The drop in college matriculation around Ohio has been much in the news lately. Some schools are considering closing branch or even main campuses.
Meanwhile, Knox Pages has just shown the flip side of the coin, the need for skilled trades and craftspeople. That brings together the two tracks. So, here’s a what-if.
What if colleges and universities expanded their offerings on campus to include certain skilled trades?
And what if trade schools moved at least some of their courses to college campuses?
What if a student could enter a general ‘field’ that might end up with a journeyman or master’s certification or, with a few more classes, a 2-year, BA, or higher degree?
Ideally, the basic introductory courses would include a bit of theory and a bit of practical training.
For instance, a hopeful future architect might share the introductory year with a budding construction carpenter.
They’d both have a course in basic carpentry and operating power tools as well as one with elementary ‘designing buildings that won’t collapse in a heap.’
An intro to interior design might follow, featuring color wheels and fabrics/materials, as well as one in basic costing and customer relations (aka designs they long for at prices they can afford).
By the end of the introductory year, both students would see they were better suited for one track or the other and proceed with higher level courses along that track.
The architect might study design, drafting and construction.
The carpenter would have a few more work-study assignments, rising to master cabinet maker (and including budgeting and investment in real estate).
I have a hunch that this parallel-track could be useful in any number of fields.
You see where I’m going with this. The benefits would be keeping campuses open and operating.
Many would be within driving distance of home for most students, although there might still be some sharing out of specialties, e.g. NW Ohio for glass, solar tech, etc, or NE and Cleveland Clinic environs for medical specialties.
Faculty would be paid .. and taxed, of course. The state might attract and retain an enriched workforce and professional array.
The overall goal would be to keep education solvent and public, to provide career tracks for local students, and maybe even to level the playing field among the ‘professional’ and ‘skilled trades’ graduates.
What do you think? Is it a solution worth tossing around?
Karen Lee
1963 Galion High School graduate
Athens, Greece