Developments in Aligning the Educational Levels in Ohio

Penny Poplin Gosetti, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Interim Vice Provost

University of Toledo

June 15, 2009

Higher Education in Ohio

• 1800s - Unprecedented number and variety of higher education institutions

• 1913 – Legislation regarding access of high school graduates to public postsecondary education

• 1960s – Promise to locate a college within “30 miles of every boy and girl in Ohio”

Ohio’s SCHE Options

• Community colleges• State community colleges• Technical colleges• University regional branches• Universities• Adult career and technical education

centers

Ohio Educational Attainment

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 American Community Survey

Developing the University System of Ohio and Master Plan• Network of public colleges and universities

• Mission of affordability and quality

• Organizing principle of better coordination

• Goals to increase enrollment by 230,000 and graduation by 20%

• Key strategies for guiding implementation

Course Integration

Create integrated course and program network among all community colleges.

•Flexibility•Ownership of courses•Incentives for development and sharing of course materials

Dual Admission

All high school graduates in Ohio will have the option of being “dual admitted” to a community college and a public university, so long as they meet the academic standards of each school.

Transferability of Two-year Degree

Anyone with a high school diploma or GED will have access to higher education to the community college of their choice. General Associate degrees will be fully transferrable to a university. Universities will have flexibility to set admission standards that conform to their missions.

Course Flexibility for Adults

Adult courses will be more flexible than traditional courses in times, locations and duration. More online courses will be available to adult learners.

College Readiness

The Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) programs will build a network of adult education programs focused on helping adults become college ready.

•Provides alternative path to college•Provides choices for “college prep” classes

Transferability of Career-Technical and Apprenticeship Programs

University System of Ohio adult career-technical and apprenticeship programs will be included in the transfer system. Courses offered and certificates earned will have the opportunity and be encouraged to meet standards sufficient for college credit.

•Learning outcomes developed in five technical areas

Stackable Certificates

Adult learners will build their academic and technical skills by earning a series of pre-college and college-level “stackable certificates” that provide a pathway to career-oriented postsecondary training and economic success.

Transfer and Articulation

Students will know in advance the courses and programs guaranteed to transfer and apply to their degree program. This includes the general education component and the prerequisite and beginning courses in their majors.

Career-Technical Transfer

Stackable Certificates

Transfer

Associate Degrees

Baccalaureate Degrees

College Readiness

Expectations(Math

&English)

StandardizedPlacement

Policy

Transfer GuaranteeGeneral Education (Ohio Transfer Module)

38 Transfer Assurance Guides (TAGs), Bulletin Board

ReturningWorkforce

P-16Traditional High School Students

• Ohio Core• Dual Enrollment

•Tech Prep• Advanced Placement• Early Math Placement

Test• Career Pathways

Electronic Integration throughArticulation and Transfer Clearinghouse

Ohio Student Portalwww.OhioCap.org

Academic Information P-16College Application

Financial AidEmployment/Career Information

Early College Credit Program

Seniors to Sophomores is an early college credit program, which will bring qualified high school seniors to college campuses, allowing them to earn a full year of academic credit for free. The program will also drive the strategy to increase participation and awareness of the state’s other early college credit options.

Integrated Technology InfrastructureThe Board of Regents will create a single, integrated technology infrastructure. •Online advising, admissions application, registration for courses at multiple USO campuses•Common application system•Online system to research courses, enroll and transfer credits, and make financial transactions•Federated system of authentication

Experiential Learning

• A compact or agreement will be executed with the business community to substantially increase the number of students participating in internships and co-ops.

• Higher education will become more responsive and flexible in serving the needs of businesses to train their incumbent workers, and businesses will enroll more workers into training programs that receive college credits or are transferable as credits so that more Ohioans will be on track to earn degrees.

Skills Bank

The Board of Regents will lead the Ohio Skills Bank (OSB) to link workforce supply and demand at the regional level. Ohio Skills Bank regional teams will also facilitate articulation and transfer between adult workforce centers and community colleges.

Transparent Systems of Accountability• All universities will join the Voluntary System of Accountability, making data available regarding price, financial aid, degree programs, retention and graduation rates, campus safety, student satisfaction, and student learning outcomes.

• All community colleges will adopt a nationally benchmarked, transparent system of accountability similar to the Voluntary System of Accountability. All community colleges will administer the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE).

Concluding Thoughts

• Parallels between “Aligning Educational Levels in Ohio” and the Bologna Process

• Importance of partnerships