Strategic Plan

Industry-Aligned Technical Education

Tailor technical programs to meet the specific workforce needs of local businesses and industries, ensuring that graduates possess the skills and expertise required to excel in our service region’s evolving job market.

COTC recognizes the paramount importance of aligning its technical programs with the evolving needs of local businesses and industries to effectively prepare the workforce for the future. COTC is responsive to the demands of the job market and is committed to prioritizing technical education that directly addresses the needs of emerging sectors, including STEM fields and healthcare, which are poised for significant growth in our region.

By focusing on educational quality and curriculum enhancements, COTC aims to uphold its commitment to providing students with valuable, relevant and impactful educational experiences that align with industry standards and meet the evolving needs of the community

Goals

• Collaborate closely with local businesses and stay attuned to regional employment trends to develop and offer new programs and certificates that equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the workforce.

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of current academic programs for viability and alignment with the workforce needs and demands of local businesses and industries.

• Enhance existing academic programs to foster continuous quality improvement in education, curriculum delivery and student outcomes to ensure graduates are well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing job landscape in our service area.

• Maintain faculty expertise and relevance in the technical programs they teach and continuously enhance their pedagogical skills by encouraging more faculty to engage in professional development opportunities.

• Develop and launch a reimagined College Credit Plus (CCP) strategy that encourages and supports credit attainment and completion.

• Renovate Evans Hall and LeFevre Hall to create state-of-the-art facilities that enhance the learning environment and support the academic programs housed within these buildings.

Student-Centered Support

Bolster comprehensive support systems and resources to address the diverse needs of students and foster holistic student success and well-being. By prioritizing the comprehensive needs of all students, COTC is committed to empowering them to thrive academically, professionally and personally, thereby preparing them to excel in the 21st-century workplace and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Goals

• Tailor student resources and support systems to meet the diverse needs of our student body and ensure students’ academic success, psychological well-being and holistic wellness, including strengthening advising, bolstering academic support services, expanding access to scholarships and financial assistance, addressing critical areas such as mental health support, and staffing classes during off-peak times and at the extended campuses.

• Using a student-centric approach, develop a balanced course delivery strategy that includes face-to-face, online, night, weekend and accelerated options tailored to meet the diverse schedules and learning preferences of our students.

• Enhance opportunities for students to engage in career development, workforce preparation, and civic engagement programs and events delivered through administrative initiatives, student-run clubs and collaborations with local partners.

• Strengthen the student life experience on campus by developing diverse student activities and social events that promote engagement, community and a vibrant campus culture.

• Enhance the teaching effectiveness and satisfaction of part-time faculty by improving their support system by offering consistent onboarding and resources, regardless of their academic discipline

Partnership, Engagement and Collaboration

Foster meaningful partnerships aimed at enhancing educational pathways, promoting workforce development for the region’s prosperity, improving learning environments and meeting the financial needs of students.

COTC recognizes the profound significance of fostering and strengthening partnerships to enrich educational opportunities and support workforce development in the community. By promoting career-technical education, facilitating pathways for college credit and aligning programs with industry needs, COTC aims to enhance technical skill development, increase workforce diversity and bolster the region’s economic vitality. Moreover, through strategic alliances and shared resources with other educational providers, COTC endeavors to maximize efficiency and avoid duplication of services, ensuring the effective utilization of resources to meet the evolving needs of learners and employers alike.

Goals

• Champion the commitment to the collaborative partnership between the college and The Ohio State University to garner efficiencies and build capacities.

• Enhance collaboration and partnership between the college and area high schools and career/technical centers, focusing on initiatives such as CCP, career exploration, and improving communications to provide students with better pathways and resources for higher education and career readiness.

• Create more partnerships with business and industry to more robustly serve as a workforce development partner to help community leaders, economic development partners and local governments attract new companies to our region.

Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability

Ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the college by improving organizational efficacy and allocating resources in a strategic and consistent manner.

Since the COVID pandemic in 2020, enrollment in two-year colleges across America has declined, including at COTC. Prior to the pandemic, COTC’s enrollment was 3,471 and, despite recent increases, overall enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels, resulting in a budget imbalance. Shrinking on-campus student presence has resulted in underutilization of facilities, particularly at the Knox and Coshocton campuses. Coshocton County students’ enrollment at COTC continues to decline overall and the number of students attending classes on the Coshocton campus is at an unsustainable level. While CCP enrollment presents growth opportunities, these students continue with COTC after high school at very low percentages, typically opting to continue their education at four-year institutions. Additionally, the amplified presence of CCP students on the Pataskala campus has resulted in space limitations and high school student management issues.

COTC has developed the following strategies to ensure a sustainable organization built upon a fiscal model driven by revenue growth through strategic enrollment increases and balanced resource management.

Goals

• Implement the college’s multi-year plan to eliminate the structural deficit through revenue growth from increases in enrollment and expenditure reductions.

• Expand enrollment through proactive recruitment strategies, targeted outreach to traditional and adult (non-CCP) learners and the implementation of clearer pathways for high school students through CCP courses.

• Reduce the Coshocton campus footprint, allowing for the reallocation of resources while continuing to effectively serve the Coshocton community.

• Pursue partnerships and explore other innovative options that align with our strategic goals and community engagement efforts to maximize the use of the Knox campus.

• Transition the college’s Enterprise Resource Planning system and the Reporting and Operational Analytics software to cloud-based, SaaS solutions to enhance scalability, accessibility and efficiency.

• Mitigate the space shortage at the Pataskala campus by exploring expansion possibilities and more efficient management of CCP space utilization with our partner high schools.

• Complete the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Quality Improvement Project (2026-2028) aimed at advancing co-curricular assessment, and prepare for and successfully complete the college’s 10-year HLC accreditation review (2028-2029) to ensure ongoing accreditation and quality improvement.