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The Daily Call
Edison gives State of
the College address
New projects, partnerships, commitments discussed
By Sam Wildow
PIQUA — With new projects underway, Edison State Community College
reinforced a commitment to community partnerships, fiscal
responsibility, and their students during their second annual State of
the College address on Wednesday morning.
“It is always my pleasure to welcome members of the community onto our
campus,” Edison State Community College President Dr. Doreen Larson
said. Officials from Miami, Darke, and Shelby counties attended the
State of the College address at Edison’s Piqua campus.
“The Edison State mission statement guides everything we do,” Larson
said. Larson asked Miami County Commissioner Greg Simmons to read the
mission statement, which was, “Edison State Community College provides
the learning opportunities, support services, and commitment that
enable students to complete their educational goals and realize their
dreams.”
New projects coming forward include the development of the Robinson
Student Career Center, which is expected to be open in 2019.
Edison is also working on opening a new branch in Troy, and that
location’s first focus will be on providing courses on healthcare. They
will partner closely with Dayton Children’s Hospital at this location,
Larson said. The Troy branch will have 60,000 square feet of space to
utilize. The programming with Dayton Children’s Hospital will take up
approximately 12,000 square feet of space, so there is still room to
grow and add more educational opportunities at that location. Edison is
also planning to reactivate the Medical Assisting Certificate at this
location, according to Larson.
Edison is also beginning a new partnership in Arcanum to open an
agriculture education building in that part of Darke County.
In addition, Edison is developing a partnership with the Upper Valley
Career Center on a veterinary technology program with a transfer option.
The state is also helping to fund grants and scholarships for
short-term certificate programs at Edison. Certificate and short-term
training options coming to Edison include Agriculture Certificate, Farm
Management Certificate, Banking AAB, Banking Certificate, Clinical
Laboratory Assistant Certificate, Medical Scribe Short-Term Technical
Certificate, and more.
The college will also continue to support its apprenticeship programs,
College Credit Plus program, and guided pathways for students.
“We don’t want them just experimenting in classes,” Larson said.
Larson also highlighted the Edison State Works program, which she
described as businesses and the college “collaborating for mutual
benefit.” She said it brings businesses to their campus and also brings
students and education to businesses.
Edison is also maintaining its commitment to two-year associate’s
degrees. When asked if the college had considered applying to provide
four-year degree options, Larson did not explicitly say yes or no, but
she maintained that their focus was two-year associate’s degrees.
“For Edison State … our main focus is doing what we do well,” Larson
said, which she explained was short-term training programs and
associate’s degrees. “They’re the ones that are in demand.”
Larson said that the college is also working on diversifying its
enrollment, particularly with increasing their enrollment with adult
students 25 years of age or older. This initiative is to target
underutilized professionals to help them get on a better career path
with access to short-term training and certifications. Their enrollment
in this sector increased by 1 percent this past year.
Overall, Edison has a success rate of approximately 88 percent for
students either earning a degree, earning a certificate, or
transferring to a four-year college or university. “When a student
enters Edison, they succeed,” Larson said.
Larson also went over how having Edison in the community impacted
economic growth. The college produced an estimated economic impact of
$67.6 million to the local economy through direct expenditures and
purchases, according to Larson.
Edison also estimated that that they led to an increased employment in
the counties of Miami, Darke, and Shelby counties by 988 people and
$22.7 million in wages being paid.
The college generated approximately $848,000 in tax revenue growth
through local, municipal, and county governments. The state of Ohio
received approximately $2.8 million in increase gross receipts.
The college directly supports 842 jobs and indirectly supported another
146 jobs.
Direct expenditures by Edison for 448 employees equaled approximately
$16,073,204 and indirect support of 52 jobs equaled $5,173,681.
Student spending on goods and services in the region totaled
approximately $2,338,960.
Total student spending on education and related services was
$43,499,168. Spending supported 370 jobs in local businesses and
created 88 new jobs. Around $11 million in wages were generated as a
result of student spending.
Larson said that Edison has the goal of being “essential and vital” to
the community so that “even as the economy becomes strong, we become
stronger.”
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