Ensuring education and opportunities are extended to everyone – learn more about how Otterbein University is making this happen.

This year, 26 students from Columbus (Ohio) City Schools (CCS) walked across the stage to receive their Otterbein degrees as part of the Class of 2019.

It was a result of a partnership between two great educational institutions that is ensuring post-secondary education is accessible to students in central Ohio.

“(The event) was a great example of how two educational institutions can come together and make an impact on the lives of young people and the larger community,” said Tanya L. McClanahan, supervisor of higher education partnerships for CCS.

For some time now, Otterbein and CCS have been working together to provide several academic options and initiatives to students from Ohio’s largest school district.  

• Since 2014 the Urban Districts Initiative has been working with Columbus City Schools, as well as South-Western City Schools, Westerville City Schools, Whitehall City Schools and Cristo Rey, all districts with more than 35%of students living in poverty. The Initiative is an enhanced need-based aid model that reduces the gap between aid and expected family contribution to the smallest amount possible and has driven significant increases in enrollment of low-income students at Otterbein, as well as sparking a significant increase in student success.
• The Seniors-to-Sophomores program, where Otterbein offers a summer College Credit Plus course for CCS students that pairs an academic course with a for-credit study skills course. The University also has a STEM skills refresher course for entering students funded through a grant from Nationwide.
• Otterbein offers Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for district teachers and Otterbein faculty. In PLCs, teachers and faculty come together to discuss issues related to pedagogy and serving students to enhance the work of both institutions.
• Recently, Otterbein introduced a scholarship for the dependent children of CCS district (benefits eligible) employees that reduces the cost of an Otterbein education to the average of the state supported universities in Ohio.

There are a lot of great things happening in Otterbein’s financial aid and recruitment models that are seeing positive outcomes in the Otterbein and central Ohio communities - and if you need to know more, that’s where our experts can help.

Jefferson Blackburn Smith is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and is an expert in financial aid, scholarships, politics, and higher education. He is available to speak to media regarding these topics – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

To learn more, click the link below:

https://www.otterbein.edu/news/cohort-of-columbus-city-schools-alumni-to-graduate-from-otterbein-university-sunday/