President John M. Berry, PhD
John M. Berry, PhD, assumed the role of COTC president on January
1, 2019, and is the college’s second sole president. He was
unanimously selected by the COTC Board of Trustees after a
nationwide search.
Having previously served as director of student life at COTC,
Berry returned to the college after positions at Cape Fear
Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina; Rhodes State
College in Lima, Ohio; and most recently, BridgeValley Community
and Technical College in Montgomery, West Virginia.
After starting his own education at a community college, Berry
went on to earn a doctoral degree in Higher Education
Administration from The Ohio State University.
Celebrating 50 Years of In-Demand Education
Friends of Central Ohio Technical College (COTC),
Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, COTC will celebrate 50
years of providing high-quality education leading to in-demand
careers for central Ohioans.
In 1971, when COTC welcomed the first students to our Newark
campus, the new college offered six associate degrees. Today,
COTC operates four full-service campuses in Newark, Coshocton,
Mount Vernon and Pataskala and offers more than 50 associate
degrees and certificates. Throughout the decades, COTC’s more
than 15,000 graduates have made significant contributions to
their professions and communities.
Remaining true to its mission to meet the technical education and
training needs of students and employers in the area, COTC
proudly continues to grow and adapt to changing workforce and
student needs. As the college welcomed more students back to our
four campus locations for in-person classes and labs this autumn
semester, the welcome return of more on-campus engagement is only
part of COTC’s strategic focus to meet student needs and bolster
student success.
Supporting Student Success With Flexible Course-Delivery Options
Over the last year, COTC invested substantially in virtual
technologies and online course development to support an
extensive increase in course-delivery modes. Our goal is to meet
students where they are and to do our best to offer each student
an educational experience that works best for them – allowing
them to choose their preferred academic delivery method – whether
that’s on campus, online, or a hybrid model. To meet that goal,
the college is offering classes in five delivery options this
autumn and moving forward – on campus, hybrid, hy-flex, remote
and online. Read more about how COTC is meeting student needs by
expanding flexible course-delivery options here.
Enhanced Career-Training Opportunities at New STEM Center
The $32 million, 60,000-square-foot John and Mary Alford Center
for Science and Technology, which opened for classes this autumn
semester, brings a Health Science Simulation Center to the COTC
Newark campus. This multi-disciplinary space, mirroring an acute
care hospital, contains two patient rooms, an emergency room and
an operating room with an adjoining scrub-in station so COTC
students can experience various “real-life” medical scenarios in
a learning environment.
Our thanks to the Alford and Cantlin families and other donors
for their generosity – their investment in education is an
investment in the future. Watch a video tour of the Alford Center
here.
Renovated Pataskala Campus Expands Academic Offerings
Following a $4.2 million renovation, our Pataskala campus has
been transformed into a modern learning facility that will help
students discover their full potential and realize personal and
career success. With this renovation, COTC has expanded associate
degree and certificate offerings in Pataskala, making them more
accessible to students in western Licking County and neighboring
Franklin and Fairfield counties who want to start or advance
their career or move confidently into a bachelor’s degree. The
facility opened for classes in autumn 2021. Learn about COTC’s
expanded academic offerings in Pataskala here.
As we celebrate COTC’s half-century of strengthening our
community, the college is poised to continue helping students
build successful futures, uncovering workforce opportunities and
impacting lives for decades to come. As we reflect on the last
five decades of growth and accomplishment, honor the many
stakeholders who have helped shape the institution, and celebrate
what lies ahead, we look forward to the college’s next 50 years
as a leading provider of an accessible, affordable and
high-quality education for the diverse community of learners in
Licking, Coshocton and Knox counties.
Learn more about COTC’s 50th-anniversary plans and history
here.
Watch COTC’s 50th
Anniversary Kick-Off Video here.
I am incredibly proud of all that COTC has accomplished during
this extremely challenging year. Along with our community
partners, local industries and employers, we will continue to
build opportunities to address workforce needs and to help our
students build successful futures.
Stay Healthy, Stay Helpful, Stay Hopeful,
John M. Berry, PhD
President
