COMMUNITY COLLEGES SEE
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AS CATALYST TO COMPLETION
Fall 2017 Volume 5 Issue 4
INSIDE: > Public Colleges Create Scholarships to Benefit Students & Workforce > Ohio Sea Grant Releases Summary of HABRI Second-Year Research > UC, Cincy State Collaborate to Help Area Business Professionals Apply Data Analytics > Levy Funding Diversification a Win-Win for Colleges & Community
Photo: Zane State College FALL 2017
3 It’s that time of year, when college students are settling into routines that will propel them to academic success and fulfilling careers. Today’s students have greater access to career and academic counseling and experiential learning opportunities that will guide them into careers that fit their passions and talents.
RED BORDERS
In this issue of ConnectED, we examine how community colleges are working closely with students to tailor specific academic plans, and how students are working with employers to earn experiences that will help clear a path to future success. We also look at how Ohio colleges and universities are working with state government agencies to preserve safe drinking water at one of the largest fresh water laboratories in the world—Lake Erie. As always, we use this publication to showcase emerging fields of study important to our growing economy and look at how some communities are benefitting from their local investments in higher education. We hope it helps to keep you ConnectED to what’s happening in higher ed.
John Carey Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education
Public Colleges Create Scholarships to Benefit Students & Workforce
Terra State Community College announced an affordability initiative that offers free tuition to 2018 high school graduates.
Ohio Sea Grant Releases Summary of HABRI Second-Year Research
Ohio Sea Grant has released the second-year research progress update for the statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative.
Community Colleges See Experiential Learning as Catalyst to Completion Best practices are emerging to help students navigate academic preparation and vocational opportunities.
UC, Cincy State Collaborate to Help Area Business Professionals Apply Data Analytics
Two Cincinnati-area colleges are working together to prepare professionals in the emerging field of data analytics.
Levy Funding Diversification a Win-Win for Colleges & Community
Three community colleges had levies on the ballot this November. Two passed easily.
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Public Colleges Create Scholarships to Benefit Students & Workforce The Ohio State University made
credentials. However, approximately
Terra State will cover the cost
big news in September when it
45 percent of Ohio high school
of tuition for up to an associate
announced plans to cover the
graduates do not attend college
degree. The Workforce Demand
full cost of tuition for Ohio Pell
directly after high school.
Scholarship is available to 2018
families. Ohio State called its efforts
high school graduates majoring in
an unprecedented affordability
“Knowing this, Terra State wants
these academic programs at Terra
commitment for in-state students.
to create opportunities, eliminate
State:
One week later, Terra State
barriers, and encourage high school
Community College announced
graduates in Ohio to enroll in higher
its own affordability initiative that
education,” Webster said.
offers free tuition to 2018 high school
• Computer Systems • Digital Media Technology • Electrical
graduates who pursue a career in a
Terra State is funding the
• Health Information Technology
high-demand job field.
scholarships through its own
• Management
foundation and general fund, and is
(business, agribusiness and hospitality)
• Manufacturing Engineering
Terra State President Jerome Webster
the first community college to take
announced the new program in a
such an aggressive step to assist
news conference at the Fremont
employers with workforce needs. The
• Office Administration
campus in early October.
scholarship is available to all 2018
• Robotics-Integrated
high school graduates. Terra State According to the Georgetown Center
opens new residence halls in the fall
on Education and the Workforce,
of 2018, though housing costs are not
64 percent of Ohio jobs in 2020 will
part of the scholarship offer at Terra
require postsecondary degrees or
State or Ohio State.
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• Music Technology
Manufacturing Technology • Welding
5
Like Ohio State’s assistance program, the Workforce Demand Scholarship
The university will provide
will pay the gap between the cost
institutional aid to close any gap
of tuition and general fees and state
that remains after Pell Grants, Ohio
and federal grants received by the
College Opportunity Grants, and
student. The annual cost of tuition
other gift aid awarded to qualified
and general fees at Terra State is
students are calculated. Ohio State
sligjhtly less than $5,000. President
will invest more than $11 million
Webster estimates as many as 150
each year in the tuition coverage
students will take advantage of the
program, using funds generated
Workforce Demand Scholarship.
from an endowment created through proceeds from its newlycreated
Ohio State University announced it
energy partnership. Ohio State
will ensure that all in-state students
officials estimate 3,500 students
who qualify for Pell Grants — a
will benefit, beginning in fall,
key federal program for students
2018. Current in-state tuition and
with financial need — receive an
mandatory fees on the Columbus
aid package that covers the full
campus total $10,591 annually for
cost of tuition and mandatory fees.
first-year students.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 90 percent of Pell recipients have family incomes of $50,000 or less.
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OHIO SEA GRANT RELEASES SUMMARY OF HABRI SECOND-YEAR RESEARCH Lake Erie, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world, has become both laboratory and classroom for Ohio colleges and universities studying toxic algal blooms and finding the best ways to teach STEM courses and build collaborative teams. Ohio Sea Grant, on behalf of The Ohio State University, the University of Toledo and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, has released the second-year research progress update for the statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI), which seeks solutions for harmful algal blooms in Ohio. The initiative consists of more than 30 science teams working on different critical knowledge gaps identified by front-line state agencies that include the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Although research is still under way, the second-year report reveals that the state of Ohio has already benefitted from the initiative: • Early warning systems in Maumee and Sandusky bays have given water treatment plants a higher-resolution picture of what’s coming in from Lake Erie. • HABRI research has provided new answers and practical guidance about producing safe drinking water for cities and towns dealing with algal toxins in their water sources. • HABRI teams have provided the building blocks for agencies to understand the risks that algal toxins present for human health. • HABRI has driven information sharing and priority setting among agencies and universities, positioning Ohio to better prevent and manage future crises.
In the summer of 2014, toxic algae made people near Lake Erie afraid to use their water. After the crisis was over, front-line state agencies in Ohio worked with science teams at Ohio universities to fill in critical gaps in our knowledge and things that were still unknown about tracking and dealing with harmful algal blooms.
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“HABRI has put Ohio at the leading edge of coordinated HABs management compared to other state and even national counterparts,” said Beth Messer, acting chief of the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters for the OEPA. “Being able to comment on the research projects from the proposal stage onward, we can make sure that the results will be applied and scalable — and often, we see water treatment plants are able to put preliminary data to use right away.” The Department of Higher Education earmarked $4 million funding for this critical issue. Universities match the state funding and provide additional undergraduate and graduate research to preserve clean and safe water supplies. “This is a complex issue, so we knew we needed to attack it in an integrated way,” said ODHE Chancellor John Carey. “We put our university assets to work answering critical operational and policy questions that state agencies need to be able to protect the public and keep our water clean.”
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L A I T IEN N R E P O EX I E T E E S L P S E M G O E C L O OL T C T Y S T LY NI A U T A M COM ING AS C students define their interests, N aptitudes, personality, and R LEA values, the process quickly Community college administrators understand the challenges students face in their individual educational and vocational journeys. Metrics are easy to measure, and it’s clear that the typical community college student’s effort to balance work and life can often complicate and delay completion. Throughout Ohio’s community college network, best practices are emerging to help students navigate the intersection of academic preparation and vocational opportunity. More and more, community colleges are finding that aggressive and intentional academic advising and career counseling help students find direction that can lead them to an efficient schedule of coursework, a less costly degree or credential, and a promising career. Educational professionals who help students find the sweet spot where aptitude and passion
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combine with opportunity make a big difference in the lives of students — and in their return on their college investment. Clark State Community College “Experiential education makes classrooms come alive,” said Melody Gast, who leads the career services office of Clark State Community College.
MELODY GAST “Career is in my job title, but career exploration is imbedded in every aspect of our approach to education. It starts on the first day of orientation with a career assessment and an introduction to the many ways students can get guidance and get involved.” While Clark State uses assessment tools to help
becomes a one-on-one experience for each student.
“We’re a community college, so our students come from a variety of career backgrounds, and most want to remain in the area, so it’s very important that we involve local employers in all that we do,” Gast said. Involvement takes many forms. Advisory councils provide curriculum guidance and employer involvement in classrooms, and job fairs inject real-life possibilities and mentorship opportunities. Employers play a key role in the life of the community college. Gast contends that employer participation helps students gain experience and confidence that the career choice fits before a lot of time, energy, and expense are invested. “Students are looking for a better future, and it’s our responsibility to connect them and help them bridge college and career. We
Clark State utilizes “career navigators” in its health science and engineering disciplines, and mobilizes “success coaches” throughout the college to make sure students take advantage of additional support services that help them stay in school and complete their certifications or degrees. “We have ample evidence that what we do with counseling and coaching helps people succeed.” Lorain County Community College
19.6%
INCREASE
10%
INCREASE
53%
INCREASE
IPEDS GRAD RATE
7%
DECREASE
DEGREES AWARDED
COURSE COMPLETION
Marcia Jones leads career services for Lorain County Community College and has worked to bring the end game to the center of college life. In 2010, LCCC restructured its career MARCIA JONES services to be housed with enrollment and financial services for a one-stop shop to better integrate all front-end services for students. All new students are required to see advisors who are well trained and focused on workforce outcomes.
RETENTION
- Melody Gast, Career Services Coordinator, Clark State Community College
work hard to involve the business community and that connection is welcomed by both,” Gast said.
EXCESS CREDITS
“Experiential education makes classrooms come alive”
9
138%
INCREASE
Over the past six years, LCCC’s progress toward reduced time to completion, increased graduations rates, and career concentration.
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“It starts early here and continues along the career path for many students who come back to refresh and retrain as their careers mature,” Jones said. Lorain maintains connections with local employment through local Ohio Means Jobs offices and through its Regional IT Employment (RITE) Board and Employer Advisory Councils. LCCC’s job board connects students with employers who may offer co-ops, internships, or full-time employment. Washington State Community College “Because we’re a small school environment, our advising structure is very personal,” said Amanda Herb, vice president of enrollment and student success at Washington State Community College. “We encourage students to work with their advisors early and often.” Student satisfaction scores bear this out. Community College AMANDA HERB of Student Engagement scores in 2017 show that 80 percent of Washington State students met with advisors two to four times or five or more times, compared with 59 percent for the national cohort. At Washington State, first-year advising occurs with the student service office, but once a major has been declared, students see a faculty advisor within their specific area of study. “Over their time in the program, the faculty advisor relationship grows with the student,” Herb said. “It works very well because the advisor understands the profession and the employers in the community. This is important when practicum, apprenticeships, and all experiential learning come into play, and this is particularly important because so many of our students are looking for employment in the region.” Employers today are looking for the technical skills necessary by profession, but they want more, Herb said, pointing to employer survey data the college has begun to measure. “Employer feedback has helped us develop a soft skills rubric we’re integrating into our curriculum,” she said. The soft skill sets include communications, professionalism, problem solving, and team work.
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UC, Cincy State Collaborate to Help Area Business Professionals Apply Data Analytics Two Cincinnati-area colleges
cost-effective way possible,” said
David Hatter, Cincinnati
are working together to prepare
Amy Waldbillig, vice president
State adjunct professor and
professionals in the emerging
of workforce development for
business technologist, is the
field of data analytics. The schools
Cincinnati State Technical and
instructor for the 40-contact-
are approaching the area of
Community College.
hour PMP® Certification Exam
study on two levels – through
Prep course, which began
an overview introduction and
Michelle Ford, data analyst for UC
Sept. 11 on Cincinnati State’s
with an eight-week course
eLearning, taught Introduction
Evendale campus. Hatter is
for the Project Management
to Data Analytics for Business
an accomplished business
Professional® Certification Exam
Professionals on Oct. 16 on UC’s
technologist with nearly 25
Preparation.
Uptown campus. Ford’s goal is
years of experience as a
to help students understand at a
software developer, business
“Whether someone is setting
high level what data analytics is,
analyst, project manager,
out in pursuit of new skills or
how to communicate what data
instructor, speaker, author,
they are interested in refining
means, and how to make data
and entrepreneur. He has been
skills they already hold, this new
accessible in a visual format to
involved directly in the design,
collaboration opens many new
others in an organization.
development, and deployment
doors of opportunity and growth
of roughly 200 custom software
for learners to advance their
“Data analytics being an in-
solutions and is especially
technical skills and careers,” said
demand skill has to do with the
good at bridging the business/
Nelson Vincent, vice president
fact that there is so much data in
technology chasm, thanks to
for information technology and
the world. People are realizing
superb communication and
chief information officer at the
they have to have proof to back
technical skills.
University of Cincinnati.
up their claims,” Ford said. During the one-day intensive course,
The course is delivered in a
“Our goal is to help busy
students used Microsoft Excel
modified boot-camp style,
professionals advance their
to analyze and visualize data to
meaning a great deal of
skills in the most efficient and
solve problems they are facing at
information is covered in each
work.
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13 class session. Students met for eight hours per day, one day per week for five consecutive weeks. The course also satisfies the requirement to sit for the PMP® certification exam. Associate Director for UC Information TechnologyResearch and Development Jane Combs recently renewed her PMP® Certification and said the PMP Certification was instrumental in her success and career development at UC. “The skills I acquired as part of the PMP training program prepared me to become an effective project manager and leader,” she said. The impetus for this pilot began as a simple connection on LinkedIn between Sean G.L. Johnson, business manager for the Workforce Development Center, and Janet Staderman, program director for Communiversity. Both Johnson and Staderman recognized the value in leveraging their individual programs’ expertise in developing technical course offerings for local businesses. Cincinnati State and UC have several articulation agreements. The most recent, signed earlier this year, allows Cincinnati State students to transfer their credit hours to UC toward earning a bachelor’s degree. This continuing education pilot seemed like a natural next step for adults who want to learn technical competencies, such as data analytics and project management, as noncredit coursework. Those interested in learning more about the Data Analytics or Project Management Professional® courses may contact Janet Staderman at 513-556-4354 or at janet.staderman@uc.edu. Or visit UC Continuing Education’s website at uc.edu/ce.
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Levy Funding Diversification a Win-Win for Colleges & Community
Three community colleges had levies on the ballot this November. Two passed easily, providing additional funding to Cuyahoga and Sinclair community colleges. The Rio Grande Community College replacement levy failed in the four counties that fund it: Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, and Vinton. Two of the three types of Ohio’s
Among Ohio’s public network of community colleges, six have the distinction of being funded in part by local county levies that contribute nearly $200 million annually and reduce tuition for county students.
community colleges—technical colleges and local community colleges, but not state community colleges—are permitted to seek district funding through local tax levies under current Ohio law. The levy funding makes sense in many larger counties
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15 where workforce needs create a need for specific workforce skills the community colleges can supply. Cuyahoga Community College received nearly $112 million in levy funding in 2016. The levy passed in November was a .5 mill increase for 25 years, which will increase that amount by $227 million. Montgomery County’s levy contributed just over $33 million to Sinclair Community College in 2016. Lorain County Community College raised nearly $25 million in 2016, and Lake County’s levy contributed nearly $20 million for Lakeland Community College that year. Eastern Gateway in Jefferson County and Rio Grande Community College in Gallia County each received slightly less than $900,000 in levy funding in 2016. Cuyahoga Community College’s levy passed by a wide margin of 68 percent, and was a vote of confidence in the college, according to President Alex Johnson. “The levy will encourage student success and completion by assuring we have the programs and facilities to get students prepared and in the workforce,” Johnson said. “This is a major win for Tri-C and Cuyahoga County.” In the case of Sinclair Community College in the Dayton area, strength in health care education creates a burgeoning health care workforce to the benefit of citizens, young and old. Premier Health’s Chief Nursing Officer, Peggy Mark, RN, Ph.D. MBA, oversees all nursing functions for the company’s hospitals, ambulatory centers, and home care settings. “I work with a lot of great people to set policies, vision, and strategic direction for nursing, as well as ensure we maintain standards across the Premier Health system,” said Mark. Premier Health is the largest healthcare employer in the Greater Dayton Area, employing about 14,000 people. A 2014 study published by the Brookings Institute reported that approximately 58 percent of healthcare providers in the Dayton Metro Area were pre-baccalaureate workers. “If you look at the Premier Health employees—both in and out of nursing—we have so many people who have come from Sinclair. Sinclair is a great asset to our community and I don’t know what we could do without them and the graduates they send to us,” Mark said.
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“
Inter-professional training, combined with the exposure students will receive in the simulation spaces, will help prepare students for the challenges and situations healthcare professionals encounter on a regular basis.”
“
Premier Health’s Chief Nursing Officer, Peggy Mark, RN, Ph.D. MBA
Sinclair’s new Health Sciences Center was designed to foster inter-professional learning and features state-ofthe-art classroom and laboratory spaces, including simulation rooms and technologies for specialties such as surgery, intensive care, and labor and delivery. “Designing the facility to allow for more inter-professional education opportunities will help train future healthcare providers to work together to care for patients,” Mark said. “That inter-professional training, combined with the exposure students will receive in the simulation spaces, will help prepare students for the challenges and situations healthcare professionals encounter on a regular basis.” The simulation spaces and other resources within Sinclair’s new Health Sciences Center will be available to community partners such as Premier Health for continuing education and ongoing training purposes. “If we have needs for ongoing training, we can go to Sinclair and they are always willing to partner with us,” Mark said. “They help ensure that future providers are educated to meet the needs of our community and also support our current professionals who need to update skills as the healthcare environment changes. “I just can’t say enough about what a great partner Sinclair has been and our partnership will only get stronger,” she added. “I feel very confident with a partner like Sinclair that we’re going to be able to meet the needs of our community. As healthcare evolves, we’ll be able to evolve and train our health care providers.” Sinclair college offers health sciences degree and certificate programs across 14 areas of study. (http://sinclair.edu/academic/divisions/hs/)
Note: Quotes from Premier Health’s Chief Nursing Officer Peggy Mark, RN, Ph.D. MBA were adopted from an earlier story on Sinclair Community College’s website, but remain relevant to this story.
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Photo: Shawnee State University
A special thank you to all of those who contributed stories and articles: Public Colleges Create Scholarships to Benefit Students & Workforce Jerome Webster Terra State Community College
Ohio Sea Grant Releases Summary of HABRI Second-Year Research Bonnie Blankinship Bowling Green State University
Community Colleges See Experiential Learning as Catalyst to Completion Melody Gast Marcia Jones Amanda Herb Clark State Community College
Lorain County Community College
Washington State Community College
UC, Cincy State Collaborate to Help Area Business Professionals Apply Data Analytics Janet Staderman University of Cincinnati
Levy Funding Diversification a Win-Win for Colleges & Community Peggy Mark, RN, Ph.D. MBA Premier Health’s Chief Nursing Officer
Thank you for reading ConnectED. We appreciate any suggestions or ideas to improve this newsletter. We welcome story ideas, links to articles of interest, and news releases. Please send story ideas to Jeff Robinson at jrobinson@highered.ohio.gov. FALL 2017