduate winners are, respectively:
Zen Music Group, represented at the Statehouse by Inesh Tickoo (Ohio Wesleyan University). This team seeks to reshape the music industry by making the discovery and licensing process more efficient, transparent, and accessible. Zen Music also seeks to bridge the gap between music creators, libraries, and businesses in need of music for sync licensing.
Junietta, represented by Ezra Wolf, Alex Tide, and Dan String (University of Cincinnati). These young entrepreneurs are working to create an affordable, accessible, and easy-to-use music synthesizer that allows users to create a limitless amount of music. Their goal is to support local musicians, education systems, and shop owners.
Ohio Wesleyan's commitment to entrepreneurship while speaking Oct. 5 at the Ohio Statehouse.
A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles:
Building Future Innovations
Colleen Rerucha | Senior Director of Executive Communications and University Spokesperson | Bowling Green State University
UA hosts grand opening of the Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing
Dr. D. Dane Quinn | Professor; Director of the Timken Foundation Center for Precision Manufacturing (CPM) | University of Akron
Western & Southern and the University of Cincinnati team up for first-of-its-kind partnership
Diana M Lara | PR - Community Relations | University of Cincinnati
Cuyahoga Community College celebrates Manufacturing Month in October
Anthony Moujaes | Manager, Public Relations | Cuyahoga Community College
Truly Transformative
Cole Hatcher | Director of Media and Community Relations | Ohio Wesleyan University
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.
