Community college sought for Warren

Councilwoman: Facility would be ‘shot in the arm’

By JENNIFER KOVACS / Tribune Chronicle
WARREN — A new community college is expected to welcome its first class by fall of 2009, and one city official is trying to bring its benefits even closer to home.

‘‘I thought this is just vital for Warren. It would be the shot in the arm that we need,’’ Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at large, said.

Rucker brought the idea last week to her fellow City Council members to develop a grassroots campaign for courses to be held in the city. Bringing a higher-education facility to Warren has been discussed for a number of years, she said.

The one set to open was recommended by Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut in his Strategic Plan for Higher Education. Earlier this month, regional education and business leaders held the first meeting of an Implementation Committee to set goals for the coming year, including determining initial degree programs, recruiting students and exploring ways to share resources with institutions in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

Yet to be determined is exactly where classes will be held. The group said it aims to take advantage of facilities at Youngstown State University, Kent State University branch campuses, and adult education centers such as the Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Shara Davis of the Lorain County Community College said Rucker’s idea is ‘‘right on target.’’

‘‘The goal is to bring the community college education closer to where people live, sleep and work,’’ said Davis, director of the public services institute at LCCC. The Lorain staff is facilitating setting up the institution in northeast Ohio.

Davis said LCCC knows a thing or two about making the community college experience successful. It offers 40 bachelor and graduate degree programs.

Now in the process of convening an engagement team locally, Davis said she was happy to hear of Rucker’s interest and hopes to hear more of it. With recruitment to be targeted toward adults just as much as recent high school graduates, Davis stressed how important it will be to offer courses close to work and home.

‘‘Anything is possible. We could be doing this in churches or anywhere. We know with adults and their busy lifestyles, that’s the way,’’ she said.

Rucker said she hopes her fellow council members and community leaders will rally behind attracting the college here. She proposed taking advantage of all of the vacant school buildings that remain in the city as Warren City Schools continue to build all new schools for the district.

Robert Faulkner Sr., president of the Warren City Board of Education, said he is part of the community college Implementation Committee and hopes his local voice will make an impact for Warren.

‘‘That’s my whole thing. What we are going to do to assimilate it into the community would be my whole focus,’’ he said.

However, the Ohio School Facilities Commission mandates that any remaining school buildings that aren’t demolished must be offered to charter schools prior to being used in any other capacity.

But the idea is one that Faulkner said he is open to bringing to the school board.

With many other empty spaces around Warren, especially downtown, Rucker said she just hopes that this can be a way to encourage potential students not to leave the area and revitalize a city that could use some help.

‘‘I think it would be just what Warren needs and what the downtown area needs,’’ she said.



jkovacs@tribune-chronicle.com