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STARK STATE COLLEGE EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS SURGE Stark State College solidified its reputation as a leader in education-business partnerships during the past year and is heading into 2020 with a quartet of new collaborations. The North Canton-based community college is working with hospitals, governments, and businesses to train the region's workforce for advancement.
Akron Children’s Hospital and Stark State are partnering on Career Launch, a workforce development program that provides entry-level hospital employees and community members interested in pursuing careers at Children’s with educational opportunities that will help them develop clinical careers in several high-demand fields, while also increasing their earning potential. “In our experience, employerdriven educational programs like Career Launch are the most effective way to attract, develop, and retain excellent employees in high-demand fields such as health care,” said Stark State President Dr. Para M. Jones.
WINTER 2020
Career Launch participants will receive a mix of classroom learning and hands-on practicums, culminating in an associate degree from the college. “The Career Launch program is a leading example of the new thinking and partnerships required to meet the needs of employers and to elevate our community’s workforce,” said Steve Millard, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and one of the lead partners of the region’s Elevate Greater Akron regional economic development strategy.
