Officials discuss regional program

YSU's trustees want to be ready to make a decision in just 10 months.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Creating a regional community college will require some careful forethought, according to the chairman of a Youngstown State University committee looking into the concept.
The committee has determined that any such proposal must meet some key criteria before being considered, said Dr. Nathan Ritchey, interim associate provost for academic administration and committee chairman.
The trustees voted in late March to have the administration examine details for a community college, including costs, location, programming and staffing.
Community colleges offer two-year degree and certificate programs and traditionally have lower tuition rates than four-year schools.
Creating a community college would fit in with Gov. Bob Taft's proposal to have community colleges, rather than four-year degree schools, provide remedial courses for college students.
There are no community colleges in this region, and YSU has taken on the task of providing significant numbers of remediation programs for its students.
The YSU trustees said they want to be prepared to make a "go or no go" decision by March 2007. If they vote to proceed, the trustees said they want the program up and running within a year after that.
Five criteria
Ritchey said the committee came up with a list of five criteria that must be met before the university should proceed with formal planning.
First, a community college would have to help increase overall regional college enrollments by 30 percent.
Second, there would have to be significant state and local support to launch the program as cost would be a major factor, he said.
Third, YSU must be prepared to form and operate it, ensuring that the university has the resources and desire to make it a successful venture.
Fourth, the university needs to find a community college model that fits with YSU.
Fifth, the idea must be feasible and offer significant benefit to YSU.
Ritchey said the committee must now carry out a plan of action designed to meet those criteria.
The trustees, in directing the administration to study the idea, said launching a community college in Mahoning County could increase overall college enrollment in the region.
A YSU-sponsored community college could serve as a feeder school for the university, said Dr. David C. Sweet, YSU president.
Students completing their associate degree or certificate requirements at the community college could be encouraged to continue their education at YSU, he said.
The Ohio Board of Regents, the governing body for higher education in Ohio, would likely support the creation of a community college by YSU, according to Bruce Beeghly, a member of that board and a former YSU trustee.
He told the trustees that a community college could draw 12,000 students, making it a strong economic engine for the region.
gwin@vindy.com