“Working to Keep You Working” launches
Working to Address Job Concerns
Feb. 11, 2009
In response to the rising tide of layoffs and mounting concerns about job security, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is launching a new work training initiative.
Dubbed “Working to Keep You Working,’’ the initiative was launched Feb. 7 with an Open House at Cincinnati State’s main campus in Clifton.
The event featured information about the programs, courses, co-op opportunities and job placement services available through Cincinnati State and its Workforce Development Center.
But that was just the beginning. Organizers say the Working to Keep You Working initiative will be an ongoing effort – one that involves the entire College.
“Our aim is to help displaced workers match their interests and abilities with occupations that are projected to be in demand – and then to help them get the education and training they need,’’ said Dr. John Henderson, interim president at Cincinnati State. “We have the resources to help.’’
With a tuition rate of $80.20 per credit hour, Cincinnati State offers one of the most cost-effective options for higher education in the Tri-State. The College offers more than 75 associate degree programs and majors and nearly 50 certificate programs. Most of these are oriented toward the workplace.
Cincinnati State has long been known for its nursing, health professions, public safety, construction management and horticulture programs. And its Midwest Culinary Institute has a growing reputation among foodies – and employers in the hospitality industry – throughout the region.
But it is also cultivating a growing reputation in such areas as green energy technology and sustainable design and construction. Cincinnati State students can now get hands-on training in the installation and operation of solar panels, geothermal heating/cooling systems, wind turbines and the like. And the College offers the most comprehensive LEED-certified course sequence in the region.
Recent years have also seen the development of information technology and computer technology programs – all built on a community college academic core.
Most programs at Cincinnati State are heavily involved with its co-op program, which is the largest in the nation among two-year schools and one of the five largest in all of American higher education. In 2007 Cincinnati State had nearly 3,000 co-op placements, and its students earned more than $7 million during such “earn while you learn’’ experiences.
The “Working to Keep You Working’’ initiative is designed to build on those strengths, by helping adult students design a course of study or a retraining program that specifically suits their needs.
Older students won’t feel out of place at Cincinnati State. The average age of the overall student body is 27, and among part-time students – who account for about 60 percent of the total – it’s closer to 30. Moreover, because the main campus offers on-site day care for students (early childhood education happens to be one of our more popular majors) it’s not uncommon to see parents and young children walking the hallways hand in hand or eating together in the dining areas.
Cincinnati State is also among the growing number of schools in the Tri-State that is increasing its online learning opportunities. It also offers classes and customized instruction at its Workforce Development Center in Evendale and the Cincinnati State West Campus in Harrison, Ohio, which features an operating airport and includes classrooms for both aviation and non-aviation courses.
