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Summer 2021 Volume 9 Issue 3
INSIDE: > Avon Woman Utilized LCCC to Change Her Life after Pandemic Layoff > Shawnee State Alumna Serves Her Community as a Nurse Practitioner > Applied Bachelor’s Degree Graduations: Cincinnati State, Lorain County Community College, North Central State College, Sinclair Community College > C-TEC Awarded Automation and Robotics Grant to Develop Program Model for Licking County and Central Ohio Adult Workforce Training
Photo: The University of Akron
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A Message from Chancellor Randy Gardner The last issue of ConnectED featured stories tied to In-Demand Jobs Week, but for the Department of Higher Education, in-demand jobs are a year-round topic of interest. This issue of ConnectED features more stories highlighting the diversity of opportunity that Ohio offers to those pursuing the skills and knowledge for an in-demand career. The pandemic reminded us of the critical importance of public health and mental health, and both are in-demand fields. Lorain County Community College (LCCC) and Shawnee State University are changing lives and preparing students for jobs in these important areas. Four campuses recently celebrated their first graduates from applied bachelor’s degree programs. These programs, offered at Ohio community colleges, state community colleges, and technical colleges, are designed to meet specific workforce needs not met by other institutions. North Central State College, Sinclair Community College, LCCC, and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College awarded their first applied bachelor’s degrees, and it was a privilege to help recognize some of these students during graduation ceremonies and other special events. The 2020-21 collegiate year saw a reduction in overall enrollments in Ohio and the nation. However, the number of graduate students increased at many universities, demonstrating the indemand nature and value of these programs – additional evidence of Ohio’s diversity of education opportunity. Whether it’s medicine or mental health services, unmanned aerial systems or land surveying, Ohio’s higher education institutions and their partners in the business community are keeping Ohioans ConnectED to in-demand careers.
IN THIS ISSUE: Avon Woman Utilized LCCC to Change Her Life after Pandemic Layoff Lyn Bruno took her first classes at Lorain County Community College while still a senior at Westlake High School.
Shawnee State Alumna Serves Her Community as a Nurse Practitioner Brittany Bolton chose to return to her hometown and transfer to Shawnee State University.
Applied Bachelor’s Degree Graduations: Cincinnati State, Lorain County Community College, North Central State College, Sinclair Community College This year, four schools celebrated their first graduates from newly approved programs.
C-TEC Awarded Automation and Robotics Grant to Develop Program Model for Licking County and Central Ohio Adult Workforce Training This grant allows C-TEC to lead Central Ohio in developing an entry-level automation and robotics adult training program.
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AVON WOMAN UTILIZED LCCC TO CHANGE HER LIFE AFTER PANDEMIC LAYOFF [LINK] Lyn Bruno took her first classes at Lorain County Community College while still a senior at Westlake High School. Now, the 29-yearold Avon resident has her addiction and recovery counseling certification with plans to earn a master’s degree in social work with a focus on mental health in adults through LCCC’s University Partnership program with Youngstown State University. When COVID-19 struck, she was laid off from her role as a project coordinator for Trimark USA and knew she wanted to make a change. Bruno, who spent the majority of her childhood in the Philippines, said she later moved to the United States for better opportunities and education. Already equipped with an unrelated bachelor’s degree, Bruno said she decided to attend LCCC largely due to Thomas Stubler, a leader in addiction and recovery. “I’ve taken (unrelated) courses at LCCC in the past and have always had high respect for their staff and faculty. Professor Tom has been one of the best professors I've had,” Bruno said. “He is intelligent and encourages his students to take initiative and learn to work more independently. I chose to do the program because of its relationship with The LCADA (Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services) Way.” Bruno is currently completing an internship in addiction services with the organization. As a student, intern, wife, and mother, Bruno said she was surprised by her ability to multitask. “Time management and prioritizing schoolwork are huge factors that have led to my near completion of my degree,” she said.
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Lyn Bruno
After graduation, Bruno said she hopes to work for LCADA or as a clinician in the addiction and recovery field. She says while the program has been challenging, it has equipped her for a successful career in the future. “I’ve always had a great sense of empathy and compassion,” Bruno said. “I’ve met people from all walks of life, as well as family and friends who were directly affected by addiction. I want to be a part of the mental health and addiction services community because I think that there is still such a huge stigma surrounding mental health and addiction.” For more information on LCCC’s University Partnership program, visit www.lorainccc.edu/up.
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Shawnee State Alumna Serves Her Community as a Nurse Practitioner After attending another university for a year, Brittany Bolton chose to return to her hometown and transfer to Shawnee State University. Deciding to make a change in her career path, she applied to SSU’s Associate Degree in Nursing program. “Shawnee was amazing,” she said. “I really enjoyed the program and I really enjoyed the campus – I wish I would have just started there.” Graduating with her ADN in December 2014, Bolton went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing and then her Master of Science in Nursing to become a nurse practitioner. “I really love establishing that relationship with the patients and being able to continue their care and stay involved,” she said on her decision to become a nurse practitioner. “It’s my favorite part of nursing because the patients impact you just as much as you impact them.” Working at Southern Ohio Medical Center’s West Portsmouth Family Practice for a little more than a year, Bolton recently celebrated the opening of the hospital's Northwest Family Practice in McDermott, Ohio where she is currently serving as the facility’s only nurse practitioner.
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“You have bad patients and you have good patients, but the thing is learning from the bad experiences to influence the good,” she said. “There is a learning experience from every single patient that you deal with and it just makes you a better nurse in general.” Currently working on her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree, Bolton recognizes the need for nurses not only in her area, but also across the nation. “Nursing is a much-needed field, but the nursing shortage is significant,” she said. “The program is hard, but don’t be intimidated. Put everything you have into it and you’ll get everything out of it.” To learn more about the nursing programs at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/ nursing.
“This is where I see my career,” she said. “I am very thankful to be in my community and close to my alma mater. Being the only provider here, I have a lot of responsibility, but I know that I have resources I utilize and a community of supporters to reach out to.” Never imagining herself as a nurse, Bolton now cannot picture herself being part of any other career. SUMMER 2021
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APPLIED BACHELOR’S DEGREE
GRADUATIONS Amended Substitute House Bill 49 of the 132nd General Assembly directed the chancellor of higher education to establish a program under which community colleges, state community colleges, and technical colleges may apply to offer applied bachelor’s degrees.
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a state university or private college or university; and Willingness of an industry partner to offer workplace-based learning and employment opportunities to students enrolled in the proposed program.
The chancellor may approve programs under this This year, four schools celebrated their first section that demonstrate all of the following: graduates from these approved programs. • Evidence of an agreement between Chancellor Randy Gardner participated in the the college and a regional business commencement ceremonies at Lorain County or industry to train students in an inCommunity College and Sinclair Community demand field and to employ students College and attended a special event to upon their successful completion of the commemorate graduates from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. program; • That the workforce need of the regional business or industry is in an in-demand field with long-term sustainability based upon data provided by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation; • Supporting data that identify the specific workforce need the program will address; • The absence of a bachelor's degree program that meets the workforce need Cincinnati State President President Monica Posey addressed by the and Chancellor Randy Gardner proposed program that is offered by
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NC State College Celebrates First Bachelor’s Degree Graduating Class [LINK] On May 7, 2021, North Central State College celebrated its first graduating class to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology (BASMET). The eight graduates were honored during a drive-through ceremony on the campus.
degrees to younger students and many are graduating debtfree. It’s directly in line with the mission of NC State.”
“I’m proud that the first NC State bachelor’s degrees were awarded from our division. These graduates are in demand. Many are employed with a local manufacturer,” said Dan Wagner, dean of the Business, Industry, and Technology Division who helped develop the BASMET program and who taught some of the classes. “We’re proving that we can provide relevant programming that meets the needs of employers in our region. At the same time, it’s a great value for our graduates.
BASMET is the first bachelor’s degree program offered at NC State in its 50-year history of serving the communities of North Central Ohio. In the spring of 2018, Ohio’s community colleges were invited to explore offering bachelor’s degrees that responded to the specific needs of local employers in the regions they serve. North Central, with the support of numerous businesses in North Central Ohio, applied to the State of Ohio and the Higher Learning Commission to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology. The request was approved in March 2019.
“By earning credit in high school through College Credit Plus and College NOW, some of these graduates brought two years of credits forward into the bachelor’s program,” Wagner added. “That saved them thousands of dollars in tuition. We’re providing BASMET
Sinclair College Makes History with First Bachelor's Degree Graduates [LINK] Sinclair Community College made history at its 2021 commencement when it awarded the college’s first bachelor’s degrees. Four Sinclair students became the first to earn bachelor’s degrees from Sinclair, and they were recognized for their achievement during the afternoon commencement ceremony on May 6, 2021 at University of Dayton Arena. In 2019, Sinclair introduced two bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Applied Science – Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Bachelor of Applied Science – Aviation Technology/Professional Pilot. (continued on next page)
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Two students graduated with the Professional Pilot bachelor’s degree, and two earned the UAS bachelor’s degree. Mugisha “Mo” Kamana of Kigali, Rwanda (East Africa) came to Sinclair College at the age of 17 with the dream of becoming a pilot because, in his words, “Dayton is the birthplace of aviation.” Mugisha earned one of the Aviation Technology/ Professional Pilot . bachelor’s degrees.
Preston Moore of Huber Heights had a love for video games that drew him to Sinclair’s UAS bachelor’s degree program. He’s also utilizing his UAS skills in his role as a realtor to showcase properties.
“Sinclair’s UAS bachelor’s degree program is very hands-on, so instead of just studying and trying to find it out for yourself, you are in the lab working on designing, 3-D printing, building, manufacturing, and fixing broken vehicles. “I believed Sinclair Just a plethora of handscould get me where I on learning to better wanted to go. First of all, prepare you for a career it’s affordable and the in Unmanned Aerial Aviation Department looks Systems,” Moore said. at everything. They look “Sinclair is affordable at your progress. I think and has a very good open Sinclair is a good school schedule for students like to pursue an aviation me who are balancing career,” he said. “When family and work. The Sinclair graduate Mugisha Kamana Sinclair got approved and I professors will work with could finish my bachelor’s you if you have a tight degree, it was my dream schedule and that is very come true. It’s a success accommodating. They to Sinclair, but it’s a big success to me as well. really take care of you.” Getting my bachelor’s and being able to move on. I’m pretty proud and happy about it.” Samuel Bryan of Beavercreek will graduate this summer from Sinclair with his Bachelor of Centerville native Michael Sherbet earned the Applied Science – Unmanned Aerial Systems other Aviation Technology/ Professional Pilot degree. degree this spring. “What I love most about Sinclair’s UAS program “I feel very honored to be a part of the first group is just how hands-on everything is and how of bachelor’s degree graduates and testing the they encourage us to be creative with our ideas. waters for this new program. Not only for this The instructors want to discuss ideas with us so program specifically, but for the school because that they can help us turn a dream into reality. with other bachelor’s degrees to come, this is We expand on stuff that may sound really crazy, something that is going to set Sinclair apart from but anything’s possible. I really love how they the others,” Sherbet said. “A lot of the airlines encourage creativity in this program,” Bryan now require a four-year degree for you to be said. “The professors here care and want you accepted and start the job as a career. Now that to expand your knowledge outside of class. They you are able to get everything at Sinclair without encourage you to keep researching, keep learning having to transfer to a four-year institution to more, and keep developing new methods. Sinclair finish that up, it makes it very appealing.” has really helped me achieve my goals as I pursue a career in the UAS industry.” SUMMER 2021
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First-ever Bachelor’s Degree Grads at Cincinnati State Recognized by Chancellor [LINK] Chancellor Randy Gardner visited Cincinnati State on May 7, 2021, to congratulate the college’s firstever bachelor’s degree recipients in the field of land surveying.
“Area employers have wanted this to happen for a long time, and we are honored to have been able to meet this crucial workforce need,” President Posey said.
“Cincinnati State’s land surveying program means students in the program don’t have to leave Ohio to get their bachelor’s degree, and they’re well prepared for a successful future,” Chancellor Gardner said. The Chancellor visit was part of a statewide celebration of Ohio’s In Demand Jobs Week.
Cincinnati State President Monica Posey said she’s proud of the students and the program itself.
Chancellor Randy Gardner speaks with a new Cincinnati State grad.
At Cincinnati State’s commencement ceremonies on June 26, 2021, the school awarded the Bachelor of Applied Science in Land Surveying degree to 21 students. All of the graduates have already obtained employment, with annual salaries averaging above $55,000. Steve Cahill, president of Abercrombie and Associates Inc., a Cincinnati civil engineering and surveying firm, said, “This new degree is a game changer for us. We need these young people in our profession.”
Chancellor Randy Gardner at the Cincinnati State commencement
Prior to the full approval of the land surveying bachelor’s degree, Cincinnati State already offered some junior and senior level courses in land surveying through two certificate programs. Students who had previous completed the land surveying associate degree were able to accelerate their progress toward completing bachelor’s degree requirements. Six more students are expected to complete the land surveying bachelor’s degree program at the end of the summer semester.
Cincinnati State’s other Bachelor of Applied Science degree, in culinary and food science, anticipates its first graduating class in 2023. Currently, more than 40 students are enrolled in the program. SUMMER 2021
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C-TEC Awarded Automation and Robotics Grant to Develop Program Model for Licking County and Central Ohio Adult Workforce Training The Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership (COMP) recently awarded the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County’s (C-TEC) Adult Education Center the federal Industry Sector Partnership Grant. This grant allows C-TEC to lead Central Ohio in developing an entry-level automation and robotics adult training program. The goal of the grant is to develop entry-level curriculum in manufacturing automation and robotics that will supply a steady pipeline of automation technician workers. The shortterm certification program will be less than one year. C-TEC will develop the model, in partnership with Licking County and Central Ohio manufacturers, then train the first class of students who will be awarded full scholarships as part of the initiative. From there, C-TEC will assist other Ohio Technical Centers in surrounding counties to implement similar programming.
Shawn Hendrix, president of the Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership (COMP) and president of Nissen Chemitec America, Inc., said, “Manufacturing is the largest economic sector in Ohio, and the investment in automation by manufacturers is vitally important to remain globally competitive, and absolutely necessary to sustain manufacturing in our state. “The Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership awarded this grant to C-TEC to develop an entry-level automation program with full confidence that they will deliver an outstanding program based on the resources that they currently have in their facility along with an experienced and committed staff,” Hendrix added. “This program will be a model that we intend to eventually deploy to the other Ohio Technical Centers.”
C-TEC was selected because of its competitive advantage in equipment, technical expertise, and community partnerships. Experience in industry training models specific to manufacturing helped make C-TEC a natural choice to activate this initiative. In October 2020, with the help of local manufacturers, C-TEC launched its new Advanced CNC Machining and Robotics Integration program that includes a new 120-hour Robotics and Automation course with national industry certification in Fanuc Handling Pro.
The Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership (COMP) is a manufacturing-led industry sector partnership created to solve the workforce training, retention, and recruitment challenges of its participating membership, which includes many Central Ohio-based manufacturers. The COMP membership includes manufacturing and educational firms in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union counties.
“We’re excited to keep building on our work in automation and robotics so that C-TEC can continue to respond to workforce challenges,” said Lauren Massie, C-TEC’s adult education director.
The new automation program is scheduled to launch in June 2022. For more information on the new Advanced CNC Machining and Robotics Integration program, go to https://c-tec.edu/ae/ programs/machining.
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Photo: The University of Toledo 11
A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles: Avon Woman Utilized LCCC to Change Her Life after Pandemic Layoff Stephen Sefchik Manager of Advertising and Communications Lorain County Community College
Shawnee State Alumna Serves Her Community as a Nurse Practitioner Eric Braun Vice President Advancement & Institutional Relations Shawnee State University
NC State College Celebrates First Bachelor’s Degree Graduating Class Keith Stoner Exec. Dir. of Marketing and Public Relations, North Central State College
Sinclair College Makes History with First Bachelor's Degree Graduates Cathy Petersen Chief of Public Information Sinclair Community College
First-ever Bachelor’s Degree Grads at Cincinnati State Recognized by Chancellor Richard Curtis Interim Media/Communications Coordinator Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
C-TEC Awarded Automation and Robotics Grant to Develop Program Model for Licking County and Central Ohio Adult Workforce Training Lauren Massie Director, Adult Education Career & Technology Education Centers of Licking County
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.
