Central Ohio Technical College celebrates 45th anniversary in 2016
NEWARK – Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) is celebrating a big milestone this year, its 45th anniversary. In February 1971, the Ohio Board of Regents officially created and chartered Central Ohio Technical Institute. The name was changed to Central Ohio Technical College later that same month and has remained.
“Celebrating the 45th anniversary of Central Ohio Technical College is very special,” said COTC President Bonnie L. Coe, Ph.D. “COTC has come so far, and I’m tremendously proud of the work being done by our faculty and staff to prepare our students for high-paying, in-demand jobs in our community.”
The creation of COTC started with the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber leaders believed that access to education after high school was key to the growth of the region. Community leaders such as Allen Milliken, former executive director of the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce, J. Gilbert Reese, former local attorney, and Howard LeFevre, former president of B & L Motor Freight, worked tirelessly to establish The Ohio State University at Newark and COTC.
Classes started at COTC on Sept. 30, 1971. There were six associate degree programs: Electronic Engineering Technology, Secretarial Science, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Accounting Technology, X-Ray Technology, and Glass Plastic Technology.
The cost-shared relationship between Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark has been in place since 1971, and it is admired around the state. Dr. Robert A. Barnes was the founding president of COTC and dean of Ohio State Newark and helped establish the relationship. The two institutions share the facilities on the Newark campus and many employees. The result is cost efficiency and affordability that is passed on to students.
The college is celebrating the 45th anniversary in many ways throughout 2016 on each of its four campuses. Several events commemorating the 45th anniversary are being sponsored by the college in the communities COTC serves.
Banners with the 45th anniversary logo are being hung on the light posts at all the campuses to mark the occasion.
Central Ohio Technical College is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs, as well as encouraging the professional development of students, staff, faculty and administrators to assist them in achieving their maximum potential. COTC is the only technical college in Ohio operating four full-service campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.
Category: Education
