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Edison
State President, Dr. Doreen Larson presents the State of the College
address.
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Commitment to
Quality, Growth, and Partnerships on the Forefront for Edison State
Edison State Community College President Dr. Doreen Larson held the
second annual State of the College address Wednesday morning with
nearly 90 business leaders, community members, elected officials, and
Edison State faculty and staff in attendance.
In her address, Dr. Larson explained how Edison State continues to
focus on the quality of education, transfer opportunities, and job
placement rates for student success.
“The willingness of other educational institution, business, and
community members relies on the Edison State demonstration of quality
and our record of student success,” said Edison State President Dr.
Doreen Larson. “Our partners know that their investment in time and
resources has an impact.”
Maintaining an average 87.2% student success rate over the past five
fiscal years, Edison State ranks the highest among the top community
colleges throughout the greater southwestern Ohio region.
“Edison State continues to improve, and in the fiscal year 2017, our
five-year student success rate is 88%. That means any student after
five years of entering Edison State, has succeeded in a degree,
certificate, or successfully transferred to a four-year institution.”
“When a student enters Edison State, they succeed. This is attributed
to our staff, faculty, and the resources we put into student success,
in not just one year, but it is the culture of Edison State to have
students succeed.”
Dr. Larson went on to explain several new individual, community, and
business partnerships that have come to fruition for Edison State.
“The Edison State business plan that supports our mission is to
position the college as a vital component of the growth and success in
our region,” said Dr. Larson. “Our key strategy in this plan is
partnerships. Our key value, supporting the strategy, is the commitment
to quality.”
“Many of you know we received a recent generous gift from Pat and Thom
Robinson, who have been partners with Edison State for many, many
years. They work with us to keep Edison State moving in the right
direction.”
The donation from the Robinson’s will fund a new student career center
addition and renovation to the current West Hall entrance of the
college’s Piqua Campus, which is expected to open in 2019.
Edison State also continues to develop business partnerships to ensure
students are getting the most of their education.
“Our business and community partners provide ongoing support with funds
for equipment and specialized software among other items.”
Edison State has partnered with 68 high schools throughout the region
for College Credit Plus, resulting in over 1,325 students taking
advantage of the program.
“Edison State is one of the largest partners in Ohio College Credit
Plus. We continue to add partners from an expanding region due to our
reputation for student service and consistent high-quality instruction.”
In 2017, Edison State launched a new agricultural degree program,
partnering with Greenville High School to offer several agriculture
labs. This year, Edison State will be partnering with Arcanum Schools
to support a multi-use community building, part of which, will be
physical training facilities and part of which will be used for FFA
programs.
“This will provide the opportunity for greenhouse and soil coursework
which will be added to our agriculture curriculum.”
Also new to Edison State this year will be a campus opening at the
former Miami-Jacobs facility in Troy.
“I think one of the best examples of leveraging partnerships as a
strategy is the development of a new campus location in Troy.”
“The focus of the Troy Campus will start with healthcare and we are
closely partnering with Dayton Children’s Hospital who will begin
offering outpatient services at the Troy building starting this summer.”
A new articulation agreement with Upper Valley Career Center will grant
over 20 hours of credit for transfer students in high school and adult
education programs. These credits transfer into Edison State’s
manufacturing and engineering-related programs.
“We are hoping to take this template to the Miami Valley Career Center
as well, given that we have many Darke County students attending that
center.”
A couple of new degree programs are also on the horizon for Edison
State, including Banking and Vet Tech.
“A really exciting new program for Edison State and Upper Valley Career
Center is the development of a Vet Tech. program with a transfer
option. Once again, Edison State is able to efficiently launch a new
program via an agreement to share facilities with Upper Valley Career
Center.”
“The banking certificate is an idea to help keep talent in the area,
help banks recognize and support in-house talent, as well as attract
young professionals through internships.”
Recent grant funding from the State of Ohio has also proved beneficial
to the college.
“We have also seen a big success for our short-term certificate
advocacy at the State level. Seven million dollars are provided across
the State for students to receive training through short-term
certificates in the areas of phlebotomy, CNC programming, and other
in-demand programs.”
Previously, these programs were not eligible for financial aid because
of their short-term nature. Students can now receive grant funding and
scholarships to complete these certificates and propel their careers.
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