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.

The chancellor may approve programs under this section that demonstrate all of the following:

• Evidence of an agreement between the college and a regional business or industry to train students in an in-demand field and to employ students upon their successful completion of the 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 addressed by the proposed program that is offered by 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.

This year, four schools celebrated their first graduates from these approved programs. Chancellor Randy Gardner participated in the commencement ceremonies at Lorain County Community College and Sinclair Community College and attended a special event to commemorate graduates from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

NC State College Celebrates First Bachelor’s Degree Graduating Class

North Central State College's first graduating class to earn Bachelor's degrees.

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.

“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 degrees to younger students and many are graduating debt-free. It’s directly in line with the mission of NC State.”

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.

Sinclair College Makes History with First Bachelor's Degree Graduates

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.

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.

Sinclair graduate Mugisha Kamana

“I believed Sinclair could get me where I wanted to go. First of all, it’s affordable and the Aviation Department looks at everything. They look at your progress. I think Sinclair is a good school to pursue an aviation career,” he said. “When Sinclair got approved and I could finish my bachelor’s degree, it was my dream come true. It’s a success to Sinclair, but it’s a big success to me as well. Getting my bachelor’s and being able to move on. I’m pretty proud and happy about it.”

Centerville native Michael Sherbet earned the other Aviation Technology/ Professional Pilot degree this spring.

“I feel very honored to be a part of the first group of bachelor’s degree graduates and testing the waters for this new program. Not only for this program specifically, but for the school because with other bachelor’s degrees to come, this is something that is going to set Sinclair apart from the others,” Sherbet said. “A lot of the airlines now require a four-year degree for you to be accepted and start the job as a career. Now that you are able to get everything at Sinclair without having to transfer to a four-year institution to finish that up, it makes it very appealing.”

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. Just a plethora of hands-on learning to better prepare you for a career in Unmanned Aerial Systems,” Moore said. “Sinclair is affordable and has a very good open schedule for students like me who are balancing family and work. The Sinclair graduate Mugisha Kamana professors will work with you if you have a tight schedule and that is very accommodating. They really take care of you.”

Samuel Bryan of Beavercreek will graduate this summer from Sinclair with his Bachelor of Applied Science – Unmanned Aerial Systems degree.

“What I love most about Sinclair’s UAS program is just how hands-on everything is and how they encourage us to be creative with our ideas. The instructors want to discuss ideas with us so that they can help us turn a dream into reality. We expand on stuff that may sound really crazy, but anything’s possible. I really love how they encourage creativity in this program,” Bryan said. “The professors here care and want you to expand your knowledge outside of class. They encourage you to keep researching, keep learning more, and keep developing new methods. Sinclair has really helped me achieve my goals as I pursue a career in the UAS industry.”

First-ever Bachelor’s Degree Grads at Cincinnati State Recognized by Chancellor

Cincinnati State President President Monica Posey and Chancellor Randy Gardner

Chancellor Randy Gardner visited Cincinnati State on May 7, 2021, to congratulate the college’s first-ever bachelor’s degree recipients in the field of land surveying. Cincinnati State President Monica Posey said she’s proud of the students and the program itself.

“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.

Chancellor Randy Gardner speaks with a new Cincinnati State grad.

The Chancellor visit was part of a statewide celebration of Ohio’s In Demand Jobs Week.

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.”

Cincinnati State President Monica Posey said she’s proud of the students and the program itself.

“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.

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.