Owens Community College is excited to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Findlay during the 2023-24 academic year.
The Findlay-area Campus has a remarkable history in Flag City USA, with its roots in downtown Findlay next to the University of Findlay before growth and expansion necessitated a move along the Tall Timbers Industrial Park corridor.
The modern campus has a small college feel, evidenced by students, faculty and staff all getting to know each other on a first-name basis. Within the community of belonging, students excel whether they pursue career-focused associate degrees or certificates or get started on a bachelor’s degree and then transfer.
Findlay-area Campus Timeline
The Owens Technical College district was expanded by the Ohio Board of Regents to include the city of Findlay and Hancock County. In December, the groundbreaking ceremony for the 32,000 square-foot, 4-acre Owens South Campus at the corner of Cory and Davis streets was held.
The campus opened with 201 students enrolled in Electrical/Electronics and Mechanical Technologies, Law Enforcement, Food Service and Surgical Technologies.
U.S. Representative Michael Oxley (R-Findlay) gave the Commencement address when the campus graduated its first class of 15 students in May.
Owens completed a $42 million expansion to the campus as a result of increased program offerings and enrollment growth.
The Ohio Board of Regents (OBR) approved the change of Owens from a technical college to a comprehensive community college, allowing the first two years of a bachelor’s degree on the Toledo-area Campus. The Owens Findlay-area Campus focused on technical programs and expanded to include workforce training classes as well.
OBR added the arts and sciences program to the Findlay-area Campus, allowing students to take all the required classes for the first two years of bachelor’s degree.
Sixty acres of land was purchased from John J. Voorhees for the relocation of the Findlay-area Campus.
Owens celebrated 20 years in Findlay and broke ground on a new campus location at 3200 Bright Road.
Owens opened the new $17.7 million Findlay-area Campus on Bright Road with more than a thousand community members enjoying tours, food, games and music, including Findlay High School’s steel-drum group.
Owens continued to invest in Findlay’s higher education opportunities by breaking ground on the $4.2 million Community Education and Wellness Center expansion to the Findlay-area Campus. The College also opened the new community-focused Child Care Center.
The 24,000-square-foot Community Education and Wellness Center opened featuring a tiered classroom, high bay classrooms and fitness center/multipurpose gym. In a response to community need, the Findlay-area Campus served as a Red Cross Disaster Relief Point following the historic Blanchard River flood that devastated the area.
The Owens Foundation expanded the Success scholarship program to include Hancock County high schools, offering greater access to high school students choosing the Findlay-area Campus.
The Child Care Center earned the prestigious 5 Star Step Up to Quality rating from Ohio Job and Family Services, a rating received by less than 5 percent of similar centers.
The Findlay-area Campus became the 36th educational institution nationally to be certified as an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program and the first in the state of Ohio.
Owens partnered with the University of Findlay and launched the new Oiler Express Dual Admission Program, creating a seamless pathway for students starting their higher education at Owens and then transferring to Findlay for a bachelor’s degree.
Owens, the University of Findlay and Bowling Green State University announced an innovative partnership among the three institutions, representing a community college, a private university and a public university, to create the Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Owens celebrates 40 years in Findlay beginning in September with a community event, a festival for students and an open house welcoming new students.