| | Testimony before House Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education
Roderick J. McDavis, President
Ohio University
April 10, 2007
Chairman Webster, members of the committee, I am Rod McDavis, President of Ohio University. I’m here to provide you with an update on an exciting collaboration launched just over a year ago between Ohio University and Kent State University.
Through “Complete to Compete” – a joint initiative leveraging our regional presence – our two universities united to expand higher education access across Eastern Ohio to adult learners seeking to complete their baccalaureate degrees. At the time, then-president Carol Cartwright and I formed this partnership to focus on extending access to adult learners with some college experience but no degree completion. I am pleased that President Cartwright’s successor, President Lester Lefton, is equally committed to this partnership.
As you can see from the map, both Ohio University and Kent State serve large regions of Northeast and Southeast Ohio, extending access to higher education through two main campuses and 12 regional campuses representing over half of the total number of regional campuses statewide. Some 20,000 students are currently served through the regional campuses each term. Our partnership seeks to expand this number and to leverage our resources to benefit the adult learner, many of whom are place-bound.
Chairman Webster, because you have asked for an update on our progress, I’d like to highlight for you a few of the accomplishments of the past year:
- First and, perhaps most important, our two institutions are focused on regional development through educational outreach and both have devoted senior leadership positions to advance this agenda. We both committed substantial resources to jointly market our programs and the concept of “complete your degree to compete in today’s economy.” Together, we have raised the awareness of both the need for and the opportunities presented by this concept.
- We are actively seeking ways to collaborate on expanding access to our resources so that we may educate students at all stages of learning. This effort included a joint faculty development program that literally brought our two institutions together to discuss possible collaborations in areas such as rural education and economic development.
- We engaged in joint market research focused on job growth sectors in health care because we know that, for this concept to succeed, we must have the best possible market demand and workforce data available.
- We launched a marketing campaign including a joint website providing “Complete to Compete” information and points of contact.
- We trained advisors on each of our campuses to respond to those adult learners seeking information on “Complete to Compete” and are providing guidance toward degree completion.
- We have identified key course sharing opportunities that enhance the degrees our universities have available through their regional campuses. Examples include:
- A Master’s degree in Library and Information Science that focuses on Information Technology, Records Management and Educational Support;
- A Master’s in Social Work that will serve the northern tier of Ohio University campuses and the southern tier of Kent State campuses;
- Bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Technical and Applied Studies, and an Associate Degree in Deaf Studies and Interpreting;
- Online elective courses in Computer Science Technology from both institutions serving students from both institutions, and Kent State’s Salem and Geauga campuses Horticulture degree being delivered at Ohio University-Lancaster.
- In the approval process with the Ohio Board of Regents is an Associate of Applied Science Degree in aviation Technology. Recently approved was an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Technology, which articulates with allied health programs from adult career centers.
- Our work continues to strengthen the articulation between programs offered through this initiative so that courses and our partnership programs seamlessly transfer, maximizing efficiency for degree completion between the two institutions.
- Finally, we plan to share the cost of developing electronic learning modules to be used for the benefit of students attending each institution. We have found that many of our adult learners are place-bound and need a campus close to their homes and places of work in order to succeed. By creating flexibility through online and hybrid course offerings, students are able to make progress more quickly toward their goals.
Chairman Webster, members of the committee, in short, we have heard your call for collaborations and we are responding. We have committed our time and limited resources toward making this initiative a success. We know that we still have a long way to go if Ohio is to succeed in its efforts to enroll more students in college and to see them graduate. We know that our network of two main campuses and 12 regional campuses throughout eastern Ohio can and will be a major part of the solution.
Thank you for your time. With the assistance of Kent State University’s Vice President for Regional Development, Pat Book, and Ohio University’s Vice President for Outreach and Regional Campuses, Charlie Bird, I would be happy to answer your questions.
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