FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 11, 2019
Contact: Jack Hershey or Tom Walsh

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s 23 community college presidents and their leadership teams will hold a two-day conference in Columbus February 13-14 to discuss how they can keep their strong momentum in helping the state fulfill its workforce demands.

“Businesses are increasingly turning to community colleges to help fuel their talent pipelines, and it’s essential we stay connected and keep strengthening our workforce training efforts and connections with employers who are seeking to hire our graduates,” said Jack Hershey, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC).

Ohio’s new chancellor of the Department of Higher Education, Randy Gardner, will
speak at the conference.

Highlights of the two-day meeting will include:

  • Nationally recognized researchers from Community College Research Center will highlight ways to improve educational and employment outcomes for students, particularly students of color and those from low-income families.
  • A team from the Aspen Institute will share ideas to advance practices and leadership strategies that significantly improve student outcomes.
  • A session on Ohio’s successful performance-based funding formula and from HCM Strategists.
  • Nissen Chemitec America’s COO will share their successful model of partnering with community colleges to compete it the global economy, while providing continuing education to company employees.
  • Presentations from community colleges throughout Ohio highlighting best practices to help students complete their pathways, including designing comprehensive advising programs and an exploration of innovative faculty practices to better engage students.
  • A presentation from the University Innovation Alliance on ways to reduce barriers to student success.
  • A review of data, trends, and performance indicators to help to help colleges adapt to changes in student outcomes.

The conference is part of the OACC Success Center for Ohio Community Colleges’ Winter Student Success Leadership Institute, which is made possible thanks to generous grant support from national higher education partners.