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.
Planning for a Bright Post-Pandemic Future
Friends of Central Ohio Technical College (COTC),
In March, we mark the one-year anniversary of COTC’s move to
primarily remote classes and services due to health and safety
concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19. And while we faced
many unexpected challenges during the past year, I’m particularly
proud to note that COTC responded to those challenges with
characteristic determination, resourcefulness and empathy.
Throughout the pandemic, the health and well-being of our
students, faculty and staff have remained our top priorities, as
does our commitment to continue offering exceptional academic
experiences for our students. Any commitment to excellence also
requires an ongoing focus on continuous improvement and strategic
planning. Thus, even while facing the constant daily challenges
of a pandemic, COTC continues to actively explore and implement
new and innovative means to meet our students’ and communities’
needs.
Meeting the needs of our extended campus
communities
The partnership between the college and community is paramount to
each extended campus’s success, and the input of community
members is essential to that success. To build an ever-stronger
connection to the communities we serve, we are implementing
several new strategies to enhance engagement with stakeholders
served by COTC’s three extended campuses – Coshocton, Knox and
Pataskala. The first of these is the creation of annual town hall
meetings for each extended campus. During these sessions,
community members will learn firsthand about the state of the
college, with a particular emphasis on initiatives at each
respective campus. Our inaugural sessions will focus on aligning
workforce development and higher education needs, as well as the
results of recently completed strategic workforce needs
assessments for Coshocton, Knox and Licking counties.
We view these sessions as a chance for community members to share
their insights, hopes and concerns regarding future local
workforce drivers. In the coming months, I will share how the
information gathered at the town hall forums and other
initiatives will inform our strategic planning.
Strengthening workforce development
Furthering our relationship with a community partner known for
strengths in workforce development, COTC’s Board of Trustees
recently approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Career
and Technology Education Centers of Licking County (C-TEC) to
promote joint workforce and noncredit training and programs. The
scope of collaboration could include:
- C-TEC delivering noncredit programming with COTC supporting
those efforts with referrals from industry partners or potential
students.
- The development of articulated credit agreements leading to
pathways for students between institutions and curriculum
alignment to reduce duplication.
- Collaboration on statewide funding initiatives.
Alford Center and Pataskala campus renovation advance STEM
education
I am delighted to report that critical infrastructure
construction and improvements have continued during the pandemic.
On our Newark campus, the 60,000 square foot John and Mary Alford
Center for Science and Technology is on schedule for substantial
completion in April. In addition to health sciences classrooms,
this state-of-the-art facility includes operating room and
emergency room simulation labs, patient simulation rooms and a
virtual anatomy lab.
Faculty and staff will begin occupying the building in May, and
we anticipate a public ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-August.
Classes are expected to be scheduled in the building starting in
autumn semester. Our thanks to the Alford family and the many
donors who have made this much-needed facility a reality.
Additionally, our Pataskala campus renovation is on schedule, and
we expect classes to return to the facility for autumn semester.
This $4.2 renovation will offer new laboratory, classroom and
academic support spaces. These additions will enable COTC to
expand educational offerings in healthcare and information
technology, as well as transfer-friendly general education
classes, to western Licking County. We anticipate a public
ribbon-cutting at the Pataskala campus in mid-August.
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
