There is something truly magical about our Lorain County Community College Commencement ceremony. From the processional to the confetti-filled tassel change, the energy in the room is palpable as our entire community comes together to celebrate our graduates.

I had the honor of shaking hands with our LCCC and University Partnership Class of 2023 as they crossed the commencement stage on May 13, achieving their goal of earning a college degree. This remarkable class includes 2,222 students who earned LCCC degrees or certificates – including 10 students who earned an LCCC applied bachelor’s degree in microelectronic manufacturing! This group also includes 344 students who earned bachelor’s or master’s degrees through LCCC’s University Partnership. With this class, we have already achieved 91% of our 10,000 Degrees of Impact goal, well ahead of the 2025 schedule.

Watch our Graduate Salute video:

As I think about our fieldhouse filled with graduates and thousands of their families, friends and supporters, I am filled with hope and optimism for each graduate, and for our entire community. Like our overall student population, the Class of 2023 includes people of all ages and backgrounds – and 44% of them are the first in their families to earn a college degree! From traditional college students, to dual enrollment high schoolers, to older adults – everyone came to their community college to help them unlock opportunity.

At its core, that’s what LCCC was founded to do: unlock opportunities for students, for this community and for our entire region. Since 1963 that’s been our mission and I’m honored to lead this institution as we continue to make strides in delivering high quality, affordable education that changes lives. Over the past 60 years, more than 44,000 students have earned degrees in high-demand fields. And because LCCC works closely with local employers to ensure graduates are career-ready, more than 90% of LCCC graduates live and work right here in Northeast Ohio.

However, it’s not about just earning any degree to get any job. LCCC is laser-focused on providing equitable education opportunities that lead to careers with family-sustaining wages. To aid in this work, LCCC was named part of the “Unlocking Opportunity: The Post-Graduation Success and Equity Network,” an initiative with the Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center. I am thrilled to join this consortium and can’t wait to see the results for our students and their families.

We know that higher education is one of the greatest predictors of economic mobility. And we know that early exposure to higher education increases the likelihood that a student will earn a college degree. By delivering college courses to high school students through dual enrollment options like College Credit Plus and Early College High School, more high school students than ever are getting college experience at no cost to them before they even graduate high school. This year, we celebrated 160 high school students who earned an LCCC credential – the largest group of dual enrollment graduates in LCCC history!  Lorain County Early College High School graduate Sheliya Cordero is one of 60 students who earned an associate degree along with their high school diploma through Lorain County Early College High School, delivered here on the LCCC campus. Now, she’s off to The Ohio State University with her tuition covered through the Young Scholars program. Learn more about Sheliya.

Another 40 students earned associate degrees this year through LCCC’s Lorain Early College Academy at Lorain High School. These early college programs are especially impactful, providing higher education access to students from underrepresented groups, many who are the first in their families to earn a degree.

Through strong partnerships with local schools, more than 45% of Lorain County high school students earn LCCC college credit before they earn their high school diploma – that’s a savings of more than $43 million for local families. And the savings are even higher for students who continue their education at LCCC and the University Partnership. The impact of these programs is compounded for families who attend LCCC together, like Stephen McDonald and his daughter, Myah.

LCCC graduates of all ages are prepared for in-demand careers, including those that will fill talent and supply pipelines as Intel builds a new semiconductor manufacturing plant in Ohio. LCCC already partners with more than 80 employers in the semiconductor industry here in Northeast Ohio who are preparing for exponential growth. As job demands grow, LCCC has been preparing students in the semiconductor industry for more than 10 years with our microelectronic manufacturing programs. In fact, LCCC offers Ohio’s only applied bachelor’s degree in microelectronic manufacturing, as well as associate degree and certificate programs. Many students land employment even before they complete the program, like applied bachelor’s degree graduate John Trubach. Learn more about John.

From bachelor’s degrees to associate degrees and certificates, I’m so inspired by each graduate in our Class of 2023. By turning to LCCC, they are unlocking opportunities for themselves, their families and our community.

Learn more about the LCCC and University Partnership Class of 2023 at commencement.lorainccc.edu.

Lorain County Community College was founded in 1963 as a source of constant, relevant education and training for local people. Over the years, many things have changed, but one thing that remains the same is our commitment to adapt to the needs of employers, students and the community through affordable, impactful education.

With a focus on embracing change, LCCC continues to make strides in this mission throughout the changing tides of economy and industry. In fact, disruption and adaptation are a norm at LCCC, rather than the exception. At LCCC, we thrive on changing the model in order to best serve students. This has been the case for nearly 60 years, as more than 44,000 students have earned LCCC degrees in the fields needed most by local employers. And it is worth noting that more than 90% of LCCC graduates live and work in Northeast Ohio – a direct testament to the career-ready education and training they receive and the lasting impact this has on our community.

Recently, LCCC was named to a new consortium that will help us continue to support students in career readiness. LCCC is one of just 10 community colleges in the country selected for “Unlocking Opportunity: The Post-Graduation Success and Equity Network,” an initiative with the Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center. The focus of the network is on improving students’ post-completion outcomes and proving that by focusing on delivering credentials of value, colleges can strengthen the programs they offer and advising they provide.

I’m thrilled to join the Unlocking Opportunities network and build upon LCCC’s progress in this area. The network’s mission directly aligns with LCCC’s Vision 2025 strategic plan, which includes the promise of 10,000 Degrees of Impact. This initiative aims for 10,000 individuals to earn credentials from LCCC between the years 2019 and 2025. To date, progress on this goal is more than 70% complete.

However, 10,000 Degrees of Impact is not about students earning just any degree. Rather, it’s about helping students find their passions in academic fields that lead to careers with family-sustaining wages. These intentional academic and career pathways unlock opportunities for students while supplying local employers with a talent pipeline for the future. Deliberate academic and career training, combined with employer connections, is more important than ever as industry needs continue to rapidly change.

Here in Ohio, this means training students for careers in the semiconductor and microchip industry with our microelectronic manufacturing programs. This field is expanding exponentially as Intel builds a new semiconductor manufacturing plant just two hours from LCCC’s campus, turning this area into the Silicon Heartland.

While Intel’s investment in our state is new, LCCC’s microelectronic manufacturing program and employer connections in this industry go back more than a decade. In fact, LCCC offers Ohio’s only associate of applied science and bachelor of applied science degrees in microelectronic manufacturing. These programs were developed with direct input from our 80 industry partners who are filling the semiconductor supply chain right here in Northeast Ohio. Learn more about LCCC’s strengths in microelectronics.

To further ensure students learn the skills needed most by employers, our microelectronic manufacturing programs include LCCC’s earn and learn curriculum model. These paid internships with local employers give students valuable work experience and provide local industry with a skilled talent pipeline. That level of career-ready education paired with hands-on training attracts students like Paul Greer III. As he nears graduation, Paul has already completed two internships with local companies ready to hire. And, with a 100% employment rate for LCCC’s microelectronic manufacturing graduates, I have no doubt Paul will land his dream career. Learn more about Paul Greer III.

For Jasmine Jackson of Elyria, LCCC’s focus on in-demand careers means turning a job loss into an opportunity to prepare for a new future in cyber security. Her timing is excellent. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections put job growth in cyber security at 40% or more over the next decade. And LCCC has the training and employer connections Jackson was looking for. Through earn and learn opportunities built in the curriculum, Jasmine began a paid internship at MCPc, a global software security and device company, after just two semesters in the program. Learn more about Jasmine Jackson.

Students like Paul and Jasmine are training at LCCC for careers that didn’t exist a decade ago. In addition to microelectronic manufacturing and cyber security, LCCC offers pathways in cutting-edge programs like automation, blockchain and many more. And students are learning in the ways that mean the most to them. LCCC delivers short-term certificates and industry recognized credentials that employers want, and lead to fast employment for students. From there, students can seamlessly continue in their academic pathway with stackable associate degrees and applied bachelor’s degrees, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees from many Ohio colleges through LCCC’s University Partnership.

As higher education prepares for projected systemic change – in what is being called the Great Upheaval by higher education scholars Arthur Levine and Scott J. Van Pelt –  I feel confident that LCCC will continue to what we do best: nimbly adapt in order to best serve students as they reach their academic and career goals.

While no one can predict the future with complete certainty, I know that LCCC will continue to be here, always ready to serve our students and our community in the most impactful ways.

Lorain County Community College is closed Monday, January 16, as our country pauses to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King dedicated his life in service to others with the vision of a society that is just and equitable for all.

At LCCC, we honor Dr. King’s vision by delivering high quality and affordable education to all in our community. Through collaboration with community partners, we are working together to build a vibrant future for all.

For 60 years, Lorain County Community College has been the trusted place our community members and employers turn to as they prepare for the jobs of the future. We are the number one training location for Lorain County’s first responders. Half of Lorain County families have someone who has taken classes at LCCC or the University Partnership. And after graduation, they find career success right here in our region, as 90% of LCCC graduates live and work in Northeast Ohio.

This means that LCCC graduates are deeply embedded in our community. They’re firefighters, like Steven Acord. They’re nurses, like Jody Page, and police officers, like Mitch Lorig. And our students are training for jobs of the future in manufacturing, like Mason Moreck.

When LCCC was founded in 1963 as Ohio’s first community college with a permanent campus, manufacturing education and training was one of the first focus areas. As time passed, manufacturing evolved, and LCCC’s collaboration with the industry deepened. Today, Ohio’s manufacturing sector is at yet another exciting tipping point. Intel’s new, leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing plant represents one of Ohio’s greatest economic opportunities. Its presence will drive unprecedented supply chain growth throughout the state, including Lorain County. It’s not just about one company coming to Ohio — it’s an entire industry embedding itself in Ohio, creating the Silicon Heartland, similar to when steel and auto first arrived on the shores of Lake Erie.

Long before Intel’s historic groundbreaking ceremony, LCCC was preparing for this moment. LCCC has been developing unique expertise in semiconductor and microelectronic manufacturing education and training for more than a decade. LCCC offers Ohio’s only associate of applied science and bachelor of applied science degrees in microelectronic manufacturing, preparing students for work in this growing semiconductor industry. Both programs have boasted 100% job placement rates for our graduates, in part because of innovative earn-and-learn paid internship opportunities built into the curriculum with more than 80 Northeast Ohio employers. And as Intel’s presence helps bring this Silicon Heartland to life, our graduates’ career opportunities will only grow.

As serendipitous as it all might seem, we are ready for this moment because LCCC, in collaboration with our community and industry leaders, has done what community colleges are uniquely designed to do — forecast future employer needs and respond swiftly to meet them. Community colleges were built for this moment. In 1947, the Truman Commission acted upon a vision to create locally responsive institutions of higher education to educate and train Americans for an industrialized economy. This, in turn, ensures that those within our community have the opportunity today to train for and excel in the jobs of tomorrow. That is why community colleges will be the center of the Silicon Heartland and other widespread technological innovations.

Through decades of thoughtful design, LCCC is an economic engine for our local community and a powerful resource to turn economic disruption into opportunity. For our community, that means that LCCC has formed close relationships with local employers to ensure our programs are preparing students for the in-demand jobs of our region. Employers need talent now, and many students are able to participate in earn-and-learn models while earning their degrees. This design provides an immediate response to employer talent needs and allows students to gain real-world experience in their field of study. This model is beneficial for students of all ages, from working adults to dual enrollment high school students.

Mason Moreck understands this. When he was just 12 years old, Mason began taking classes at LCCC through College Credit Plus. Now a junior at Avon High School, Mason is on track to earn a bachelor of applied science degree in microelectronic manufacturing at the same time he graduates high school next year. And he’s earning on-the-job training through a paid earn-and-learn internship with Core Technologies. Learn more about Mason.

Through LCCC’s College Credit Plus, students like Mason are earning college credit before they graduate high school. In fact, 45% of Lorain County high school students earn, on average, 20 college credits through LCCC’s College Credit Plus. That adds up to $6 million in savings for local families. When high school students continue their education, LCCC remains top of mind, as 68% of Lorain County high school graduates begin their education at LCCC.

Affordable tuition and easy transfer options make LCCC a top choice for high school students, as well as adults returning to school. Through LCCC’s University Partnership, students have the opportunity to choose to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio colleges without ever leaving the LCCC campus. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the University Partnership delivers more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 15 Ohio colleges. These degree programs are offered on the LCCC campus and save students an average of 70% on the cost of a bachelor’s degree. It is no wonder the LCCC University Partnership has become a popular higher education choice for Lorain County residents. Since 2000, Lorain County has experienced a 77% increase in bachelor’s degree holders – with 89% of those earning credits from LCCC.

The momentum created by LCCC and the University Partnership helps propel our community. As we move to the future, LCCC is prepared to address the changing workforce needs. Due to LCCC’s adaptability and foresight, the college was recently profiled as one of five exemplary community colleges in a forthcoming publication: America’s Hidden Economic Engines: How Community Colleges Can Drive Shared Prosperity.

Community Colleges, and LCCC specifically, are ready for the future. This community, along with all Ohio, is on the cusp of greatness. We will remain steady down our path, delivering accessible academic programs in ways that quickly translate into in-demand careers. But we will also continue to take hold of opportunities to carve out a new path, launching programs that fill gaps in our community. LCCC prepares our economy for the future, and as I look toward that future, I know the best is yet to come.

In these times of monumental change, our community turns to Lorain County Community College to light a path to the future.

As LCCC and University Partnership classes begin today, the campus is alive with the hope and purpose of all students – those starting their first college classes, those returning after some time away, those retraining for new careers, and so many more.

One thing they all have in common is that they turned to LCCC to help them reach their career goals. With customized academic support and our culture of care, LCCC is committed to helping each student find success, whether they are pursuing a certificate, associate degree or applied bachelor’s from LCCC, or a bachelor’s or master’s degree through LCCC’s University Partnership.

Here is a video I shared with students to welcome them on the first day of a new academic year.

For nearly 60 years, LCCC continues to be the trusted place our community members and employers turn to as they prepare for the future. In fact, one in four Lorain County residents have taken classes at LCCC. And after graduation, they find career success right here in our region, as 90% of LCCC graduates live and work in Northeast Ohio. Our graduates find local careers by design, as LCCC partners with more than 700 local employers to ensure students graduate ready to get to work on day one.

One example of this employer and program connection is the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Smart Industrial Automated Systems Engineering Technology. This new applied bachelor’s degree was developed in direct response to employer needs. As the first students in this program begin classes today, they know they will graduate ready for the workforce due to Earn and Learn paid internship opportunities built into the curriculum. Many other programs utilize this successful Earn and Learn model, including the applied bachelor’s degree program in microelectronic manufacturing, also called MEMS.

These innovative applied bachelor’s degrees in MEMS and Smart Manufacturing build upon the success of LCCC’s University Partnership. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the University Partnership delivers more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 15 Ohio colleges, as well as the two applied bachelor’s degrees from LCCC. The programs are all offered on the LCCC campus and save students an average of 70% on the cost of their education. It is no wonder that the LCCC University Partnership has become a popular higher education choice for Lorain County residents. Since 2000, Lorain County has experienced a 77% increase in bachelor’s degree holders – with 89% of those earning credits from LCCC.

The impact of LCCC’s Earn and Learn programs is so well known that when University Hospitals noticed an unmet need for licensed practical nurses (LPN), they turned to LCCC to develop a solution. The result is a new Earn and Learn program that allows current UH employees working as patient care nursing assistants (PCNA) to earn their LPN credential from LCCC. Students remain full-time employees at the hospital – earning full pay and benefits – while they complete the one-year LPN program, tuition-free. Upon graduation, they will be hired as LPNs at the hospital. Talk about a win-win for students and the community! And once they earn their LPN, the education and career opportunities continue with the LPN to RN bridge program and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from LCCC’s University Partnership.

The ability to seamlessly advance from one credential to the next is a vital component of all LCCC and University Partnership programs, including our Aspire GED and adult diploma programs. Luis Hernandez is a first-generation college student from Lorain who turned to LCCC to help him earn his GED in 2019. He continued his education, first at the LCCC Lorain Learning Center near him home, and now on our main campus. In this academic year, Luis will earn an associate degree and two certificates, with plans to continue his education for a bachelor’s degree through LCCC’s University Partnership. Of all these achievements, what I find most inspiring about Luis is his passion for advocating for students in his role as president of Student Senate.

Another student committed to serving is Brittany Kramer. After more than a decade working for the same company, Brittany found herself laid off and in need of additional training and education. She turned to LCCC for the affordability and flexible schedule she needs as a mom. At LCCC, she has exceled in her classes and found a home where she can grow her leadership skills. She’s earned three associate degrees and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree through LCCC’s University Partnership. What’s more, she holds leadership roles with Student Senate and Phi Theta Kappa honor society and was named one of the top community college students in Ohio for 2022!

As this new academic year begins, the possibilities are endless but LCCC remains steadfast: always here, always ready. So, when individuals like Luis and Brittany turn to LCCC they can do so confidently, knowing their community college will help them build a fulfilling future, for themselves and our region.

The best time of the year is here – commencement season! I love seeing our graduates celebrate their moment as they cross the commencement stage and soar to their futures.

I was thrilled to lead the 58th annual Commencement exercises for the Lorain County Community College and University Partnership Class of 2022. This was our first in-person graduation ceremony since 2019, and it was wonderful to see our field house filled with graduates and their supporters.The Class of 2022 included 1,773 graduates earning 2,193 associate degrees and certificates – and four of those students earned an applied bachelor’s degree from LCCC in microelectronic manufacturing. An additional 351 graduates earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees through LCCC’s University Partnership. That’s a grand total of 2,554 degrees and credentials earned by 2,124 graduates, and I am incredibly proud of each and every one.

This graduating class holds a special place in my heart as this year we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of LCCC’s University Partnership. This program launched in 1996 as an innovative solution to the fact that Lorain County was falling behind in bachelor’s degree attainment. What began with five partner colleges and universities offering 12 degrees has grown to now include 14 partners and more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students who complete degrees through the University Partnership save an average of $74,000.

And that all adds up to big strides for our region. Since 2000, Lorain County has experienced a 77% increase in bachelor’s degree holders – one of two counties in Northeast Ohio with the highest increase in baccalaureate attainment. And we continue to enhance the University Partnership, most recently through an expanded strategic alliance with Case Western Reserve University to continue to fuel Ohio’s emerging semiconductor economy.

Helping our students get a jump-start on their higher education goals are our dual enrollment programs. This year, 127 high school students earned a degree or certificate at the same time they completed high school through Early College High School, College Credit Plus or Career Technical Education programs. This includes Sierra Mobley, who earned both an associate of arts and an associate of science at the same time she completed Lorain County Early College High School on the LCCC campus. In everything we do at LCCC, it’s all about helping our graduates and our region soar. To celebrate the class of 2022 and recognize the 25th anniversary of the University Partnership, we dedicated a breathtaking public art display called SOAR, Success and Opportunity, Advancing the Region. The display spans 200 feet and features 2,022 sculpted birds in perpetual motion, soaring in the air. When you stand near the display, you feel the sensation of being in a flock of birds that has just taken to flight.

It’s my hope that our graduates and our community see this display and are reminded of their own potential to take flight and achieve the lives and careers of their dreams. And I hope they know their community college is here for them along the way.

Learn more about the 2022 Commencement and our graduates.

April is Community College Month, a time to celebrate the broad impact of our nation’s community colleges.

Lorain County Community College.

It’s right there, our middle name: community.

LCCC’s history of serving the community stretches back to 1963 when the need was recognized for a local college to create higher education access and a bridge to gainful employment. Over the past 59 years, LCCC has helped Lorain County adapt and thrive through prosperity and challenging times. Through nimble academic programs and meaningful connections with local industry, the college has helped our community remain competitive today and prepared for the innovation of tomorrow.

In this era of rapid change, the ability to quickly adapt and create new training and credentials is one of LCCC’s most important attributes. By listening to local employers and keeping an eye on the pulse on the needs of our community, as well as nationwide trends, LCCC creates academic programming that leads to career-ready graduates with good paying jobs waiting for them upon graduation. As a result, more than 90% of LCCC graduates live and work in Northeast Ohio. All this builds a confidence in LCCC and our region that employers look for when making big decisions.

So, earlier this year when Intel announced it is bringing its most advanced chip manufacturing operation in the world to Ohio, I was thrilled but not surprised. LCCC and our entire state have been preparing for an opportunity like this for decades and we are ready to maximize the economic impact Intel will bring. A group of college and local leaders gathered to watch the live stream of the Intel announcement. Watch the video:

While some find themselves Googling the work that Intel does, at LCCC, words like “semiconductor” and “mechatronics” have been part of our vocabulary for nearly a decade. In fact, LCCC has been training students in the field of microelectronic manufacturing (MEMS) since 2013 when we became the first community college to offer an associate degree in MEMS. In 2018, LCCC made history again as the first community college to deliver an applied bachelor’s degree in MEMS.

Our MEMS program is delivered in a successful and replicable “earn and learn” format where students work while attending college. Not only does this model of learning give students opportunities to gain work experience while they are in school, making themselves more attractive to future employers, it allows students to earn a livable wage as they complete the program. This structure, combined with the low cost of community college tuition and time to degree of typically two years, drives the growth and diversity within our earn and learn programs. The MEMS program alone has increased from three students in 2013 to 150 in 2021. And these students are women, students of color, traditional college age, and adult learners.

LCCC’s MEMS students work on a microscopic scale while thinking big. Em Williams earned a prestigious NASA Ohio Space Grant Consortium Community College scholarship for her research on the future of automation in microelectronics. Williams will graduate in May with an associate degree in MEMS and will continue for the MEMS applied bachelor’s degree.

As automation continues to be at the forefront of manufacturing, LCCC is preparing a local workforce with a new applied bachelor’s degree currently in development. LCCC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Smart Industrial Automated Systems Engineering Technology will focus on integrating, operating, modifying, and troubleshooting smart manufacturing systems based on “off-the-shelf” industrial equipment directly related to smart manufacturing.

These two applied bachelor’s degrees offered by LCCC complement the more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees from 14 Ohio colleges and universities in LCCC’s University Partnership. This year, we celebrate 25 years of the University Partnership providing affordable degrees to local people. By pairing LCCC’s low tuition rate with thoughtful transfer pathways, students in LCCC’s University Partnership save an average of $75,000 on their degrees.

That savings makes a real difference for students and their families. This can be particularly significant for high school dual enrollment students who follow a bachelor’s degree pathway through our MyUniversity program – a model that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree by age 20 while saving 80 percent on the cost of their education.

Whether students are earning a short-term certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s or master’s degree, they can confidently pursue their goals knowing their program will prepare them for a career right here in Northeast Ohio. After all, that’s why LCCC was created. It’s a mission we’ve fulfilled since 1963, serving our community, now and in the future.

As the holidays approach, I find myself reflecting on what truly matters.

Over the past year, I have seen our community come together as we navigate the future together. At Lorain County Community College, this includes our students, faculty and staff, as well as our collaborations with many public and private partners. Thank you for all you do to make our community a caring and vibrant place to live.

In the coming year, I encourage to you continue to care for one another and to live each day with gratitude and joy.

With warm regards,

Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D.
President
Lorain County Community College