New college would be a feeder to universities in region

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Area legislators like an education and collaboration study of Northeast Ohio universities that would have Youngstown State University take the lead in developing a community college in the Mahoning Valley.

YSU has said it would like to do that and see the community college become an independent entity within 10 years. YSU has already been working on the concept for nearly two years and perceives it as a collaborative effort among regional educational institutions.

Creating the community college must be a collaborative approach, said Eric Fingerhut, Ohio’s Chancellor of Higher Education. He suggested it might not be wise to designate one institution as the “lead” agency in that process.

Kent State University, with its branch campuses, has a huge role to play in the creation of a local community college, as do the career centers in the counties, Fingerhut said.

The chancellor added that a community college here is a state priority, not just a Mahoning Valley priority.

YSU and its president, Dr. David C. Sweet, are proven advocates of a community college here, said Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd. YSU trustees believe that starting a community college here could increase overall college enrollment in the region, as well as serve as a feeder system for more advanced degrees offered by the university.

Cafaro pointed out, however, that two Kent campuses — Trumbull and Ashtabula — are in her district.

It’s important, whoever takes the lead, to work with the resources at those campuses, she said, adding, “Kent State branches must have a seat at the table.”

Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, D-64th, who said he began his higher education at a Kent branch campus, agreed that the campuses must be part of any discussion regarding a community college.

Still, area legislators seem particularly happy with recommendations calling for creation of the community college and the continued independence of the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM), of which YSU is a part.

“I’m very pleased with the results of the study,” said Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, noting that what the Legislature wanted is what the commission has recommended.

He predicted there is a good opportunity for those recommendations to end up in a state higher education master plan now being put together by Fingerhut.

Fingerhut said the study is a significant step, but the state may push for further collaboration than it recommends.

The state has been very clear that a priority of a new master plan for higher education will be to build a collaborative system in which the schools don’t compete for students and funding, but join together to serve the needs of higher education, Fingerhut said.

“Clearly, that is the tone of that report,” he said. “There’s plenty to build on here.”

Gov. Ted Strickland has directed Fingerhut to come up with the new master plan by March.

Many ideas found in the study commission report can be incorporated in whole in that plan, while some may require a broader, statewide look, Fingerhut said.

He stopped short of a wholesale endorsement of the study, saying it is one of many sources he is looking at as the master plan takes shape.

He said he has no particular disagreement with any of its findings, although the state plan may make some collaboration suggestions that go beyond the commission reports.

The study, which involved YSU, KSU, the University of Akron, Cleveland State University and NEOUCOM, has recommended collaborative efforts at a number of levels, including some programming, establishment of goals for increased enrollment, buying health care benefits, creating a shared data center and more.

“We’ve looked at all sorts of options, and we will make some recommendations,” Fingerhut said, declining to offer any specifics about what additional areas of collaboration might surface in the master plan.

Although the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study Commission was the creation of the state Legislature a year ago, local legislators say they are inclined to see what state executives — Strickland and Fingerhut — will do with the report before they contemplate any legislative action.

“Obviously, we want to see what they want to do,” said Hagan, explaining that the administration can make some things happen more quickly than can the Legislature.

The executive branch will weigh in and the Legislature will work with it, predicted Cafaro.

Many of the recommendations could be handled internally through Fingerhut and the Ohio Board of Regents, or they could become legislative initiatives, said Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd. The report offers “one way we can embrace regional sharing of assets,” he said.

A spokesman for Strickland said the governor hasn’t yet had the opportunity to review the report and its recommendations.

Fingerhut has characterized the report as “an important first step for” Ohio colleges and universities.

He said he endorses recommendations for expanding medical education in the region and creating a community college in the Mahoning Valley. Some of the administrative recommendations for collaboration are also readily adaptable, he said.

Getting a community college would go a long way to helping the economic development of this area, Boccieri said. “This is a priority for me in this general assembly to make sure this happens,” he said.

Rep. Ronald Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, pointed out that Youngstown is the only metropolitan area of the state not served by a community college. It is in the best interest of YSU to be involved in that process, and Gerberry said he will do all he can to protect that interest.

Fingerhut said he has pointed out publicly that NEOUCOM needs to expand its capacity and presence in medical education and research, and that includes a closer link with Cleveland State University as recommended in the study.

NEOUCOM should maintain its current services, facilities and relationships with other institutions, he said, but expand its services to include the entire region, particularly Akron and Cleveland, which have significant medical communities.

NEOUCOM is “a trendsetter, the only one of its kind,” said Letson.

He said he would have no objection to adding Cleveland State to the consortium that already includes YSU, Kent State and the University of Akron, nor would he oppose expansion of its research efforts to Cleveland hospitals. However, he would be opposed to anything that would encumber existing operations at the medical school.

Boccieri called it “a real success story” and said he would oppose any total realignment or closure of its facilities.

gwin@vindy.com