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Owens Community College, Partners Provide Update on Toledo Location Feasibility Study 
Posted on September 8th, 2023
A Texas-based research company provided an update Friday on the assessment studying if Owens Community College should add a physical presence in the City of Toledo.
Bryan Ashton, chief strategy and growth officer of Trellis Company, reviewed the assessment’s methodology and eventual deliverables for a group of more than 50 key stakeholders who attended in person plus a virtual audience.
The study will include enrollment trends and enrollment deserts as well as transportation and location analysis. The final report is expected to be completed before the end of the calendar year.
Ashton highlighted two data points that have surfaced in initial research:
- Key parts of the Owens service district include nearly 190,000 people aged 25 and over that only have a high school degree or some college (American Community survey)
- More than 60 percent of individuals in the region do not have a postsecondary degree
“This study is rooted in our new strategic plan as we try to model agility based on a thorough understanding of ever-changing student needs. We are eager to learn Trellis’ findings and make data-informed decisions about a possible Toledo location,” Owens president Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “We are thankful for the partnership and support of the City of Toledo and JobsOhio for this study.”
Toledo City Council approved funding part of the study June 27.
“Education is a foundational building block and by making education accessible it can and will impact and transform a community,” said Brandon Sehlhorst, the City of Toledo director for the Department of Economic Development. “We would welcome an Owens location within the City of Toledo and what it would signal to the community.”
Trellis Company is a higher education research firm with expertise in program evaluation and workforce outcomes, identifying transportation barriers and enrollment deserts. JobsOhio is conducting research related to workforce development for the advanced manufacturing sector in northwest Ohio. The results will supply integral information to help inform this study.
“By supporting Owens Community College, we are ensuring that the research efforts focused on workforce development are not duplicated. The people who comprise Ohio’s workforce are the state’s most vital resource,” said Kristina Clouse, JobsOhio senior managing director, talent.