PIQUA — In keeping with its mission, Edison State Community College is working to provide the communities it serves with the best education and resources possible. A number of institution-wide initiatives will get underway in 2017, to ensure the tradition, which Edison State was founded upon, continues.
Edison State Works: Edison State Community College is proud to introduce the Edison State Works workforce development initiative as a connector to the programs and services provided for students, staff, business and industry, and the communities of Darke, Miami, Shelby, and beyond.
The newly renovated area in the West Hall of the Piqua Campus will serve as a connection place for area businesses and organizations with Edison State students, faculty and staff to connect, raise awareness, build and strengthen relationships, and further develop workforce opportunities.
The Edison State Works workforce development initiative is tightly bound to the Edison State mission statement and strategic plan which states: “Edison State Community College provides the learning opportunities, support services and commitment that enables students to complete their educational goals and realize their dreams.”
“The goal of Edison State Works is to connect our pool of highly skilled students to employers in our region,” said Edison State President, Dr. Doreen Larson.
Her report continues:
Agriculture Program: Edison State is pleased introduced a new agriculture program which is on track for an official launch in the fall of 2017. The program, which will reside at the Darke County Campus while also serving communities in Miami, Shelby, and surrounding counties, will prepare students for various career options or transfer opportunities upon completion.
The Edison State Board of Trustees approved the degree program during the January Board meeting. Next steps will include submitting the degree to the Ohio Department of Higher Education followed by the Higher Learning Commission for approval.
Once officially launched, Edison State administration will continue to look at other possibilities within the program including certificate options, training opportunities, and articulation agreements.
Softball Team: The Edison State Community College Athletic Department recently announced it would add women’s softball to its list of intercollegiate athletic programs beginning in the spring of 2018. The announcement comes on the heels of the baseball team’s successful advancement from the national club level to the varsity level in 2015.
Planning is currently underway to upgrade the College’s softball field, which is located adjacent to the baseball field on the east side of the Piqua campus. The softball team will join Edison State’s baseball, basketball, and volleyball teams to compete in Region XII as Division II members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and as members of the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).
Guided Pathways: As part of a nationwide effort among community colleges, Edison State Community College will work toward implementing the guided pathways to success initiative to help students complete programs faster and achieve academic success.
The guided pathway model is an integrated, institution-wide approach to student success that includes four essential practices:
1. Clarification of paths to student end goals through program maps and transfer pathways;
2. Helping students choose and enter a pathway bridging K12 to higher education and assisting students by aligning mathematics and foundational skills with their program of study;
3. Helping students stay on their chosen path by providing strong advising along with academic and non-academic supports; and,
4. Ensuring that students are learning skills and knowledge required for success in employment and further education.
Edison State has also been selected as one of six community colleges in Ohio to participate in a research study of the guided pathways project conducted by the Community College Research Center (CRCC) at Columbia University’s Teachers College. The CRCC will interview Edison State staff, provide feedback, and prepare a comprehensive report that will integrate the findings across all six institutions.
