CENTRAL STATE'S INTEL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DOUBLES PARTICIPANTS IN YEAR TWO
> Central State University's SERP expands opportunities in semiconductor technology
> New center equips students with state-of-the-art robotics and hybrid learning tools
> More than 40 businesses have been started by Miami students while still in college
> BGSU research finds reduced levels of harmful algae toxins in Sandusky Bay
> Ohio University helps solve training, access issues in Southeast Ohio
> 2024 Ohio State Fair Wrap-up
Photo: The UniversityofToldeo
A Message from Chancellor Mike Duffey
It’s easy to assume that summer is a quiet time in higher education. But based on the activity in our office, things are as busy as ever.
We just concluded 12 days at the Ohio State Fair, where the Ohio Department of Higher Education was again a key part of the fair’s Youth Exploration Space. Families visiting our booth could take a virtual reality tour of Ohio’s campuses, engage with our colleges, universities, and career technical centers, and learn more about the various postsecondary pathways that lead to a successful career.
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. Learn more about Central State University’s summer internship with Intel, how Miami University is preparing young entrepreneurs, and the new Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center at Rhodes State College.
With a new school year right around the corner, it’s even more important to ensure that business and education stay ConnectED in Ohio to deliver a bright future for our students and our state.
IN
ISSUE:
Central State's Intel Summer Internship Program Doubles Participants in Year Two
Central State University's SERP expands opportunities in semiconductor technology
Dedication of the Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center at Rhodes State by the Ar-Hale Family Foundation
New center equips students with state-of-the-art robotics and hybrid learning tools
More than 40 businesses have been started by Miami students while still in college
Mad Rabbit Tattoo’s co-founders discovered their shared passion early
Improving Water Quality
BGSU research finds reduced levels of harmful algae toxins in Sandusky Bay
Central State University’s Intel-sponsored summer internship program doubles intern participants in second year
Central State University
Alissa Paolella
Central State University's Semiconductor Education and Research Program (SERP) welcomed 39 high school and undergraduate students to the second annual Intelsponsored summer internship for women and underrepresented minorities on June 3.
This year's program, hosted at the Wright State University and State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton campuses, marked the start of an intensive, eight-week journey in microelectronics and semiconductor technology. The program aims to engage and empower talented individuals from diverse communities by providing them with comprehensive learning experiences in microelectronics.
"This program is a pivotal step in bridging the gap between academia and industry," said Dr.
Mohammadreza Hadizadeh, Central State's SERP program director. "By providing hands-on experience and direct industry engagement, we are preparing our students to be the innovators of tomorrow's technology.
"The partnership between CSU and WSU for this internship program exemplifies the strength of collaborative efforts in higher education. Together, we are fostering a diverse and skilled workforce that will drive future advancements in the semiconductor industry."
Before visiting several labs, the interns listened to welcoming remarks from speakers, including Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, President at Central State University; Dr. Susan Edwards, president of WSU; and Jim Evers, Intel vice president and Ohio site manufacturing and operations manager.
Most of the semiconductor industry is located outside the United States and is highly concentrated in Southeast Asia. For national security and economic reasons, both the U.S. public and private sectors have agreed that more talent needs to be developed domestically, Kuti said.
"Intel has invested $20 billion in Ohio so that students like you can be successful," he said, adding Central State is thrilled to partner with Wright State on this vital program.
"We are cooperating to make sure that we both walk together to produce the best talent and students that we can possibly have," he said. Intel's Evers emphasized the importance of investing in the future workforce in light of the national dialogue surrounding AI and the chips essential for driving our digital world. He urged
the interns to contemplate whether pursuing a career in this field is something they are interested in.
"If you join this industry, you will have a career that is in high demand," Evers said. "Part of the reason that we invested is because when you look out to 2030 in this industry, there's a significant shortage of talent. ... There are not as many underrepresented minorities and women who have been interested in this industry until now."
Evers said the industry presents high-paying jobs in clean room environments through advanced manufacturing. "This is your chance to test it out, to see if it's the right fit. If you choose this (industry), I can tell you that you'll be in high demand because the industry needs you."
This year's program received a tremendous response with 284 applications. From those, 39 outstanding interns were selected, including 34 students from 10 Ohio higher education institutions and five high school students. Twenty-two students from Central State were chosen through the competitive application process.
The internship program provides a robust educational and practical experience in critical areas, such as microelectronics fabrication and design, printed circuit board fabrication and design, security, and additive microfabrication. It features morning lectures and afternoon hands-on lab practice five days a week.
Each intern receives a $5,000 stipend and food allowance and paid accommodation at WSU campus guest houses. In addition to 35 interns at Wright State, four spend their internship at the SUNY-Binghamton campus.
For more information, visit the CSU SERP website at https://www.centralstate.edu/ semiconductors.
Jim Evers, Intel vice president and Ohio site manufacturing and operations manager
Interns participated in lab tours on the first day of their internship, including labs featuring virtual reality.
Dedication of the Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center at Rhodes State by the Ar-Hale Family Foundation
The Ar-Hale Family Foundation Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center at Rhodes State College was officially dedicated in May. Donors, elected officials, College leaders, faculty and staff, and community partners attended the dedication ceremony in the James J. Countryman Engineering and Industrial Technology Building on Rhodes State’s main campus. A reception and demonstrations of the various robotics in the Center followed the dedication ceremony.
Speakers included Dr. Cynthia Spiers, president of Rhodes State College; Mr. Everett “Butch” Kirk III, chair of the Rhodes State Board of Trustees; Janet Hawk of the Ar-Hale Family Foundation; Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman; Technology and Liberal Studies Dean Dr. David Haus; and 2024 honors graduate and GROB apprentice Isaiah Thompson, who graduated May 4 with his associate degree in Electromechanical Engineering Technology. As a part of Thompson’s projects, he programmed a FANUC Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA) to play Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” on a keyboard.
The Ar-Hale Family Foundation Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center is equipped with FANUC, ABB, and Mitsubishi robots, giving Rhodes State students hands-on opportunities to master any type of robotics they may encounter in current manufacturing.
The Center also features hy-flex technology for simultaneous remote and in-person learning, mobile lab stations, and a collaborative classroom space for lectures and group projects. Students enrolled in all of the College’s engineering technology programs will use this Center.
This gift from the Ar-Hale Family Foundation marks it second major gift to Rhodes State College’s Collaborate Innovate Major Gifts campaign, which secures private donations for capital and program needs as well as scholarships. The campaign supports the Borra Center for Health Sciences in downtown Lima and the Emerging Innovation Centers at Rhodes State, the latter of which includes the Ar-Hale Family Foundation Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center. The Ar-Hale Family Foundation’s first gift provided naming for the Clinical Simulation Suite for Emergency/ICU at the Borra Center for Health Science. The overall campaign currently stands at $4.3 million of its $8 million goal. In addition to the Ar-Hale Family Foundation Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center, the Countryman building houses several classrooms and labs for manufacturing: electronics, fabrication, automated controls, CNC and welding, advanced manufacturing processes, Mitsubishi electric training, programmable logic controllers, and electrical circuits. Over the past three years, the College has invested over $1.1 million in new equipment and technology for advanced manufacturing.
Since 1971, educating students to become essential contributors to manufacturing, business, public service, healthcare, and their communities has been a constant for Rhodes State. The College continues to create new programs, repurpose facilities, purchase advanced laboratory and program equipment, and collaborate with regional partners to meet in-demand workforce needs. The Ar-Hale Family Foundation Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center is an example of how Rhodes State is repurposing existing spaces to create new learning environments, equipped with the latest technology, to serve students and the region.
Veronica Hawk and Janet Hawk, from the Ar-Hale Foundation; Dr. Cynthia E. Spiers, President, Rhodes State College; Matt Huffman, Ohio Senate President; and Butch Kirk, Chair, Rhodes State College Trustees.
Oliver Zak (L) and Selom Agbitor (R) receive their RedHawk50 award earlier this year.
40-plus businesses have been started by Miami students while still in college
Mad Rabbit
Tattoo’s co-founders discovered their shared passion early
By Jay Murdock and Addie Rosenthal, Miami University, University Communications and Marketing
The vast majority of students who take entrepreneurship classes while at Miami University or minor/co-major in ESP at the Farmer School of Business never actually start their own business, choosing to use the knowledge and experience gained to help their careers in other ways.
But more than 40 businesses have been started by Miami students while still in college, from Emil Barr’s StepUp Social, to Tyler Storer's OxVegas Chicken, to Kamilah Dotson’s KCD Cosmetics.
And then there are Oliver Zak and Selom Agbitor, co-founders of Mad Rabbit Tattoo, an aftercare company founded in 2019 that ranked No. 4 on the inaugural RedHawk50, the 50 fastest-growing Miami RedHawk-owned or Miami RedHawk-led businesses in the world.
The two met their first year at Miami as members of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi and discovered a shared passion for starting businesses.
For Zak, it stemmed from watching his father, who was a skilled surgeon, reinvent himself as an entrepreneur after a serious car accident made it impossible for him to operate. Entrepreneurship gave Agbitor an outlet for his creativity, while not abandoning his immigrant parents’ wishes for him to pursue a respected, financially secure career path.
“I got to know Tim Holcomb pretty early on. He invited me into his office one day, and I ended up doing the RedHawk Accelerator that he and Mark Lacker put together. We keep in pretty constant contact with Tim,” Agbitor said.
Zak said, “I took a digital branding-centric path in the Interactive Media Studies program that I think
really helped open my eyes to what good branding can be and all of the important things such as brand voice and what it takes to be a memorable brand.” Their first company together involved drop shipping products from China.
“We were the middleman between manufacturers in China and creating a storefront and a point of sale for swimsuits. So we ran that for basically one summer, made a couple of thousand dollars, ended up selling it for $8,000 right before winter because we were like, ‘I don't want to deal with the seasonality of this,’” Zak said. “We ended up using some of those funds to ultimately fund our first purchase orders from Mad Rabbit.”
They settled on the tattoo aftercare product after looking at the marketplace, or more precisely, the lack of a marketplace.
“I’m baffled how underserved the tattoo aftercare market is when you consider how ancient tattoos truly are. Tattoos are becoming more normalized. As many as 43% of people have a tattoo, a number that’s projected to increase 8% every year, and the overwhelming majority plan on getting more,” Zak said. “Given our skill sets at the time, we thought, ‘We can definitely take this market by storm,’ so that's how we settled on it.”
The name came from a desire to stay away from trendy names and allude to their all-natural ingredients.
“In recent years, there's been an affinity for companies to kind of go with sleek and sexy names. We wanted to evoke feelings of all natural and more of a grassroots vibe. Mad Rabbit alludes to the jackalope, which is a mythical horned rabbit from American folklore. It kind of plays on our brand edge,” Zak said.
They created Mad Rabbit’s first balm — which moisturizes tattooed skin to prevent discoloration and keep tattoos looking vibrant — in a crockpot in their High Street apartment using ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, and cucumber.
“We got our neighbors involved; they were helping us ship out packages. Some professors were our very first customers. It really took off from the start, which helped us solidify our theories about the need for this product. We started with $300 each in January 2019, and we were lucky enough to be profitable from week one,” Zak said.
“My mom has years of apothecary experience, and she helped us come up with the original seven-ingredient balm. We've kept that product development mantra the same. We like to keep it simple, all natural,” he said. “It's been a great method for us, no unnecessary ingredients and no chemicals. It really just goes a surprisingly long way.”
Agbitor and Zak graduated from Miami and accepted traditional jobs — Agbitor to Wichita for a two-year rotation with Textron; Zak to Manhattan doing mergers and acquisitions consulting for EY-Parthenon.
Both enjoyed their jobs, but that wasn’t the end of Mad Rabbit. They invested all their non-working hours growing the company, which surged from $400,000 in sales in the first year to nearly $3 million the next.
“We were looking to be the first real brand to market. In order to do that, we have to pump out content. We’ve got to spend a lot of money. We’ve got to get the product in people's hands,” Zak said. That meant raising capital to partner with influencers like well-known tattoo artists, models, and athletes, and to invest in tattoo education and research.
That led to Zak and Agbitor appearing in 2021 on the ABC show “Shark Tank,” where entrepreneurs make presentations to a panel of five venture capitalists called "sharks" on the program, who decide whether to invest in their companies.
“I was pretty confident until we walked onto the stage, and my legs started shaking. I’ve never really been a public speaker,” Agbitor said, ”So having my first attempt with a million people watching was kind of frightening.”
Panelist Kevin O’Leary noted during the broadcast, “I have a lot of respect for you dudes. You’re not even full-time yet, and you’re killing it.”
In the end, the pair received two offers, and they accepted Mark Cuban's proposal to invest $500,000. Agbitor soon left Textron, while Zak followed a few months later, to make Mad Rabbit a full-time business. If you ask them if they miss those jobs, you’ll get very different answers.
"It was a really good resource for me to spend time with like-minded people who cared about school, who cared about business."
“I was doing consulting and it allowed me to see all levels of problems from all sizes of businesses, particularly large corporations. And I think it gave me a lot of confidence in my ability to speak with executives, which kind of informed how I operate as an executive in my company,” Zak said. He also misses stability, at least somewhat.
“I think as an entrepreneur, the highs feel very high and the lows feel very low, and it's definitely more of a roller coaster than a corporate job is. So sometimes you kind of miss just being on flat ground, if you will.”
And Agbitor’s response? “1,000% no,” he said. “I would get home after work, and I was excited to work on Mad Rabbit because it felt like I was playing a video game. So I had that adrenaline rush to get home and work on it because my regular job was basically copy and paste, every single day.”
Now five years on, Mad Rabbit has continued to grow, with $10 million in sales in 2021, $13.5 million in 2022, and $16.7 million in 2023. Their product line has increased from one balm to nearly 20 products, not including branded clothing.
“We have been on a path to profitability over the last couple years and 2025 will actually be our first
year,” Zak said. “We're really excited for it. It's been a long journey.”
Both men said they found that the environment at Miami — inside and outside of the classroom — helped foster and support their entrepreneurial journeys.
“It was a really good resource for me to spend time with like-minded people who cared about school, who cared about business — some with corporate, some with entrepreneurial aspirations," Zak said. "Just being able to find that community, which I think that's something Farmer (School of Business) did a very good job of pushing.”
“Being able to network and talk to other people, meet new people who are all open to share their experiences” he said. “People aren't gatekeeping what they're good at and they share their ideas with you. Everyone's pretty open.”
Zak added, “Obviously the Entrepreneurship department is fantastic and award winning, but I think what that trickles down to the students is that in entrepreneurship, trying and failing is cool, it's a good thing to do, and there are lessons to be learned from both. I think that kind of messaging made it a much more free-thinking environment.”
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
BGSU research finds reduced levels of harmful algae toxins in Sandusky Bay
By Branden Ferguson
After years of detecting harmful algae in Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay, Bowling Green State University researchers recently discovered that a toxic cyanobacterium called Planktothrix has essentially disappeared. While other algae still are present, BGSU scientists have determined a likely cause behind the drop in toxins, signaling a major improvement for a body of water that millions rely upon for life, work, and play.
"The water looked pretty bad in 2019, but we didn't know that it was actually slowly improving," said Dr. George Bullerjahn, BGSU emeritus professor of biology. "In 2020, we started to go out to the bay every week but there was nothing. Since then, we've found benign algae, but no toxins."
BGSU researchers discovered that a toxic cyanobacterium called Planktothrix has essentially disappeared from Sandusky Bay. (BGSU photo/Craig Bell)
With no major adjustments to nutrient loads and not enough time passing for significant changes, BGSU researchers turned their attention to the Sandusky River, which feeds into the bay and experienced a dam removal near the city of Fremont in 2018 to improve fish habitats.
"What we think has happened is that the dam was holding back a reservoir that was full of toxic Planktothrix and it was slowly feeding into the bay where it was flourishing again," Bullerjahn said. "Improving water quality by improving water movement and removing stagnation may be the cause for lower [Planktothrix] levels in Sandusky Bay."
For decades, the western waters of Lake Erie have been plagued with seasonal harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms. In 2014, a major bloom shut down the city of Toledo's water supply, leaving nearly half a million people without drinkable water. Since then, BGSU has deepened its commitment to leading research into understanding and preventing toxic algal blooms that impact freshwater sources, including Sandusky Bay and Africa's Lake Victoria.
Evidence to support the team's hypothesis in Sandusky Bay was confirmed with help from BGSU students, including Kate Brown, who is pursuing a doctorate in biology after choosing the University for its strong research on water quality and cyanobacteria.
"Kate was one of the students checking the sediments in what was once the bottom of the reservoir – now a floodplain in the Sandusky
River," Bullerjahn said. "We were looking for residual evidence of Planktothrix and detected both Planktothrix DNA and microcystins in the dirt. It's suggestive that the reservoir had plenty of Planktothrix in it and was the source of the problem."
Since the dam's removal, Bullerjahn said water quality in Sandusky Bay has improved within internationally established drinking standards and is nowhere close to the "no contact" advisory standard that encouraged people to avoid the bay in recent years. Data trends
showed continued improvements in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The research team's full findings are described in a recent article published in the journal "Harmful Algae."
"Poor water quality affects drinking water, makes drinking water treatment more expensive and cuts down on recreational activities,"
BGSU doctoral student Kate Brown tests a water sample from Lake Erie's Sandusky Bay. (BGSU photo/Craig Bell)
Bullerjahn said. "When the World Health Organization contact advisory was posted, people couldn't swim or go water skiing. This recent data provides residents with optimism that those levels are a thing of the past."
With the unexpected yet promising findings, Bullerjahn said the bay's positive change lies outside original improvement plans, which emphasized reducing sediment load to eliminate the toxin.
"Originally, the expectation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was to improve water clarity in order to improve water quality," Bullerjahn said. "I think it was a reasonable strategy, but it turns out that they improved water quality by a mechanism that no one could have predicted."
Dr. Chris Ward, assistant professor of biological sciences at BGSU, also has been working with the research team in Sandusky Bay,
tracking changes from a microbial community level. Microbial communities contribute to photosynthesis and nutrient cycles, all of which help the ecosystem and wildlife within it thrive.
"The disappearance of the Planktothrix in Sandusky Bay is causing a very large change throughout the entire microbial community, and we're really just starting to determine what all of that means for the rest of the ecosystem," Ward said. "The microbial community and phytoplankton, including Planktothrix, serve as the base of the food web, so anything that happens there has a trickle-up effect."
Equipped with nearly a decade of data from Bullerjahn's team, Ward said he's been able to truly track how things are starting to change for the better in the bay.
"I've gotten the chance to see how the microbial communities have responded, and the data and trends will become more and more valuable the
(A) A historical map of the Sandusky River from 2015 before the Ballville Dam was removed. (B) The former Ballville Dam site in 2021, two years after its removal.
"There are so many opportunities in this particular field of research, and BGSU has allowed students like myself to do these large-scale projects and to be involved in the study of harmful algal blooms."
- BGSU doctoral student Kate Brown
longer we continue the research," he said. "At this point, it's too soon to tell how these changes in the phytoplankton will have on the rest of the ecosystem overall, but things look promising. We just have to wait and find out."
The BGSU research team isn't the only group of people noticing a change, as Bullerjahn said he often hears from boaters regarding improved water quality in Sandusky Bay.
"They've noticed less algae and they are no longer seeing the toxin advisory signs," he said. "Combined with ongoing ecological restoration projects along the shoreline, people will likely see continued water quality improvements signaling positive momentum in Sandusky Bay."
"It has been really impressive seeing the residents around Sandusky Bay being so involved in their body of water," Brown added. "They are passionate about the water quality and wanting to fix it."
While things appear to be changing for the better, Bullerjahn and his team continue to
monitor water quality through weekly trips and constant sampling of monitoring from buoys placed throughout the bay.
"It's still early in 2024, but the data shows the same pattern that we've seen over the past few years. I'm expecting similar data to come in throughout the year," he said.
As Brown eyes graduation in the spring, she looks not only to her future but also on her educational journey at BGSU and experiences in the field.
"There are so many opportunities in this particular field of research, and BGSU has allowed students like myself to do these largescale projects and to be involved in the study of harmful algal blooms," Brown said. "I was able to use state-of-the-art technology and learn new techniques to study something I'm passionate about and helped collect data that can lead to real change."
2024 OHIO STATE FAIR WRAP-UP
The Ohio Department of Higher Education returned to the Youth Exploration Space in the Lausche Building for the 2024 edition of the Ohio State Fair.
The building had dual themes of aeronautics/space and health initiatives, and ODHE featured numerous activities and giveaways for fairgoers of all ages.
New this year was a virtual reality activity where guests could “visit” Ohio’s community colleges, universities, and career technical centers via laptop or VR headset. Younger visitors could design their own backpack tag and spin the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority prize wheel.
Colleges, universities, and career technical centers brought interactive activities and demonstrations to educate and entertain fairgoers while teaching them about such programs as video game design, 3D printing, mechatronics, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. ODHE also used the stage area in the Lausche Building to spotlight different topics on the State Fair theme days, including lifelong learning, programs for adult learners, veteran and servicemember initiatives, and financial aid.
Brutus Buckeye from The Ohio State University stopped by the ODHE booth and took photos with fair attendees and staff.
Students explored Ohio’s campuses without leaving the roomVirtual reality brought college tours to life, one headset at a time.
Christina Bloebaum, Dean of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and Kent State University president, Todd Diacon with Chancellor Mike Duffey.
ODHE staff connected with the community at the booth, sharing valuable insights and resources to support their educational journeys and answer all their questions.
Tuffy the Eagle from Ashland University and Munch the Fox, the official mascot of the Ohio Department of Education Office of Nutrition, joined forces for some fun and friendly interaction.
Staff from Ohio University were out in full force, engaging with fairgoers and spreading Bobcat pride!
Bearcat, from the University of Cincinnati, shared a joyful hello with this young fairgoer.
Students and staff from Shawnee State University came together, showcasing their creativity and teamwork in the world of game design and digital innovation.
Swoop the RedHawk from Miami University is soaring in to join the Zane State College team!
Expanding the Broadband Workforce
Ohio University helps solve training, access issues in Southeast Ohio
Through teaching a new 5G Readiness Certification, Ohio University will help expand the broadband workforce and provide Southeast Ohioans with reliable, affordable internet access.
A large portion of Southeast Ohio does not have access to minimum broadband internet speed as specified by the Federal Communications Commission, but a solution is in the works. In a matter of months, nearly $800 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding will go into effect. The BEAD funding will expand broadband infrastructure in parts of Ohio that lack quality internet access and create thousands of jobs in the process. Ohio University will help train this new 5G workforce starting this summer, through a new 5G Readiness Certification.
OHIO’s 5G Readiness Certification will provide those interested in entering the telecommunications field with broadband basics and hands-on learning. The 5G curriculum was created by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) and includes both a hands-on, in-person and theoretical, online component. Ohio University signed a partnership with WIA to use this curriculum at the state’s request.
Offering the 5G Readiness Certification was made possible thanks in part to more than $435,000 in funding from a Super RAPIDS grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Dr. Julio Arauz, Associate Professor and Graduate Chair of the J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies, wrote the application for the grant which was funded at 100%. The funding will be used to purchase broadband equipment for the program that goes beyond certification to provide students with additional experiential learning opportunities.
“Our proposal for Super RAPIDS was to get the equipment to teach the curriculum as well as enhance the curriculum and create new laboratory experiences,” said Arauz. “The certification is well put together. It covers all the basics from what are wireless networks all the way to how to do some basic testing at a cell site.”
Alex Semancik Ohio University
Regional Impact
Ohio University will teach at least three 5G Readiness cohorts. The first three cohorts will contain students from the Athens campus, as well as the OHIO Lancaster, OHIO Southern, and OHIO Eastern regional campuses to help bolster the broadband workforce, not only in Athens but also throughout the whole region. Ohio University will subsidize the cost of the certification for students in these cohorts as an investment in Southeast Ohio, meaning these students will receive training at no cost.
“I’m excited to partner with the Scripps College and the McClure school to offer this great opportunity to our regional campus students. This unique opportunity will provide training for five RHE students at no cost in the first three cohorts at Lancaster, Eastern, and the Southern Campuses,” said Vice Provost for Regional Higher Education and Partnerships Dr. Lewatis McNeal. “Upon the completion of this training, these students will be prepared to immediately enter the workforce.”
The course itself is made up of four microcredentials, including wireless broadband infrastructure, 5G ecosystems, inbuilding and wireless solutions,
and 5G and broadband deployment. In-depth labs will supplement the more theoretical aspects of training. Labs will cover such topics as RF principles, hands-on 5G testbed configuration, indoor wireless systems, geographical information systems, and RF planning.
“We told the state that to complement the certification we are going to create 10 lab exercises in 2024 and 10 lab exercises in 2025,” said Arauz. “These labs are more hands-on to help students visualize how all of this works.”
Powering Broadband Workforce Development
Providing 5G Readiness training is only the newest endeavor in Ohio University’s effort to expand internet access in the region. Through the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, OHIO currently leads Southeast Ohio’s regional hub for broadband and 5G workforce development. The hub is responsible for gathering all the entities and partners involved, working to track the expansion of broadband training—and whether those who receive training are getting employed, developing and communicating funding possibilities for broadband
expansion, overseeing budgets and program developments with educational partners, and identifying any barriers or issues that may arise.
“I am very excited about the McClure School and Dr. Arauz’s work to get 5G certifications available to people in our region,” said OHIO’s Senior Research Manager for Broadband Laurie McKnight. “These will be the first 5G trainings in our 25-county region, and I am so proud to be even a small part of this incredible endeavor. Our work together through this node will hopefully provide the workforce needed to increase broadband and cell service that will decrease the digital divide in Southeast Ohio.”
Dean of Scripps College of Communication Dr. Scott Titsworth also expressed excitement about the training and emphasized its importance for internet users and the workforce.
"This program is an exciting collaboration among multiple Ohio University partners that will have meaningful impact in communities throughout Southeast Ohio,” he said. “We welcome the opportunity to help families become connected to reliable and affordable high-speed connectivity while also opening new employment opportunities for individuals who want to enter an exciting and expanding career field."
For more about the 5G Readiness Certification, or to apply visit: http://www.ohio.edu/5g
Dr. Julio Arauz works with a student in the McClure School of Emerging Communications Technology.
A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles:
Central State's Intel Summer Internship Doubles Participants in Year Two
Alissa Paolella
Web Administrator
Central State University
Dedication of the Advanced Manufacturing Learning Center at Rhodes State by the Ar-Hale Family Foundation
Paula Siebeneck
Director, Marketing andPublicRelations
RhodesStateCollege
40-plus businesses have been started by Miami students while still in college
Jay Murdock
Addie Rosenthal
Marketing Coordinator Senior Director of Communications for the Farmer School of Business Miami University Miami University
Improving Water Quality
Branden Ferguson
MediaContentStrategist
Craig Bell
PhotographyDirector
Bowling GreenStateUniversity Bowling GreenStateUniversity
Expanding the Broadband Workforce
Alex Semancik
CommunicationsSpecialist
Ohio University
2024 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: The UniversityofAkron
