Respiratory-therapy program limited

CHAMPION — Organizers of the new Eastern Gateway Community College have said its programs are designed not to duplicate existing college programs in the Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Jefferson County region.

But one of its first associate-degree offerings this fall — respiratory therapy — would appear to be a duplication of the four-year respiratory-care program already offered at Youngstown State University.

“We are in discussion about that,” said David C. Sweet, YSU president.

YSU is one of the educational partners involved in the development of Eastern Gateway.

Roy Church, president of Lorain County Community College and chairman of the planning and development committee for Eastern Gateway, said the respiratory-therapy program is the result of “unique circumstances.”

Jefferson Community College (now a part of Eastern Gateway) was already in discussions with Kent State University to begin offering the program in Columbiana and Jefferson counties before the Eastern Gateway concept was developed.

The decision was to continue with the planning, but to avoid any conflict with YSU programming, respiratory therapy won’t be offered at Eastern Gateway facilities in Mahoning or Trumbull counties, Church said.

Anyone interested in that program will have to go to Eastern Gateway classrooms in Columbiana or Jefferson counties, he said.