SUCCESS THROUGH PARTNERING

North Central State College has many vital roles to play in our local communities, but none more important than building positive relationships with our community partners! 

The college is teaming-up with other colleges and universities, adult education centers, and job and family one stop agencies in the creation of a strategic plan to improve the quality of our work force here in north central Ohio.  These partnerships are a new approach toward better preparing our workers to meet the current and future needs of those industries that are thriving in today’s economy. Our partnership approach will offer new opportunities for training and education and will provide a strategic advantage that will be attractive to current and future industries looking to compete in the global marketplace. Their success will bring back the kind of commerce to our area that has slipped away.  The Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) that makes this opportunity possible was funded by the Department of Labor is an example of collaboration that has been successfully used all across the nation. It can also work for north central Ohio!

Many of these partnerships go hand in hand with the strategic goals of our College.  One of these – Achieving the Dream – is at the forefront of our efforts to reach out to the underprivileged and underserved in our region, to show them that they do have access to a college education, that there are resources available, and that if they begin with their associate degree at North Central State College, they can take those credits with them as they pursue even more education.

The State of Ohio is funding critical education needs in our area using a “Career Pathways” model. This model keys in on areas of important employment needs as identified by employer sector committees headed by the Region #6 Economic Development Director, Herm Stein and works toward the establishment of on Ohio Skills Bank.  North Central State College has been identified as an “Ohio Skills Bank” lead institution in this effort. As such, an OSB coordination team and will work closely with Mr. Herm Stein to identify needs and develop the necessary pathways with the other training and education partners in the area to create a seamless pathway for students to transition from adult career centers, to 2-year colleges, and ultimately on to 4-year universities.

Students from area high schools are getting a head start on higher education at North Central State College.  A dual enrollment-dual credit program offered in collaboration with The Ohio State University-Mansfield, Pioneer Career and Technology Center, and the Mid Ohio Education Service Center can give high school students early college opportunities and the best part is that their college tuition is paid through grant funding.  This very special pilot program is designed to hold the high school funding losses to a minimum and is growing in popularity among students and educational institutions alike.  As this pilot program progresses, The State of Ohio will review the results and use the lessons it teaches us to develop new funding models for early college programs all across the State. 

North Central State College is pleased to be a participant in an important community effort called “Succeed and Prosper in Ashland, Richland, and Crawford”  (SPARC) This P-16 effort strives to develop a strong appreciation for the value of education from Pre-school (P) through the baccalaureate level (16) by emphasizing the important role education plays in preparing individuals for the needs of the workplace,  thereby raising their earning potential as well as the prosperity of the local economy.

Our strong partnerships with four-year universities offer North Central State College graduates opportunities to further their education.  We will soon have Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees that are tailor made to transfer to all public universities in Ohio making North Central State College an even greater value!  Our strong partnership as well as being on a co-located campus, with The Ohio State University-Mansfield will continue to foster new collaborations in higher education and our communities will benefit!

Your college, North Central State College, is growing and getting better each day.  We are successful because of you, our partners.  Thank You!