For Immediate Release: February 2, 2006
Contact Person: Jennifer Blatz, Executive Director, 513.830.1200
 
Ohio College Access Network Announces New Regional Center of Excellence Pilot
 
CINCINNATI (January 31, 2006) – Progressing toward a more streamlined approach to college access services that includes the extensive use of technology, economies of scale and shared services, the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) is pleased to announce the launch of the new Regional College Access Center of Excellence in Southern Ohio.
 
“We have learned much about the organization and delivery of community-based college access programming in Ohio,” said Jennifer Blatz, executive director of OCAN.  “Using this knowledge, we are working in Southern Ohio—specifically Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette and Highland counties—to pilot a regional model of college access to better leverage key resources in the region.”  Southern State Community College, which serves the five-county area, is leading this effort, which is being called the Southern Ohio Center of Excellence.
 
Southern Ohio Center of Excellence
The mission of the Southern Ohio Center of Excellence is to increase the number of young people and adults in the region who enter into and successfully complete postsecondary education.  The Center is working to develop partnerships with local workforce boards, school districts, criminal justice systems, faith-based community organizations, and Chambers of Commerce to assist in achieving this mission.  Strategic partners help to provide services such as classroom enrichment activities, student financial-aid advising, college tours, last dollar scholarships, and a college access resource center in each of the five service counties.  
 
Ohio College Access Network (OCAN)
OCAN is the first statewide network of independent, community-based college access programs in the country.  These programs help students and families overcome barriers to postsecondary education, including costs and misconceptions.  They deliver hands-on guidance and financial support, most of which is provided by local individuals and businesses, who have raised over $13 million, with the State of Ohio as a valuable partner. Through support from Governor Taft’s office and the Ohio Legislature, OCAN has been able to grow from eleven college access programs to 35 in four years.
 
OCAN is now working with communities to combat low college going rates with a regional approach that enables communities to leverage key existing resources through a collaborative approach.
 
According to Ms. Blatz, “This new model of college access will help move OCAN closer to its goal of providing college access opportunities to all Ohioans.”
 
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OCAN was founded in 1999, by KnowledgeWorks Foundation, in collaboration with the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Business Roundtable.  OCAN works to establish college access programs across the state and is the first statewide coordinating body for college access programs in the country. The goal of the organization is to help more Ohio students pursue postsecondary education through the work of local college access programs, which provide financial aid advising, last dollar grants, career guidance, and other services.