Greetings from Tri-C,

At Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), we value the strong relationships we have with you, our civic and community leaders. In this quarterly update, we share Tri-C actions and community resources designed to help students, employees, and our community move forward together in this recovery year.

As we move into 2021, we can attest to the Destination Cleveland reminder that sometimes, pressure makes diamonds. We're entering this new year with some bright outcomes to share. Highlights include:

  • Tri-C Ranked Among Nation's Best Community Colleges – Top Five in America
  • A National Student Voice – Tri-C President Dr. Johnson:
  • Leads Achieving the Dream Board
  • Addresses Biden Transition Team
  • Tri-C & RTA Partner to Create New Job Hub Training Program
  • Tri-C Students – Shining Under National Spotlights

As we work together to find new pathways through and beyond COVID-19, we hope this information proves helpful to you and your constituents – and we invite you to share it within your communities. Of course, please contact me if Tri-C can be of help to you, or if you have ideas to support our students.

Hope you are all staying safe and healthy,

Claire

Claire Rosacco
Vice President for Government Relations & Community Outreach
Cuyahoga Community College
Work & Cell: 216-406-8821
Tri-C Ranked Among Nation’s Best Community Colleges – Top Five in America
College claims Top 5 spot on Intelligent.com’s list of two-year schools
Out of 1,187 colleges assessed, Tri-C ranked fifth in Intelligent.com’s list of top two-year schools across the country and earned the top spot in the northeast region. More

Do You Know the Economic Impact of a two-year Degree?According to Intelligent.com:
  • Individuals with a High School degree earn a median annual salary of $36,100.
  • An Associate Degree boosts that salary to $52,830.
A National Leadership Role
Tri-C President Alex Johnson Chairs Achieving the Dream Board
Tri-C President Alex Johnson is taking a lead role in national efforts to close equity gaps and accelerate student success as the new chair of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) board of directors.

Annually, the non-profit works with over 300 colleges and reaches more than 4 million U.S. students with its efforts to impact student success. Dr. Johnson's term began February 24, 2021.More

In 2019, Tri-C was named a Leader College of Distinction by ATD for achieving higher student outcomes and narrowing equity gaps – the highest designation offered to colleges in the ATD network.
Good News Conversation Starters
Workforce Impact
In the National Recovery Conversation – Tri-C WCED EVP William Gary is one of 15 workforce leaders in the U.S. invited by the National Skills Coalition to lend his expertise as a member of the Healthcare Industry Recovery Panel. Its purpose – to advise the Biden Administration on the caregiving workforce initiative. More
Corporate College + Your Team = Organizational Effectiveness
Corporate College can help you ensure that your managers, leaders, and future leaders are key players – and skills-ready – for the challenges in executing business strategies. We invite you to discover leadership training and certificate programs through Tri-C Corporate College.
In the Healthcare Discussion – Marquita Rockamore, Director of Healthcare Solutions in Tri-C's Workforce, Community and Economic Development Division (WCED), was featured in Freshwater Cleveland discussing Tri-C’s program for State Tested Nursing Assistants (STNA) and issues and needs in the area's shortage of healthcare talent.
The overall program is part of RTA’s plan to address expected job openings, as nearly 30% of its workforce is eligible to retire in the next four years. 
Tri-C, RTA Partner to Create New Job Hub Training Program
A job hub bringing Tri-C programming to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will help the agency recruit new employees, upskill current workers and enhance leadership teams.

Tri-C training options for current RTA employees will range from leadership sessions offered through Tri-C’s Corporate College to commercial driver’s license (CDL) refresher courses run by the Transportation Innovation Center. Most sessions will take place at RTA locations. More
Tri-C Programs for the Community
Need a Speaker for your next meeting? Tri-C's Speaker Bureau can help. Our talented faculty and staff offer talks on a variety of topics, reaching more than 10,000 annually through this free community service. More
Welcome to the Chefs' Table at Corporate College – Spice up your next family dinner or team meeting with online cooking classes hosted by local chefs. Each lesson is followed by a Q&A with the chef. Find the upcoming classes - $15 each - here!
Great Grocery Giveaway Brings Hundreds to Tri-C Western Campus – Over 900 boxes of food & supplies were distributed to families during the event, hosted & staffed by Tri-C; sponsored by Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging. More
Brunswick University Center – 

More than 12,500 students have taken courses at the center since it opened in 2011. Learn more about the center, which operates as an extension of Tri-C’s Western Campus, at tri-c.edu/brunswick

Students can take courses to complete an associate degree, build toward a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution, and also find workforce training, development and career training services.
Encore On-the-Go – a popular program of online arts & humanities courses aimed at the 55+ learning set, has two upcoming sessions: March 16 - April 23 & May 4 - June 11. Classes meet virtually - once a week for six weeks, same day and time. $27 per course; take one or more!

Are you or someone in the family new to online learning? No worries. We offer a tech training class before each session.
Free COVID-19 Testing
Continues at Tri-C
Effective March 8 through April 29, free COVID-19 Testing will take place only at the Metro Campus on Mondays, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. It's recommended that you arrive at least an hour before 2 p.m. in order to get through the line. Visit tri-c.edu/covidtest for details. 
Tri-C President Alex Johnson encourages COVID-19 vaccinations – Learn more.
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorations
Tri-C Hosted its Virtual Dr. King Celebration on Jan. 17 – The
44th annual remembrance is the longest-running MLK event in Cleveland. Join the 8,000 who have viewed the celebration – including spoken word and musical celebrations – by watching it online.
Tri-C Students Receive Scholarships at Dr. King Observance – Twelve students were recognized for academic excellence and community service with scholarships from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Scholarship Fund. They honor academic excellence and community service by Tri-C students graduated from CMSD & Cuyahoga County schools.
Future Leaders Dreaming Forward: CSU, Tri-C Students Honor Dr. King – This is the 30th year the institutions have partnered to celebrate Dr. King’s vision with speeches by student orators from both institutions, including Tri-C Democracy Fellow Charese Harrison, shown above. Watch
Join The Racial Justice Challenge
YWCA Greater Cleveland's
21-Day Challenge for
Racial Equity and Social Justice
Tri-C has become a YWCA of Greater Cleveland Equity Partner, promoting the organization’s 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge. Tri-C is encouraging its community to participate in the Challenge, which encourages participants to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership – March 1 through March 29.
Tri-C Students & Alumni
Making their Marks in the World
National Honor Flows to Tri-C Horticulture Student Peyton Musgrave

The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation recently selected her as the recipient of its 2021 Sousa Landscape Management & Sousa Family Scholarship. Tri-C ranks as one of the top colleges in the country in preparing students for careers in landscape design and construction; garden center or nursery management; and other horticulture fields.  More
Tri-C Student Sebastian Canales
Named to National Advisory Board for Students Learn Students Vote Coalition

Canales, who served as a Tri-C Democracy Fellow in 2020, was one of only three students chosen nationwide to serve on the board. Facts: Motivating students to vote is woven into the college experience at Tri-C. Aside from being a partner in the SLSV Coalition, the college has been recognized as a “Voter Friendly Campus” and selected for a lead role in “Ask Every Student.”
Distinguished Faculty & Staff
New Scholarship Fund Honors the Life of Professor Jeffrey Tuma, a Tri-C assistant professor of philosophy who "brightened the lives of Tri-C students" for nearly three decades. His legacy of helping students continues through a newly created Emergency Fund bearing his name. Prof. Tuma championed the humanities at Tri-C, working with the Mandel and Robert L. Lewis Academy Scholars programs and as a Phi Theta Kappa mentor & advisor. More
Ohio Arts Council Honors Two Tri-C Art Professors – Stephanie Craig and Andrea LeBlond – with 2021 Individual Excellence Awards. Craig, a three-time winner of the award, teaches ceramics, sculpture and more at the Western campus. LeBlond, receiving her second award, specializes in ceramics at the Metro Campus. Each receives a $4,000 grant to help further their art. More
A Posthumous Honor for Professor Tuma – The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) will present one of its 2021 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty awards to Jeffrey Tuma, one of 23 recipients across the nation. The honor recognizes individuals who make a difference in the classroom and go beyond what is required to ensure that students find academic achievement. Award winners will be recognized during a virtual ceremony May 20. More

Bringing Music to the Masses – Tri-C’s Vincent Briley and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus make their voices heard despite the pandemic. For six years, Vincent Briley, assistant dean of learning and engagement at the Metropolitan Campus, has been a member of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus – the 110-member vocal component of the world-famous Cleveland Orchestra. He is also in his second year as co-chair of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus Operating Committee. Recently, he shared how they're moving forward in spite of COVID challenges to the arts. More
Serving Our Veterans – a Tri-C Priority
Tri-C – Top 10 Military Friendly School
For the 12th year in a row, Tri-C has earned a Top 10 Military Friendly® School designation – ranking #4 overall. The honor is given in recognition of
Tri-C's commitment to serving veterans and active military students as well as their families. The Military Friendly Schools survey is "the longest-running, most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students."
Ready to Re-Start Your Educational Journey? There are some funding opportunities available to help Veterans get their studies underway again –one class at a time. Please contact Interim Executive Director, Veterans Initiative Marjorie Morrison for details. (216) 987-4529
Mark Your Calendars
April 8, 2021 will be Cuyahoga Community College’s fifth Tri-C Day!
On Tri-C Day, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends are asked to share stories about Tri-C online and through social media. The one-day campaign celebrates Tri-C pride and encourages on-line giving to benefit scholarships, services and supports for Tri-C students. Look for updates here.

  • Tri-C & Artists Archives of the Western Reserve presents ‘NewNow 2021’ Virtual Art Exhibit – showcasing 63 regional artists online now through 4/17. Details

  • Tri-C Performing Arts Series - The Tri-C Classical Piano Series continues online with free performances 3/21 and 4/18. Details

  • Tri-C's Advancing Women in Equity & Inclusion Summit – 3/26 Join us for this free online event.
A variety of virtual and in-person camps are on for 2021. Sign up now! Camps by Category
Seeing Green ... In the Best Way
Tri-C’s Westshore Campus Earns Second LEED® Certification – Silver – from the U.S. Green Building Council for the new Liberal Arts and Technology building at the Westshore Campus. It is the College’s seventh building with a LEED designation.
Tri-C’s Simulated Scenario Village Earns LEED Certification – The 15,000 sq. ft. Administrative Center at the Simulated Scenario Village opened last year as part of the KeyBank Public Safety Training Center at Western Campus in Parma. Details
The Annual State of the College Report


The most recent issue of the Tri-C Times
carries the 2021 State of the College Report

Inside the Issue:

  • Determined to Make a Difference ... How Tri-C will approach this year and beyond ... a look ahead from Tri-C President Alex Johnson - p. 6
  • Changing the Face of the STEM Workforce - p. 14
  • Tri-C's impacts on students, faculty, alumna
  • Leading the Student Voting Conversation - p. 27

Opened in 1963, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is Ohio's first community college and remains one of the state's largest community colleges, serving more than 50,000 students each year. To date, more than 1 million county residents have come through Tri-C's doors.

The college offers two-year associate degrees, certificate programs, and the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. The curriculum includes over 1,000 credit courses in more than 300 career, certificate and university transfer programs. Courses are offered at four campus locations, two Corporate College facilities, many off-campus sites, and via television and internet.
Katie Montgomery | Cuyahoga Community College| 216-952-6146 | katharine.montgomery@tri-c.edu
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