PERRYSBURG — A dozen elected officials or their representatives learned about the many education and training solutions Owens Community College provides the region during a tour of the Perrysburg campus on Monday.
The tour included three diverse locations in the Center for Campus and Community Connections, the new $31.3 million Healthcare Education Center and the Center for Emergency Preparedness.
Led by Owens President Dione D. Somerville, her presentation highlighted several recent developments at Owens, including the letter of intent signed in February 2024 for a new microsite partnering with Toledo Public Schools and the University of Toledo at Scott Park in the City of Toledo.
A year-long feasibility study, conducted by Trellis Strategies, revealed nearly 190,000 adults ages 25 and older, specifically in the City of Toledo, have attained a high school diploma or some college, but no degree.
Somerville said the microsite, when opened, will increase student access, enhance adult student flexibility, promote collaboration with existing partners and, most importantly, address workforce needs supporting local economic development. Owens continues to consider additional microsite locations.
“Owens is the triple crown powerhouse of this region,” Somerville said. “First, our mission is to serve the workforce needs of this region by being nimble and agile. Second, we are a critical part of the educational attainment of Northwest Ohio based on the many ways students complete their education at Owens. And third, we are built to immediately respond to the needs of returning all learners.
“For all of our students, you need to look at the level of support provided by our wraparound services to understand why we are so passionate about what we do,” she added.
The tour commenced in the Center for Campus and Community Connections, an office focused on student resource stability initiatives that served nearly 1,600 students from its food pantry in the 2023-2024 academic year. The Owens Food Pantry was the first one established at an Ohio community college and functions as a model for other institutions.
Owens is supporting the hunger-free campus bill to establish the Hunger-free Campus Grant Program and designation and to make an appropriation. House Bill 590 is in review.
“Trellis showed that our student barriers include child care, transportation and the lack of immediate cash or credit,” Somerville said. “Our staff works to help resolve barriers that exist so that students can engage in education.”
A focal point for students and staff over the past year, the north end of the new Healthcare Education Center will open for half of the School of Nursing and Health Professions programs in Fall 2024. The entire center is on schedule to be completed and opened for classes by Spring 2025.
Offering 22 degrees and certificates across 11 healthcare disciplines, Owens averages more than 400 healthcare graduates annually, including 230 nurses.
In 2009, the Center for Emergency Preparedness was the crown jewel of campus buildings for public safety training. The center prepares new first responders for duty and also provides existing public and private safety professionals with advanced continuing education and “train the trainer” education opportunities.
Bolstered by realistic, scenario-based training props and equipment, the center is the home for the State of Ohio’s Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission Close to Home regional advanced training program as well as Toledo Police Academy and Toledo Fire Academy.
With training occurring daily, the Center for Emergency Preparedness will require significant investments for upgrades in the near future to meet the next generation of first responder training needs, the elected officials and representatives were told. Much of the original training equipment was donated when the center opened and is aging due to excessive use.
