OVCT thriving at new location

CALCUTTA - The Ohio Valley College of Technology dedicated its new campus on state Route 170 Tuesday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony that attracted local elected officials, the St. Clair Township Chamber of Commerce, and many others.

Classes officially started July 16, and executive director Scott Rogers said the move has already had an affect on student enrollment.

"There is a huge increase in inquiries over the last couple of weeks," he said. "High school enrollment is through the roof."

Rogers said the college has been typically more adult oriented, but over the years younger students have expressed more of an interest. He estimated the average student age is 27.

"(Average age) is actually going down now because fully a third of our students are coming to us right out of high school," he said.

Rogers also said he believes high school students are becoming more aware of the college and seeing it as a "great alternative."

"People are realizing (they) can go to school for a year and a half to two years and start a career in their own backyard," he said.

Admissions Representative Victoria Smith is also to credit for an increase in recent high school graduate enrollment, according to Rogers.

As of Tuesday, 47 recent high school graduates were enrolled at the college. Smith hopes to have 50 enrolled by September.

Before Smith began working for the college, high school aged student enrollment was in the single digits, she said. She began working last year.

Overall, 180 students are enrolled. Rogers anticipates 250 students will be enrolled by September.

He also said even though the college is expanding, it will not stray from its one-on-one focus with students. While more classes are available, class sizes remain at 20-30 students.

"It would be rare that a student would ever have a class that would have more than 30 people in it," he said.

Fall classes are already filling up, so interested students should reserve their seat now, he pointed out. Classes begin in September.

Dave Rankin, executive director of the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools, said Smith has also been instrumental in securing scholarships for students.

"We have done a lot of work with Victoria," he said. "(She) is probably one of our better participants as far as getting student recruits for scholarships."

The Ohio Association of Career Colleges and School is based in Columbus, and Rankin came to the dedication thanks to a special invitation from Rogers.

Rankin said he was impressed with the facilities and pleased to meet students from the community.

Classes are held in two buildings located at 15258 state Route 170. The new facilities sit on 10.6 acres and include a media center, student lounge, and Internet cafe, computer lecture classrooms and laboratory facilities for medical assisting, dental assisting, and registered nursing. The site also features technologically-equipped general classrooms, a faculty workspace and administrative offices.

The facilities have allowed the college to increase technology available to students. Rogers estimated the college currently owns 160 computers, which is double the amount available at the previous location.

Student computers are housed in three computer labs and the library. Students can also bring their own computers on campus, and have access to wireless Internet in the student lounge. Teachers have access to one computer in each classroom, and computers are available in the faculty workroom as well.

The Ohio Valley College of Technology offers associate degrees in dental assisting, health information technology, medical assisting, accounting and business technology, and computer technology.