{"id":51915,"date":"2026-08-13T07:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T11:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=51915"},"modified":"2026-08-10T15:10:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T19:10:36","slug":"nscc-celebrates-back-to-school-season-and-new-opportunities-for-ohio-students-and-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/nscc-celebrates-back-to-school-season-and-new-opportunities-for-ohio-students-and-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"NSCC CELEBRATES BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OHIO STUDENTS AND WORKERS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For many Ohioans, \u201cback to school\u201d no longer means a traditional college experience. As students head to campus and classrooms this fall, Northwest State Community College is highlighting the innovative ways that community colleges are helping learners of all ages gain new skills, earn valuable credentials, and prepare for in-demand careers in Ohio\u2019s rapidly evolving economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than ever, community colleges are built for today\u2019s students and today\u2019s economy, said Dr. Todd Hernandez, NSCC President. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether someone is just beginning college, returning to school to advance their career, or learning new skills for an entirely different field, we provide affordable, flexible, and workforce-focused pathways that help students move forward quickly,\u201d Hernandez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year, Ohio\u2019s 22 community colleges serve approximately 250,000 students, including high school students earning college credit through Ohio\u2019s College Credit Plus program, recent high school graduates, working adults, veterans, career changers, and adults seeking short-term training to quickly gain new skills or advance in their careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students are learning online, on campus, and even at work through flexible programs designed to fit busy lives and changing career goals. Students may be earning a short-term certificate, an associate degree, or even a bachelor\u2019s degree in an applied field while balancing jobs and family responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many students, \u201cback to school\u201d begins while they are still in high school. Through Ohio\u2019s College Credit Plus program, students can earn college credits tuition-free and, in some cases, even complete an associate degree before graduating from high school. More than 60,000 Ohio students participate in College Credit Plus annually through Ohio\u2019s community colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For traditional college students, community colleges also provide affordable pathways to bachelor\u2019s degrees through \u201c2+2\u201d and \u201c3+1\u201d transfer agreements with four-year institutions, allowing students to complete a significant portion of their education at lower cost before transferring to a university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, Ohio\u2019s community colleges are seeing strong demand from working adults and career changers looking to \u201cupskill\u201d or pivot into new industries. Programs in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, logistics, engineering technologies, and the skilled trades are increasingly aligned with Ohio\u2019s growing 21st-century economy and workforce needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ohio\u2019s community colleges are more important than ever as the transformation of the state\u2019s economy continues, said Avi Zaffini, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs Ohio\u2019s economy evolves and new technology-driven industries continue to grow, community colleges are helping students and employers adapt together,\u201d Zaffini said. \u201cOur colleges are Ohio\u2019s top workforce partner and the best value in higher education because they offer connected, flexible, and affordable education aligned directly with employer needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 1,000 employer partnerships across Ohio help guide program development and create opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and work-based learning experiences that connect students directly to jobs, Zaffini added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many students, \u201cback to school\u201d does not mean stepping away from work. Through work-based learning and earn-and-learn partnerships, students can gain classroom instruction while also earning income and building real-world experience with employers in their chosen fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the fall term begins, Northwest State will hold orientation programs to help students prepare for classes, connect with campus resources, and start the semester with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the fall semester, Northwest State will also host student welcome events, career exploration opportunities, and additional activities designed to support student success and connect learners with new opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about programs at Northwest State Community College, visit NorthwestState.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For many Ohioans, \u201cback to school\u201d no longer means a traditional college experience. As students head to campus and classrooms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":51916,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6,7],"tags":[29774,15494,6192,1386],"class_list":["post-51915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-school","tag-avi-zaffini","tag-dr-todd-hernandez","tag-northwest-state-community-college","tag-nscc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t