CPS students visited CState to learn about post-high school options

On March 16, Cincinnati State’s Career Tech Pathways program hosted 43 high school juniors and seniors from Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) including Aiken, Dater, Withrow, and Woodward.

All of the visiting high school students are English Learners in a Career-Technical Education program at their school.

• Students were welcomed to campus by Provost Robbin Hoopes (above).
   
• Then they attended small group breakout sessions where program chairs from all four academic divisions offered engaging, hands-on experiences.

• Participating chairs were George Armstrong, Larry Feist (right), Ann Gunkel, Kelly Hubbard, Stani Kantcheva, Paula Kirch-Smith, Bill Mehbod (below), Colleen Meyer, Lesli Rice, and Paul Weingartner.
• After lunch, Associate Dean Dr. Angela Haensel (Humanities & Sciences) shared information about language opportunities and ESL support services, and Career Tech Pathways Manager Gretchen Cook discussed opportunities to earn college credit.
   
• College Recruiters Ted Kindle and Kevin Wesselman also provided support for the event.

The on-campus visit was one of several activities coordinated with CPS during this academic year to support the CPS Equity for Each Grant.

Cincinnati Public received an Equity for Each Grant from the Ohio Department of Education to support equitable access, engagement, and outcomes for career-technical education students.

The grant services focus especially on those who are included in a special population as defined in the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (the 2018 extension of the federal Carl D. Perkins Act, which has provided federal funding for technical education programs since 1984).

• Equity for Each Grant funds are designated for development of a system that provides varied services to English Learners in grades 7 through 12.
   
• Cincinnati Public is collaborating with Cincinnati State to help the 11th and 12th grade English Learners understand their post-high school options for in-demand, high-wage careers that are aligned with career and technical education programs.
   
• In particular, CState helps the students learn how to successfully complete the transition from high school into degree and certificate programs at Cincinnati State.

To learn more about the Career Tech Pathways program at CState, please plan to attend Common Time on April 4.

The Common Time presentation will provide information on program initiatives and opportunities to collaborate in building high-school-to-college pathways for students.

(Photos provided by Gretchen Cook)