By PEGGY SHADDUCK
VP, Regional Campuses and Dean of College of Applied and Technical Studies
WARREN – Kent State University offers one of the largest regional systems in the nation with campuses in Warren, Salem, East Liverpool, Ashtabula, and Geauga, Stark and Tuscarawas counties.
These campuses offer students the advantage of attending a distinguished university with reduced tuition and the friendly, casual atmosphere of a small liberal arts college.
Students can choose from 40 associate degrees at the seven campuses, where they can begin coursework toward any of Kent State’s more than 360-plus programs of study.
Kent State University’s College of Applied & Technical Studies (CATS) offers programs that are designed to meet the needs of the communities where the branch campuses are located.
CATS offers more than 35 undergraduate programs and nearly 20 certificates, ranging from law enforcement to health care to semiconductor chips.
Kent State University’s Rising Scholars program encourages promising students from school districts throughout northeastern Ohio.
Each regional campus partners with its local school districts to develop a support system that prepares the students for life after high school.
Rising Scholars combines mentoring with assistance from local communities and businesses to support young adults beginning in seventh grade. The program allows them to maximize their all-important high school years and focus on making well-informed career choices after graduation.
The Ohio Department of Education recently awarded Kent State University’s regional campuses $1.2 million to support Choose Ohio First scholarships for traditional and nontraditional learners who want to begin or complete science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM – programs.
Scholarship recipients must participate in a work-based learning opportunity such as an internship, co-op or research to help transition to the Stem workforce after graduation.
In addition, Kent State offers monthly career preparation workshops and group social events.
These scholarships offer opportunities to prospective students while also enabling students who started a degree and still need to finish.