YSU likely to get OK for community college

A final vote on the
recommendation could come as early as Thursday.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A commission set up to find ways for five northeastern Ohio universities to collaborate is expected to recommend that Youngstown State University take the lead in developing a community college in the Mahoning Valley.

The members of the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration & Innovation Study Commission reviewed that issue and others earlier this week as the commission prepares to finalize its report to the state before the end of the month.

A final vote on the recommendations could come as early as next Thursday.

Dr. David C. Sweet, YSU president, who is a member of the Northeast Ohio study commission, said one of the recommendations coming down is that YSU take the lead in building a collaborative effort for that community college.

The community college issue is just one of a number of recommendations the commission is looking at for YSU, University of Akron, Kent State University, Cleveland State University and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

That specific recommendation is expected to bolster YSU’s efforts already under way.

The university has already taken the lead, without state sanction, in developing plans for a local community college, following a directive from its board of trustees in March 2006 to come up with a plan within a year.

The university has been working on a collaborative approach that would involve area career and technical centers and perhaps other colleges in creating a community college that wouldn’t have a central campus — but would offer classes in a variety of settings, essentially taking the educational process to those who would enroll.

Sweet said the university has been working with the Ohio Board of Regents, which oversees higher education in the state, in an effort to coordinate its efforts with the state’s plan for an overall revamping of Ohio’s system of higher education.

Eric Fingerhut, Ohio’s Chancellor of Higher Education, has said the state supports the creation of a community college here but hasn’t agreed on a plan of how it should be structured and operated.

State Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd, said he is pleased the study commission will recommend the creation of a community college and that the Mahoning Valley is receiving support from other university systems in that regard.

The senator said he was concerned when the study commission was created last November that YSU might get overlooked in the fight over limited resources from the state. Instead, the commission will move YSU in the direction our state delegation and university officials want to proceed, he said.

“I’m pleased we’re on the same page. This study will embolden our work with chancellor Eric Fingerhut as we begin to bring this asset to our region,” Boccieri said.

There are 23 community colleges in Ohio now and the Mahoning Valley is the only metropolitan area without one, he said.

gwin@vindy.com