Kent State, University of Akron and YSU Collaborate to Offer Technical Education Center

Kent State University, the University of Akron and Youngstown State University were awarded $432,558 by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Board of Regents to establish the East Central Region College Tech Prep/Program of Study Center (ECRC). The ECRC will serve more than 100 school districts and their students in an effort to boost student enrollment in College Tech Prep/Program of Study programs in high schools as well as in Ohio colleges and universities.

The center will provide students a direct pathway to higher education by ensuring they obtain all necessary college-prep course requirements and transferrable college credit through their College Tech Prep (CTP) programs, according to ECRC Chief Administrator Kelly Herold. Students also will receive college-readiness assessments and, if needed, focused intervention to enable them to advance from high school to college. Through articulation agreements with the three institutions, the center will help facilitate students’ readiness for and transition to college.

The ECRC is a virtual center with offices at the partner universities and a central office at Kent State staffed by ECRC Regional Director Jennie Royer, and Jennifer Anders, regional program assistant. They and other ECRC collaborators will work with university deans, department chairs and other faculty members to ensure steady communication and momentum.

According to Royer, the center will serve as the point of contact to create the multi-institutional articulation agreements for more than 440 current high school programs. The ECRC also will serve school districts outside the region interested in linking with one of the higher education institutions.

According to Arlene Floyd, who is leading efforts through YSU, extensive professional development will be available for educators, including mathematics and English Language Arts coaching.

“This model will provide students in regional school districts with broadened academic opportunities and create movement toward statewide articulation,” Herold added.

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Media Contacts:
Jennie Royer, jroyer5@kent.edu, 330-672-5863
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595