College study results pending for Middletown campus

Enrollment study could prove good news for potential downtown Cincinnati State campus.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 2:02 AM Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — An enrollment study should help the city and Cincinnati State define student levels and potential revenues if a new branch campus were to open downtown.

The college hired Boston-based Maguire Associates Inc. to analyze potential enrollment of a Middletown campus of Cincinnati State Technical & Community College.

Dan Cayse, the college’s vice president of strategic initiatives and entrepreneurial development, said the study is complete and the information should be available this month. The evaluation includes data on potential students between Dayton and Cincinnati, as well as programming that is in demand for the area.

“It will tell us where the growth is in the market in terms of jobs and what the business needs are and the needs of the students,” Cayse said.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati State’s board of trustees will be working through the budget for fiscal year 2011. The school is projecting declining to flat enrollment in terms of credit hours for the coming year. The Maguire Associates enrollment study report should indicate how the Middletown campus project would fit into the college’s budget and how it may impact enrollment, said Mike Geoghegan, vice president of finance for Cincinnati State.

Geoghegan said he expects more information about a prospective budget for the Middletown project to come together in the next month. Information about potential enrollment will be available at the trustees’ meeting on June 28 — when board of trustee members will be expected to adopt a new fiscal year budget plan.

As for the possibility of classes being held in downtown Middletown this fall, Cayse said he “wouldn’t anticipate that happening.”

However, the college will be offering a paramedics certificate program at Greentree Health Science Academy in Middletown this fall. Cincinnati’s Workforce Development program already has been assisting clients in the Middletown area.

Cayse said he expects Cincinnati State’s presence to increase in the area through partnerships with other educational institutions. College officials already have had discussions with Middletown City Schools, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, and Miami University to that affect, he said.

“We’ve not talked to anybody who has not offered to partner,” Cayse said.

The city has spent $450,000 to acquire the former Manchester Inn, CG&E, First Financial Bank, Masonic Temple and Bank One buildings downtown — a total 175,000 square feet — for possible use as a campus; and to further help secure the project, the city in March hired local attorney Greg Pratt to work as a consultant as the city and college continue negotiations.

ontact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com

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