ConnectED | Spring 2021

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Spring 2021 Volume 9 Issue 2

MAY 3-7, 2021

INSIDE: > Lt. Gov. Husted Visits YSU to Highlight Workforce Initiatives > New BSN Program to Meet Critical Demand for Nurses > OSU Offers Apple App Development and Coding Certificate Courses > UC Launches Public Health Undergrad Degree > Tri-C Training Programs Offer Entry Into In-demand Health Care Field > Pike County CTC Allows Adults to Earn Career Credentials for Free

Photo: Ohio University Lancaster Campus

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A Message from Chancellor Randy Gardner In-Demand Jobs Week is designed to promote Ohio’s fastest-growing industries through statewide hiring, education, and training events. This year’s In-Demand Jobs Week runs from May 3 through May 7 and will feature virtual events and activities from businesses, education providers, and community organizations designed to inspire students and job seekers to pursue a career in one of these growing fields.

In conjunction with In-Demand Jobs Week, this edition of ConnectED highlights how Ohio’s colleges and universities, technical centers, and adult education programs are preparing students to compete for in-demand jobs. From investment into workforce development and infrastructure in the Mahoning Valley at Youngstown State University to expanding coding and app development skills at The Ohio State University and adult education and career training in Pike County, Ohioans have more choices when seeking to find their path to a successful career in an in-demand field.

This past year has shown that health care and public health are more important – and in-demand – than ever. Bowling Green State University, University of Cincinnati, and Cuyahoga Community College are just a few examples of campuses where students can get the skills they need to excel in these critical fields.

Ohio truly has a diversity of opportunity when it comes to in-demand jobs and how to train for them, and the critical link between business and higher education is what keeps Ohio’s students ConnectED to a successful future. To learn more about In-Demand Jobs Week and statewide events commemorating it, visit https://topjobs.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/indemand/week.

In this issue: Lt. Gov. Husted Visits YSU to Highlight Workforce Initiatives in the Mahoning Valley In February, Husted joined state and local officials to highlight numerous multi-million-dollar initiatives.

New BSN Program to Meet Critical Demand for Nurses BGSU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing is geared for the latest health care needs and a rapidly growing job market.

Ohio State Offers Apple App Development and Coding Certificate Courses to the Public OSU is making its popular Swift Coding and App Development certificate program available to the public.

UC Launches Public Health Undergrad Degree Responding to demand, nine UC colleges join forces to prep students for a career in public health.

Tri-C Training Programs Offer Entry Into In-demand Health Care Field Report by News 5 Cleveland focuses on College’s Sterile Processing program.

Pike County CTC’s Aspire Program Allows Adults to Earn Career Credentials and High School Diploma for Free This training track is in addition to the high school equivalency, college, and career readiness classes offered to adult students at no cost.

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LT. GOV. HUSTED VISITS YSU TO HIGHLIGHT WORKF

From the left, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted; Jennifer O executive director of the YSU Center for Workforce Education and Innovation; Lydia Mihalik, director o Development Services Agency; and YSU President

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FORCE INITIATIVES IN THE MAHONING VALLEY

Oddo,

of the Ohio Jim Tressel.

[LINK]

In February, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted joined Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel and other state and local officials to highlight the Mahoning Valley’s numerous multi-million-dollar initiatives to develop a skilled workforce to meet the growing needs of the region’s emerging high-tech markets, including electric vehicle, battery, and additive manufacturing.

The news conference, which also included Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency, took place inside the Excellence Training Center, now under construction on the YSU campus, and came three weeks after Husted announced a $12 million community investment in the Mahoning Valley as part of General Motors’ repayment of tax credit incentives. The investment includes $5 million to YSU for workforce development and for the creation of the YSU Energy Storage Innovation and Training Center.

“Having in place a skilled workforce development infrastructure here at Youngstown State is a critical part of preparing the local community for in-demand jobs that are emerging right here in the Valley, giving them and their families a chance to participate in the continued economic growth of the region,” Lt. Governor Husted said. “This investment sets the stage for another successful chapter in the region’s strong manufacturing heritage.”

“A skilled workforce is the cornerstone of Ohio’s economic development strategy,” Director Mihalik said. “This new training center will make Youngstown State a leader in workforce development and prepare students in the Mahoning Valley for high-tech jobs of the future.”

President Tressel thanked Gov. Mike DeWine, Husted, and Mihalik for their continued commitment to the Mahoning Valley.

“The support that we’ve received across the board, from state and federal agencies, has been nothing short of remarkable,” Tressel said. “Throughout our 113-year history, YSU has focused on creating opportunities for the people of the Mahoning Valley region. As we move into the third decade of the 21st century, we will keep that focus by playing a leading role in providing the training, research, innovation, and workforce development to transform the economic future of our area.”

Among the workforce development initiatives under way at YSU: Excellence Training Center now under construction on the YSU campus — The 54,000-square-foot ETC will provide high-tech space for machining, metrology, CT scanning, advanced mold making, additive manufacturing, and automation/robotics with partners that include ExOne Company, the U.S. Department of Defense, America SPRING 2021

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Makes, and the U.S. Air Force. Construction is funded through $7 million from the state of Ohio and $5.1 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, with $1 million in operational funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

YSU IT Workforce Accelerator, in partnership with IBM — The initiative is designed to better align workforce with industry in-demand skills, providing greater access to jobs through alternative educational pathways such as apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.

YSU Energy Storage and Innovation Training Center — The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $1 million partnership with YSU and DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to advance workforce development for the battery manufacturing industry. The project will assist in the development of the YSU Energy Storage and Innovation Training Center to support the battery and electric vehicle manufacturing industry in Northeast Ohio - a region increasingly referred to as “Voltage Valley” due to the number of investments made in the area by the electric vehicle industry – by helping supply a capable workforce.

Virtual Career Fair — YSU, through the $5M GM community investment and in partnership with Ultium and JobsOhio, will lead and launch a Virtual Career Fair through a 24/7/365 digital experience designed to showcase the Mahoning Valley region as a great place to live, work, and do business.

The VCF will serve as a one-stop-destination to connect the community with in-demand career pathways, training, and jobs.

YSU Center for Workforce Education and Innovation — The center, led by Executive Director Jennifer Oddo, formerly with IBM, oversees all of the university’s workforce initiatives, focusing on workforce innovation, workforce education, research, and commercialization.

“We will work with organizations to design and deliver actionable workforce strategies, educational programs, and workforce services to help develop in-demand industry skills while advancing employability outcomes for the workforce,” Oddo said.

David Sipusic, executive director of the ETC, said partnerships across a broad spectrum of public and private entities are key to creating a successful workforce development ecosystem.

“We understood early on that no single agency or institution could pull together the resources and expertise and funding needed to make this work,” he said.

ETC is a partnership of YSU with Eastern Gateway Community College, America Makes, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana County Career and SPRING 2021

Technical Centers, Choffin Career Center, and the Youngstown City Schools.

The $12 million in community investments recently announced are required as part of the settlement for GM’s repayment of its tax incentives. In addition, GM will repay $28 million in tax credits. The state of Ohio required that GM refund the tax credits and make the investments following the company’s decision to close its Lordstown assembly facility.

In addition to the $5 million allocation to YSU, the agreement includes $3 million to the Village of Lordstown for the design and construction of a new water tower, $2.5 million to the Eastgate Council of Regional Governments for local infrastructure improvements, and $1.5 million to the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition to support community workforce development.

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New BSN Program to Meet Critical Demand for Nurses BGSU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing is geared for the latest health care needs and a rapidly growing job market

BY PETE FAIRBAIRN [LINK] Nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States.

Bowling Green State University is launching a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to help meet the nation’s demand for more nurses.

This historic expansion of the School of Nursing’s portfolio continues the BGSU’s 50-year nursing education legacy.

of Health and Human Services’ School of Nursing, which is committed to helping students achieve their goals of becoming exceptional health care professionals, serving individuals across all stages of life throughout Ohio, the nation, and world.

“We are all very excited to bring our new BSN program into the School of Nursing portfolio,” said Dr. Jim Ciesla, dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “It represents a huge step forward for our nursing program and is a perfect fit for our mission as a college and a university to create public good while really enhancing our students’ experience and prospects for success.”

The new BSN program will bring together important curricular innovations, along with new state-ofthe-art lab facilities and an impressive lineup of clinical opportunities — all geared to meet the region’s and nation’s most pressing health care needs and position Bowling Green students for success in a rapidly growing job market.

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7 percent through 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The BSN program includes a proactive approach designed to address a pervasive challenge facing today’s nursing workforce.

To meet that challenge, BGSU has introduced two courses specifically focused on building clinical judgment that are unique to BGSU’s nursing program.

The program is the latest addition to the College

“We have found that it’s simply not enough to

THE BGSU DIFFERENCE

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tell students that they need to ‘think like a nurse’ while caring for patients,” said Dr. Shelly Bussard, director of BGSU’s School of Nursing. “We have to provide more practical instruction that they can carry with them into clinical settings.

I believe these new courses will give our students a distinct edge with established clinical judgment skills.”

The School of Nursing has also been working with health care partners in the community to provide meaningful learning opportunities in clinical settings. These crucial clinical opportunities are rich and varied, located in rural and urban settings, community settings, telehealth, and much more.

FACILITIES OF THE FUTURE The new home to the School of Nursing at BGSU is taking shape in the heart of main campus, with comprehensive renovations under way in the former College of Business annex, now known as Central Hall.

The facility will feature the new, state-of-the-art skills lab and simulation center, which is slated to open in late spring, well in advance of the 202122 academic year. The 23-bed lab complex has benefited from a generous donation from the Wood County Hospital Foundation and features computerized manikins that simulate patient scenarios that are realistic, helping students to develop clinical judgment skills.

The lab space will have a full complement of audio/visual equipment to assist students in SPRING 2021

guided reflection and debriefing sessions and will be open to students any time of day to practice skills learned in the classroom.

MEETING THE DEMAND FOR NURSES Industry and U.S. labor statistics show the nursing field remains one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. Registered nursing (RN) is listed among the top occupations in terms of job growth through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2016-26 employment projections, which projected the field to grow by more than 438,000 jobs over that 10-year period.

The bureau also projects the need for an additional 203,700 new RNs each year through 2026 to fill newly created positions and to replace retiring nurses. Recent estimates suggested that the country needed approximately 550,000 new RNs to enter the workforce in 2020 and 2021 to address the shortage of 1.1 million RNs in 2022.

Nursing school enrollment is not growing fast enough to meet the projected demand for registered nurse and advanced practice registered nurse services, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Though AACN reported a 3.7% enrollment increase in entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing in 2018, this increase is not sufficient to meet the projected demand for nursing services.

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According to Bussard, BGSU is stepping into this gap with new programs, new facilities, and a renewed commitment to create public good.

“BGSU has long played a pivotal role in preparing future nurses through innovative pre-nursing courses,” Bussard said. “With excellent faculty, leadership, and stakeholders, we will move BGSU into a new era of preparing registered nurses to care for individuals, families, and communities.”

A BRIEF HISTORY BGSU has had a 50-year history of providing prenursing education as part of a unique consortium with the former Medical College of Ohio, which later merged with the University of Toledo to form the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. A mutual decision was made to phase out the consortium agreement, allowing both institutions to independently build their nursing programs.

Today, BGSU’s School of Nursing is designed to meet the critical demand for nurses, both in the region and throughout the country.

In August 2019, BGSU began a fully online RN to BSN program that allows registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing the ability to continue their education and earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. BGSU graduated its first class of RN to BSN students in December 2020.

The School of Nursing also offers a dual degree

program in partnership with Mercy College, with clinical nursing classes held either at Mercy College in Toledo or at BGSU and offering clinical placements throughout Northwest Ohio.

BGSU also created a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Industry Certificate, which assists diploma LPN and LPN-to-RN students in seamlessly transitioning to a BSN degree.

With the new BSN program, the pre-nursing course work is similar to what has been offered through the UT consortium and Mercy dual degree programs. However, the nursing major, which comprises the last four semesters of the four-year nursing degree, will now be taught on campus by BGSU faculty.

THE TIME IS RIGHT The new BSN program builds on BGSU’s commitment to creating public good and meeting regional workforce needs. The demand for BSN degrees will continue to rise as more workplaces make it a hiring requirement, recognizing data that show hiring nurses with higher levels of education improves overall quality and patient outcomes. A BSN will also help prepare nurses for leadership roles and career advancement.

“I don't think we could ask for a better time in history to prepare more nurses to enter the workforce,” Bussard said. “The world needs more nurses and BGSU is prepared to provide highly trained registered nurses to care for the most vulnerable among us.”

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Ohio State Offers Apple App Development and Coding Certificate Courses to the Public Initiative will aid workforce development

BY CHRIS BOOKER [LINK] The Ohio State University is making its popular Swift Coding and App Development certificate program available to the public. By expanding access to learners everywhere, participants gain cutting-edge skills for today’s modern economy.

Additionally, the university is working with local businesses to provide workforce development opportunities for their employees through Ohio’s TechCred program.

In just over a year since it launched, more than 3,000 students, faculty, staff, and alumni have enrolled in the certificate program, completing self-paced modules on their schedule and building valuable skills. This new, public set of courses expands the opportunity to anyone interested in learning how to code and build apps that are ready for the App Store.

Horizon Two Labs, a Columbus-based venture studio that helps launch, develop, and operate technology startups, supported its employees’ enrollment in the courses. Chief Technology Officer Zak Dziczkowski said the courses help build the knowledge base of the Horizon Two team.

“Horizon Two Labs’ focus is on bringing big new ideas to life. The ability to build and iterate quickly and efficiently on new ideas is a necessity at this early stage,” he said. “We build a lot of consumerfacing products and the Ohio State Swift Coding coursework helps to build up our team’s frontend skills. Our team all strives to be polyglots.

This requires constant learning and training on all aspects of the business.”

The four-course series is designed to make it easy for participants to learn to code and develop apps SPRING 2021

with Swift — Apple’s open-source programming language. They also walk away with a series of stackable certificates and real-world skills.

“This coding and app development certificate program allows anyone, regardless of their background or prior knowledge with coding, the opportunity to learn a tangible, applicable digital skill that will not only provide them immediate skills to utilize and explore, but also a foundation for future learning, innovation, and creativity in the digital world,” said Cory Tressler, director of learning programs and Digital Flagship.

The self-paced curriculum enables participants to move through lessons on their schedule, speed through what comes easily, and spend more time in areas they want to develop. Courses are fully online so lessons can be accessed and completed from anywhere. The courses are built around Apple’s coding curriculum and its development tool, Xcode, which is used by students and professional developers alike to create apps for Apple platforms. Xcode is available as a free download for the Mac. Once participants have completed the courses, they can take their new skills and go on to complete Apple’s App Development with Swift certification as a complement to their Ohio State credential.

Ohio’s TechCred Program gives employers the chance to upskill current and future employees in today’s tech-infused economy. Employers may submit applications to be reimbursed up to $2,000 when current or prospective employees complete the Ohio State courses.

Course details for the general public are available on the university’s ScarletCanvas platform.

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Employers who would like to participate in the courses through Ohio’s TechCred program can find additional details on the Ohio State Digital Flagship website.

More than 3,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni have enrolled in the Swift Coding certificate program

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UC Launches Public Health Undergrad Degree Responding to demand, nine UC colleges join forces to prep students for a career in public health

BY ANGELA KOENIG [LINK] When the University of Cincinnati opened enrollment for its first undergraduate degree program in public health, third-year UC student Olivia Heltman was elated. Heltman said she had gone through a “roller coaster” in terms of what she wanted her future career path to look like — medicine or law — but knew for certain, after a trip to Uganda in 2019, that the foundation of her future life’s work would be public health.

“In considering what most people think of when they hear the title ‘public health official,’ I think that this definition has changed following the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Heltman, whose vision is to earn a bachelor’s degree in public health and pursue a complementary doctorate in medicine thereafter. “I now believe people understand the importance of public health and have a greater respect for individuals in this role.”

Heltman is a prime example of why UC officials launched the program. Classes will begin this August, and students will be able to work toward either a bachelor’s or associate degree in public health. The university already has a master’s degree program in public health, established in 2008.

“As a premier urban public research institution, our purpose is to educate, engage, and enhance the global community. The time is now, in the midst of a global pandemic, to pull together the expertise of UC’s renowned faculty from multiple colleges to launch the university’s first bachelor's degree in public health,” said Kristi Nelson, UC’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

The program, however, isn’t just for pre-med majors such as Heltman. It will prepare those aspiring graduates for careers as public health administrators, practitioners, analysts, epidemiologists, and a multitude of other public health-related careers.

“As part of this program, students are able to select from a diverse offering of electives, both online and in the classroom, across multiple colleges as a part of this degree,” said Regan Johnson, assistant professor at UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH). Johnson will serve as director of the degree program.

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Additionally, public health entities such as the American Heart Association (AHA) will provide student internship opportunities.

health concepts, the changing U.S. health care system, and the monitoring of diseases in the community.

“These internships provide robust, real-world experience to prepare graduates to be future leaders in the public health field,” said adjunct professor Angelica Hardee, vice president of health strategies at the AHA.

The bachelor’s degree also will be offered online, coordinated by UC Online, providing the broadest

The charge to advance the degree program, UC’s Johnson says, was based on analysis of labor statistics and rapidly increasing opportunities for growth in the public health sector.

According to Johnson, their findings bear out that the demand for public health career opportunities will increase by 5.78% over the next 10 years, with average earnings of $60,900 annually.

Select occupations in public health, she said, are expected to experience growth to an even greater extent. Those select occupations include health education and counseling (16.2% growth), project and program managers (8% growth), and health care administrators and managers (20.5% growth).

Coordinated through the College of Medicine, the on-campus degree program – both as a major and minor – will focus on awareness of emerging issues in public health, the social and behavioral aspects of preventing disease, environmental SPRING 2021

Third-year UC student Olivia Heltman (standing and fourth from right) took part in Project Bududa, Uganda, with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children.

possible access to students of all backgrounds and living throughout the U.S. “We have combined the best strengths of each of the participating colleges at the university into a combined single effort to create these very strong and competitive programs in public health, which will be wonderful additions to our growing master’s degree public health program,” said Andrew T. Filak Jr., MD, senior vice president for health affairs and dean at the College of Medicine.

“The current pandemic certainly has amplified student interest in public health and the need for public health professionals in communities throughout the country.”

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UC Blue Ash offers new program in high-demand medical specialty

BY DAVID BOSTIC [LINK] The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is offering a new online program that prepares students to earn a certificate in a high-demand medical specialty in just one year.

The Computed Tomography certificate program is accepting students for the fall 2021 semester at UC Blue Ash. Computed Tomography is better known as CT, as in CT Scans, which are used to identify a variety of illnesses or conditions.

“Computed tomography is relied on to help physicians diagnose lesions, abnormalities, and fractures,” said Julie Gill, radiation science technology program director and professor of allied health. “This certificate program prepares medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals for the fast-paced environment in CT. We’re excited to provide this educational opportunity.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job opportunities for CT technologists will grow by 12% by 2026, which represents an above-average growth rate compared to all occupations.

The CT certificate program at UC Blue Ash is for professionals in the radiation science field (includes radiologic technology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine) who want to advance their career. Graduates of the program will be eligible to apply for the CT certification exam offered by the American Registry of Radiation Technologists.

The curriculum is designed to be completed in two semesters (one year), but students may spread it over two years if they choose. Students may also apply all CT course credits toward the Bachelor of Radiation Science Technology (BRST) program at UC Blue Ash, which is also 100% online and was recently ranked as one of the top BRST online programs in the nation by Best Health Degrees.

The deadline to apply for the fall semester at UC Blue Ash is July 1, 2021. More information on the program is available online or through the Allied Health Department at 513-936-7162.

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Tri-C Training Programs Offer Entry Into In-demand Health Care Field Report by News 5 Cleveland focuses on College’s Sterile Processing program

BY JOHN HORTON [LINK] Employment opportunities in the health care industry brought Reham Shoman to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C).

Shoman enrolled in the college’s one-year Sterile Processing and Distribution Technology program last fall to enter the field. Sterile processing technicians are in demand by Northeast Ohio hospitals and medical centers.

Tri-C student Reham Shoman

A recent report by Jade Jarvis of News 5 Cleveland highlighted job openings in the region’s health care sector. The segment was part of an ongoing series — The Rebound — focused on the region as it recovers from economic distress brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shoman was featured in the News 5 segment, which focused on how sterile processing serves as a point of entry into the health care field.

Sterile processing technicians play an important role in medical care to ensure patient safety and combat infection in hospitals and surgical facilities.

The salary and stability offered by health careers brought Shoman to Tri-C to train.

“I think it's easier getting a job sometimes when you have some sort of certificate or degree,” Shoman told Jarvis. “I also have three kids, so I

want a good job that can bring in money.”

The college offers a nine-month sterile processing training curriculum as part of its health careers program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the professional certification test given by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.

Coursework can also be applied toward requirements for several health care-focused degrees, including an Associate of Applied Science in surgical technology.

Northeast Ohio hospitals and medical providers advertised 15,000 open positions in the past 90 days, Jarvis reported. Tri-C is leading efforts to fill the talent pipeline through its work with the Workforce Connect Healthcare Sector Partnership.

Click here to watch the News 5 segment.

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Pike County CTC’s Aspire Program Allows Adults to Earn Career Credentials and High School Diploma for Free Adults who want to earn certification in an “in-demand” career field but who do not have a high school diploma can get both at the same time through the Aspire Adult Education Program at the Pike County Career Technology Center.

This training track is in addition to the high school equivalency, college, and career readiness classes offered to adult students at no cost.

“Today, adults have a choice in how they obtain their high school equivalency diploma,” said Lathe Moore, adult education director at the Pike County CTC. “There are options available besides taking the GED exam.”

“There are options available besides taking the GED exam.”

Aspire (formerly known as ABLE) provides adults with the opportunity to learn the academic skills necessary to accomplish both their educational and career-related goals. Aspire operates under the guidance and leadership of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and has locations across the state, including in Piketon and Jackson.

“With several options to choose from to earn a high school diploma, adults have the opportunity to select whichever one is best for their career and education goals,” said Jerilynn Bapst, Aspire adult education instructor for the Pike County CTC. “So the options available through Aspire are two tests, GED and HiSET, and the Adult Diploma Program,

Adult Education Instructor Johnna McDonie teaching students and preparing for one of the three diploma options.

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which is the free job training program.”

Aspire offers free classes to prepare for the Adult Diploma Program. The Adult Diploma Program provides job training and a new pathway for adults, ages 22 or older, to earn a high school diploma and industry credentials aligned to one of Ohio’s indemand jobs.

In the Adult Diploma Program, participants receive career advising, work readiness assessment, and remediation to help prepare for a career. They then can earn an industry certification in one of several professions. When participants complete all parts and pass their industry certification test, they receive both the certification and a State of Ohio high school diploma.

What makes this program different from a traditional high school setting is the delivery of instruction to adults. Instead of measuring academic achievement through clock hours, seat time, or credits earned, the focus is on a competency-based approach that provides a self-paced option. Once competencies have been learned, adults then demonstrate mastery of skill. Each eligible adult works with the provider to create a customized student success plan.

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arts through reasoning. To earn a GED certificate, which is issued in the state as an Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma, test-takers must pass a comprehensive exam.

The HiSET exam is a multi-part test used in the process of issuing a high school equivalency credential. The exam allows adults to show program participants have the same academic knowledge and skills as a high school graduate.

Taking the exam can help adults fulfill college admissions requirements, acquire a new career, advance in an existing career, join the military, and meet federal education requirements.

GED and HiSET candidates can take practice tests and study relevant information to prepare for the test at the Aspire Adult Education centers in Piketon and Jackson. Passing scores show the individual can perform at a level consistent with high school equivalency. Information from the exam also helps to identify areas in which individuals are career and college ready, as well as areas in which additional preparation may be needed.

Additional information regarding programs, class locations, and schedules are available through the Pike CTC Aspire Center: 175 Beaver Creek Rd., Piketon, OH 45661; Phone: 740-289-2282 or 740-289-4172. For more information on the Ohio Aspire program, visit ohiohighered.org/aspire.

Photo: Clark State College 19

A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles: Lt. Gov. Husted Visits YSU to Highlight Workforce Initiatives in the Mahoning Valley Ron Cole Public Information Officer Youngstown State University

New BSN Program to Meet Critical Demand for Nurses Pete Fairbairn Marketing Strategist Bowling Green State University

OSU Offers Apple App Development and Coding Certificate Courses to the Public Chris Booker Assistant Director of Media Relations, University Communications The Ohio State University

UC Launches Public Health Undergrad Degree Angela Koenig David Bostic Public Information Officer University of Cincinnati

Web Communications Manager UC Blue Ash

Tri-C Training Programs Offer Entry Into In-demand Health Care Field John Horton Manager, Media Relations Cuyahoga Community College

Pike County CTC Allows Adults to Earn Career Credentials for Free Lathe Moore Adult Education Director Pike County Career Technology Center

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.