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Chancellor Announces FY 2009 First Round Choose Ohio First Scholarship Awards to Attract and Retain Ohio's Talented Students
Part of the "Ohio Innovation Partnership" to advance Ohio's position in world markets in the areas of science and technology
For Immediate Release | March 13, 2008
Columbus – Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today announced the State of Ohio's first group of FY 2009 collaborations, totaling $13.3 million, to receive funding under the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, the state's premier model for recruiting and retaining talented Ohio residents as students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM) and STEM education fields.
This is the final year of the two-year, $100 million Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program investment to be awarded over five years targeting universities and colleges recruiting Ohio residents into current STEM programs, supporting the increased success of students in those fields, and making substantive improvements to the pipeline of STEM students and STEM educators. It is one component of the Ohio Innovation Partnership created by Governor Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly to strengthen and reconstruct Ohio's economy. Overall, Ohio has invested $250 million through collaborative programs in higher education, particularly STEM fields.
The first round of FY 2009 competitive awards is directed to 11 collaborations between colleges, universities, and their Ohio business and industry partners that were determined to have the most impact on advancing Ohio's position in the world markets including information technology, healthcare, sustainable energy, engineering, teacher education and science. They will share $13.3 million in scholarship funds and provide more than $17 million in cost shared funds. The scholarships will be used specifically to attract, retain and graduate more than 1700 new STEM students over the next five years.
"Our future workforce depends on our ability to retain our best and brightest students in Ohio,” said Chancellor Fingerhut. “This next class of STEM scholars will become the competitive advantage our businesses need in a global marketplace."
The program review process was highly competitive to ensure that the highest quality standards are met and designed so that the Ohio Board of Regents can work with schools across the state to assist in the development of quality programs.
Two rounds of Choose Ohio First Scholarships were awarded in the first year of the program (FY 2008), providing the first $50 million in funding. The first round recipients share more than $23.6 million in scholarship funds in areas of pharmacy, nursing, science, engineering and mathematics. Collaborating institutions in round one will put forth more than $38 million in cost shared funds in support of their proposed scholarship program. Round two recipients share more than $25.7 million in scholarship funds in areas of engineering, mathematics, healthcare, science, human effectiveness and sensors and will provide almost $30 million in cost shared funds. For more information, please go to http://www.uso.edu/opportunities/partnership/chooseohio1st/.
Choose Ohio First Scholarship Awards – FY 2009 Round One
Enhancing the Success of Future Health Professionals through Synergistic Cross-Collegiate Programming
The University of Cincinnati (lead institution) will partner with Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Sinclair Community College, Greater Cincinnati Tech Prep Consortium, Health Alliance, Children's Hospital and Medical Center and Drake Hospital to attract and graduate an estimated 200 students in STEM fields over a five-year period. The proposed program will streamline, coordinate and enrich the undergraduate preparation of students and decrease the time to obtain a degree, all while providing a rich exposure to the healthcare field. The program will use learning communities, interdisciplinary capstone projects and a strong student support program to ensure the success of the selected COFSP scholars. The collaboration will share $2.397 million in program funds awarded by the state.
Creating Affordable and Effective Educational Pathways in Information Technology
Wilmington College (lead institution) will partner with Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and The University of Toledo to attract and graduate more than 350 students in the STEM area of information technology (IT) over a five-year period. Key components to this program, which addresses Ohio's ongoing IT needs, are close attention to the 2+2 relationship between the community college and the participating four-year institutions, an exceptionally strong cooperative education program and an aggressive innovative academic vision. The modest growth proposed in this program will not only increase the state's ability to produce IT baccalaureate graduates, but coupled with local business opportunities, will keep Ohio's graduates in Ohio. The collaboration will share $1.7 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship funds awarded by the state.
Building Ohio Talent for a Sustainable Energy Future
The University of Toledo (lead institution), in conjunction with Bowling Green State University, Owens Community College, Terra Community College and Northwest State Community College will attract and graduate more than 150 students in the STEM areas of renewable energy generation and environment remediation over a five-year period. Highlights of the program include using photovoltaic energy generation to lessen environmental pollution and creating a minor degree in renewable energy. Student support will include impressive internship and cooperative education opportunities, as well as mentoring and summer research projects in the great lakes region of Ohio. $1.563 million in Choose Ohio First scholarship state funds will be shared between the collaboration.
Masters Degrees as Conduits to Recruiting, Retaining and Upgrading Ohio's STEM Workforce
The University of Cincinnati in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency will attract and graduate approximately 60 students in graduate level STEM fields over a five-year period. The master's degrees awarded in medical physics (Ohio's only accredited program of the kind), environmental studies and statistics, combined with the engineering degree program ACCEND, will directly address the regional needs of southwest Ohio by providing a highly skilled workforce in health professions, engineering, environment and business. Noteworthy is the innovative enhancement to the ACCEND curriculum: the ACCEND MBA program and ACCEND MEng program. Coupled with UC's well established co-operative education program, students will graduate with a bachelor's and master's degree and work experience, providing an edge in the competitive work environment. The University of Cincinnati will receive $828,000 of Choose Ohio First scholarship funds awarded by the state.
Engineering Across the Pipeline
Cleveland State University (lead institution), along with Baldwin Wallace College and Ursuline College will partner to attract and graduate a cohort of 25 STEM students over a five-year period. The program will incorporate engineering into the liberal arts tradition, which will provide a diverse talent pool and more women in the engineering field. Other key program components include a 4+1 and 4+2 option for students pursuing graduate education and a strong focus on affordability by shortening the time to degree for students. Bridge courses, virtual learning communities, on-site mentoring and good institutional management plans will all aid in the increase of engineering professionals in Northeastern Ohio. The collaboration will share $474,700 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Funds awarded by the state.
The Cincinnati STEM Hub Partnership: A New Model for Preparing the Next Generation of Dynamic and Innovative Secondary STEM Educators
The University of Cincinnati (lead institution) in partnership with the Ohio STEM Learning Network, Battelle, Cincinnati State Community and Technical College, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, Duke Energy, Strive P-16 Council, Cincinnati Museum Center, General Electric, Proctor and Gamble; Toyota, Hamilton County Educational Service Center, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Great Oaks and Interalliance will attract and graduate 60 future STEM educators over a five-year period. The seamless STEM education pathway, combined with mentoring from high school to a baccalaureate degree, will provide leadership in the STEM fields in an urban education setting. The collaboration will share $267,600 in state funds to advance this important program.
Northeast Ohio Biosciences Pathway Initiatives
Ashland University (lead institution) will partner with The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, North Central State College and Lakeland Community College to attract and graduate more than 50 students in the STEM field of agricultural biosciences and research/testing/medical laboratories (RTML) over a five-year period. Impactful features of this program includes readying an educated workforce to meet a fast-growing strand of bioscience RTML and a hands-on, in depth experience in an array of bioscience laboratory techniques for students. A firm commitment from local businesses for cooperative education and internship opportunities will allow for students to enter into this important pathway at multiple points and remain in the Northeastern Ohio area. This partnership will share $508,195 in scholarship funds awarded by the state.
STEM Degrees and Careers for Ohioans with Disabilities, Including Veterans: COF Scholarships in Support of NSF-funded Regional Alliance in Disability (OSAA)
Wright State University (lead institution) in partnership with The Ohio State University, Sinclair Community College, Clark State Community College, Columbus State Community College, Dayton Regional STEM School, Dayton Public Schools, Milton-Union Exempted Village Schools, New Lebanon Local Schools, Sugarcreek Local School District, Trotwood-Madison City School District, West Carrollton School District, Metro High School, Ohio State School for the Blind, Columbus City Schools, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Air Force Research Laboratory, Battelle, daytaOhio, Dayton Area Defense Contractors' Association, Greater Dayton IT Alliance, Nationwide, American Electric Power, Roxane Laboratories, IDEAL Group, National Center for Accessible Media, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Mound Laser & Photonics Center, Department of the Army-Corps of Engineers and Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce will attract and graduate more than 300 students with disabilities in STEM majors over a five-year period. This program will build on federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) granted to WSU to increase STEM accessibility. Bridge programs, learning communities, access to assistive technology and individualized Ability Advising are just several important strengths of this program that will increase the opportunities for STEM students with disabilities. The collaboration will share $2,687,500 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship funded awarded by the state.
Future Scientists of Ohio
The Ohio State University (lead institution) in conjunction with Columbus State Community College will attract and graduate more than 350 students in the STEM fields over the five-year period. Outstanding features include a strong and established relationship between the institutions of higher education, as well as a bridge program for high school seniors entering college, mentoring and internship opportunities. The collaboration will share $1.5 million in Choose Ohio First scholarship funds awarded by the state.
Improving the Retention and Learning of Students in STEM Subjects Through Learning Communities
Hiram College (lead institution) will partner with Kent State University and The University of Akron to attract and graduate 20 students over a five-year period. Building off a successful "Igniting Streams of Learning in Science" program, the grant will continue to promote 21st century learning with the use of community formation, commitment and ownership. The use of current electronic media such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and blogs to communicate, both in and out of a classroom setting, are examples that embrace a shift from teaching to learning based on the science of learning. In addition, shifting from delivery of instruction to engaging learning, will result in better prepared students and trained professionals. The partners will share $376,000 in scholarship funds awarded by the state.
STEM Undergraduate Engagement in an Engineering Environment
Ohio University (lead institution), in partnership with Shawnee State University, Rio Grande University, Marietta College and Muskingum College will attract and graduate more than 70 students over a five-year period who will become STEM teachers in the Appalachian area. The program will focus on "inquiry" and "literacy" as a way to bring together efforts aimed at the needs of learners in Southeast Ohio. With the addition of a strong mentoring program for teachers through their first three years, this program will produce the necessary STEM teachers in a high-need area. The collaboration will share $1 million in Choose Ohio First scholarship funds awarded by the state.
Contact: Michael Chaney, Chief Communications Officer, Ohio Board of Regents
Office: (614) 752-9480 Cell: (614) 633-5909
E-mail: mchaney@regents.state.oh.us
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