SPRINGFIELD — A group representing Ohio’s higher education institutions has recommended a new student support services center for Clark State Community College as one of several projects deserving priority in the state budget.
The Ohio Higher Education Capital Funding Collaborative — a group of seven higher education officials led by Ohio State University President Gordon Gee — recommended state funding of $3.4 million for Clark State’s proposed Student Success Center. It’s one of 168 projects at the state’s four-year colleges and universities and community colleges recommended to share $400 million in funding set aside for capital dollars from the state.
“It just validates our thinking and validates the fact that community college students do have a lot of needs and need a lot of support,” Jennifer Dietsch, Clark State’s director of marketing, said of the committee’s recommendation.
The project is in the initial stages and estimated to cost about $5.1 million total, said Dietsch. If the state approves the commission’s recommendation, the remaining funds would come from the college.
The building will be connected to Clark State’s Sara T. Landess Technology and Learning Center and Rhodes Hall and would house programs that provide support for students like testing and tutoring centers, counseling and disabilities services.
“It allows all those support services to collaborate and work together to really better help students,” said Dietsch.
Academic services like admissions and advisors would still be in the Technology and Learning Center and the new building might allow some programs to be relocated to the Leffel Lane campus from the downtown location.
Gov. John Kasich created the commission to decide together how best to use the $400 million set aside for higher education capital projects. The commission established four categories for projects: partnerships between colleges and businesses; workforce development projects; science, technology, engineering, math and medicine facilities; and long-term maintenance.
The Student Success Center is one of the long-term maintenance facilities, the largest group on the list with 151 projects.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373.
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