Ashland University Plays Role in New Grove City Center for Higher Education

A grand opening ribbon cutting and education fair for the new Grove City Center for Higher Education was held Tuesday at the South-Western Career Academy and a number of Ashland University officials were in attendance.

Ashland University Provost Dr. Frank Pettigrew spoke at the event, noting the importance of collaboration and the opportunity that this partnership presents for both Ashland University and the citizens of Grove City.

Photo at left -- Grove City Mayor Richard "Ike" Stage prepares to cut the ribbon signifying the opening of the center while Ashland University Provost Dr. Frank Pettigrew, to his right, steadies the ribbon.

Ashland University is one of six colleges and universities offering courses as part of the partnership and Ashland will be offering a superintendent’s licensure cohort and professional development workshops this fall.

“We will start with this cohort and professional development workshops and are anticipating offering additional classes in the fall of 2011, including a Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Endorsement program,” said Dwight McElfresh, dean of the newly created Founders School of Continuing Education at Ashland University. “We are pleased to be a part of this partnership program that provides a broad base of educational opportunities.”

McElfresh said anyone interested in taking Ashland University superintendent’s licensure or professional development workshops at the city of Grove City Center for Higher Education should contact the partnership office at 1-877-572-GROW (4769).

“This is only the second such program in Ohio and will allow schools to share classrooms, academic administration, staff and equipment,” said Grove City Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage.

The partnership will operate initially at the South-Western Career Academy with founding partners Ashland University, Columbus State Community College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Ohio Christian University, Otterbein University, the South-Western City Schools’ Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) program and the University of Toledo.

Photo at left -- Ashland University Provost Dr. Frank Pettigrew, at right, and Dr. James Van Keuren, Dean of the Ashland University Dwight Schar College of Education, pose with Tuffy, the Ashland University eagle mascot.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.