FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Contact: Jack Hershey or Tom Walsh
COLUMBUS, OH – At a time when workforce development is the buzz around Capitol Square with the introduction of the state budget, Ohio’s 23 community college presidents – along with trustees and campus officials –visited the Ohio Statehouse on March 26 for a full-day of presentations and discussions.
“Ohio’s community colleges understand the vital role we play in helping people get the skills they need to start on a path toward an in-demand job, and Community College Day provided an opportunity for us to hear from state officials so that we can ensure we are well aligned with their efforts,” said Jack Hershey, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.
Presentations included remarks from Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education Randy Gardner, Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Education Paolo DeMaria, Chairman of the House Finance Higher Education Subcommittee Representative Rick Carfagna, Ohio Treasurer of State Robert Sprague, Aaron Crooks, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for Governor DeWine and Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee Senator Stephanie Kunze.
Hershey said that community college presidents enjoyed visiting the Statehouse to talk with legislators and state officials about ways they can partner to help strengthen the state’s workforce development efforts.
Community College Day came on the heels of the introduction of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s biennial state budget which called for increased investment to Ohio’s performance-based funding formula, funding to increase for micro-degrees and other short-term training programs, and aid to community college students for textbooks and instructional materials through the Ohio College Opportunity Grant.
Earlier this winter, Ohio’s community college presidents came together for a Student Success Leadership Conference to explore new ways to strengthen workforce training and student success. During that event, state and national experts on funding and completion revealed data showing that Ohio’s 100 percent performance-based funding formula is working and has increased the number of students earning a job-focused certificate, credential, or degree. In fact, Ohio’s community college system has seen an 8.5 percent increase in the number of students earning credentials, including a 22.5 percent increase in students earning one-year certificates, even while enrollment has declined due to a strong economy.