Governor will participate in community college grand opening

YOUNGSTOWN — Gov. Ted Strickland and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, will participate in Eastern Gateway Community College’s grand opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday.

The new community college, serving Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Jefferson counties, began offering classes in August at six locations, including The Valley Center where Mondays’s program will be held.

The center will be the college’s headquarters and is located at the Forum Health Northside Medical Center at 50 Gypsy Lane.

Eric Fingerhut, Ohio’s chancellor of higher education, and a number of University System of Ohio and civic partners involved in bringing community college education to Eastern Ohio and the Mahoning Valley region, will also participate.

The program opens with a tour of the center followed by a 10 a.m. press conference.

Eastern Gateway is offering 11 associate degree programs, six professional-certificate programs and a total of 180 courses in its first semester of operation.

Classes are held in a variety of locations to make it easier for students to enroll and attend at educational facilities close to their homes.

Campus locations are at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, Choffin Career and Technical Center and Jefferson (County) Campus of the community college and The Valley Center. Not all classes area available at each location. Some classes are also available online.