BUCYRUS, Ohio – As construction nears completion, the brand-new Crawford Success Center (CSC) is taking another step toward enrolling its first students this fall with an information session about programs available.
The CSC hosted a number of North Central State College advisors and interested visitors at the Crawford County Educational Economic Development Partnership (CCEEDP) on Thursday, helping potential students learn about programs, class schedules, financial aid and steps to enroll for college classes in Bucyrus. Classes will officially begin at the CSC on August 24.
The idea of bringing a satellite location of North Central State College was first born more than two years ago, when a group of Crawford leaders including Crawford: 20/20 and the Crawford County Foundation reached out to strategize how best to serve the educational needs of residents and businesses in the county. Erin Stine, Operations Manager at the CSC, said the center is all about bringing higher educational opportunities and workforce development to the area.
“We’re talking about higher educational attainment for Crawford County,” she said “Right now we’re one of the lowest counties in the state for degree completion, so there’s a need here.”
Thursday’s two informational sessions helped address questions about financial aid and registering for classes for traditional and non-traditional students in the area. Currently nearly 500 North Central State College students are traveling from Crawford County to the main campus or satellite facilities, so establishing a center in downtown Bucyrus will open opportunities for residents who otherwise would not be able to attend classes.
“There are a lot of first-generation college students in Crawford County; no one in their family has gone to college yet, so we have a lot of well-meaning people that aren’t quite sure how to get started,” said Stine. “Everything, from getting books to your student ID to meeting with an adviser, you’ll be able to do at the center. It’s a fully-functioning branch of the college.”
Stine explained many of the classes offered at the CSC are introductory classes needed to move on to higher levels of education. However, one program offered from start to finish in Bucyrus is a Business Management Cohort studying toward a Business Management degree. The entire class moves through the program together, meeting for classes of varying lengths just one night each week. The model improves student performance and success while offering flexibility to busy students employed full-time.
“Every class you need for the next two years will be put into that slot on Wednesday nights, so really you just have to show up Wednesday nights ready to go and in two years you’ll have your business management degree,” said Stine. “It was really important to me to be able to offer a clear path for folks, to say if you want your business management degree I can help you with that. That, moving forward, is what we’re going to continue to build at the center. I’d like to offer more degree programs that you can start and finish.”
Stine’s goal for the Crawford Success Center is to keep growing and become a place Crawford County is proud of and excited to use.
“The bottom line is, Crawford County deserves this. These are really good, hardworking people,” she said. “I’m from the area and I’m about to raise a family here, and the more I’m around people and the more time I spend here, it’s just a wonderful community that’s working really hard. So I’m excited to be able to offer this opportunity, because they deserve it.”
“The bottom line is, Crawford County deserves this. These are really good, hardworking people,” said Operations Manager Erin Stine.
