To do so, they efficiently share resources, facilities and staff to create a richer experience for every student on the Newark campus. This kind of collaborative, cost-shared model is unparalleled in higher education. And in honor of the partnership’s 55th anniversary, Ohio State Newark and COTC are planning a yearlong celebration for 2026.
Ohio State Newark, COTC celebrate partnership
Since 1971, The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) have shared more than just an expansive campus — they have shared a vision to expand access to education in this community.
The ability for these two entities to work together and pull the rope in the same direction is very unique, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Our community has responded because of the reputation that has been built over many, many years. We need to keep telling that story.
Such is the plan for this celebration. Throughout 2026, both institutions’ websites and social media channels will feature conversations with community members, government officials, local celebrities, administrators and other stakeholders who have established and supported this rare and remarkable relationship. COTC President John M. Berry, PhD, and Ohio State Newark Dean and Director Matthew J. Smith, PhD, will lead a traveling road show promoting the partnership throughout the region. They also plan to host an internal on-campus event geared toward affirming the commitment to and applauding the successes of this crucial cost-shared model.
The collaboration saves the campus $2 million annually without sacrificing the robust and high-quality services it offers students. Ohio State Newark and COTC combine to provide a complete spectrum of educational opportunities. COTC offers certificates and technical degrees, frequently to learners with families and full-time jobs. Ohio State Newark students can start one of Ohio State’s 200-plus degree programs, including seven that they can complete entirely at Newark. Joint departments such as facilities, advancement, IT, financial aid and student life serve students from both institutions throughout their journey.
This array of services benefits our students and their abilities, and they wouldn’t be able to have it if each of us were one individual institution. We all share a passion for both institutions. We have a fully staffed group of individuals who are dedicated to the process of serving our students here — and they do it well.
From its earliest days, this cost-shared partnership has also been deeply rooted in the community. The Licking County leaders who founded the campus encouraged both efficient operation and efforts to give back. Today, the establishment of spaces like the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology and Louella Hodges Reese Hall has brought that vision to life. Each building was funded through a blend of shared resources and tens of millions of dollars in community support. Maintaining a strong connection with the Newark Campus Development Fund (NCDF) has resulted in a shared pool of resources used for scholarships and donations toward campus infrastructure. The campus also hosts prominent events like the Independence Day Concert and Fireworks, which welcomes close to 25,000 community members every July.
Strategic plans in place at both colleges specifically outline a commitment to maintaining, protecting and strengthening this collaboration. The Newark campus’s cost-shared partnership has never been strictly a cost-saving measure — it was created to be a competitive advantage benefitting students, employees and this community. And 55 years later, it’s still delivering on that promise.
I hope we can recognize and always remember how important this campus has been to Licking County — to its development, to individual families and to enabling its students to get a top-notch education for a very affordable price. We have an absolute goldmine here. The Newark campus is critical to our community.