COTC Pataskala Campus Reopening for Classes in Autumn 2021
Expansion of In-Demand Healthcare and IT Programs
Central Ohio Technical College’s (COTC) Pataskala campus at 8660 E. Broad St. will reopen for classes in autumn 2021 after a $4.2 million renovation that will bring convenient, in-demand and affordable education leading to a career or bachelor’s degree to more central Ohio residents.
Students will be able to complete several associate degrees and certificate programs at the campus and begin any of COTC’s more than 50 programs in healthcare, business and IT, engineering, public services and safety, and transfer degrees. The college’s exceptional combination of small class sizes, faculty mentoring, required internships and rigorous academics has proven to give its graduates the competitive edge in job searches. Plus, COTC’s tuition is among the most affordable in the state, and the college supports students with more than $1 million in scholarships annually.
Students will be able to complete the following programs at the
renovated Pataskala campus:
Career-ready associate degrees – graduates are career ready in as
little as two years:
LPN-to-Associate Degree Nursing (RN) (four semesters)
Paramedic-to-Associate Degree Nursing (RN) (new program)
Transfer degrees – graduates earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree:
Career-ready certificates – graduates are career-ready in one or two semesters. COTC certificates also count toward an associate degree, helping students advance on a long-term career path:
Electrocardiography Technician
The project included a complete renovation of 16,000 square feet of the building’s interior, creating a new nursing and allied health skills lab, science and computer labs, digital media design lab, classroom and academic support spaces, student collaboration spaces, testing center, and the installation of new heating, ventilation, air conditioning and fire suppression systems. COTC anticipates resuming operations at the facility in late June to prepare for autumn semester. Community members are invited to attend a public ribbon-cutting for the facility on Friday, August 27, at 9 a.m. The ceremony will adhere to national, state and local COVID-19 health and safety guidelines current at event time.
The renovation, which began in May 2020, utilized $3.2 million in state funding and $1 million of COTC reserve funds. During the renovation, COTC relocated all classes and operations held at the Pataskala campus to its Pataskala Campus Annex (PCA) in the Pataskala City Administration building, 621 W. Broad St. COTC will continue using the Annex for some classes.
“The renovation of COTC’s Pataskala campus will be a key economic
driver for central Ohio and a tremendous benefit to students
wanting affordable technical education leading quickly to
in-demand jobs,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education
Chancellor Randy Gardner.
The college is already planning additional programs students can
complete at the campus. With the developing presence of nearby
large-scale operations, including Amazon, Facebook and Google,
the COTC Pataskala campus is ideally situated to support this
growing technology and industry corridor. Additionally, six of
the top eight fastest-growing public school districts in central
Ohio are located within 17 miles of the campus. Through a
partnership with Reynoldsburg’s eSTEM Academy, students can
complete COTC’s College Credit Plus computer information
technology pathway at the campus, allowing them to earn credit
toward an associate degree while still in high school.
“COTC changes lives for the better,” said COTC President John M. Berry, PhD. “This renovation will provide countless opportunities for students to start or advance their career paths or to begin a bachelor’s degree affordably. We will help empower students to overcome challenges and create their own brilliant futures – together, we will redefine what’s possible and make an impact that resonates far beyond this campus.”
Community members who have never attended COTC will need to submit the free application for admission at cotc.edu/apply. All students who apply are admitted to COTC, and students who submit the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov will automatically be considered for scholarships; there is no separate scholarship application to complete. Regular admission to a degree or certificate program is open to all who have earned a high school diploma, completed homeschooling at the secondary level or passed the General Education Development (GED) test. COTC may also grant prior-learning credit for certain life and career experiences. Students who enroll for a minimum of six credit hours per semester in a degree or certificate program will be eligible for scholarships.
Learn more at cotc.edu/admissions. To speak with an admissions counselor, email cotcadmissions@mail.cotc.edu or call 740.755.7090.
COTC is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs. COTC has four campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.