NEWARK – Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) is celebrating 50 years of providing high-quality education leading to in-demand careers for central Ohioans. The college kicked off a yearlong 50th anniversary celebration on July 1.
“As we celebrate COTC’s half-century of strengthening our community, the college is poised to continue helping students build successful futures, uncovering workforce opportunities and impacting lives for decades to come,” said COTC President Dr. John M. Berry.
In 1971, when COTC welcomed students at its Newark campus, which it shares with Ohio State University at Newark, the new college offered six associate degrees. Today, COTC operates four full-service campuses in Newark, Coshocton, Mount Vernon and Pataskala and offers more than 50 associate degrees and certificates. To support students wherever they are and expand their course options, the college also has adopted multiple course formats such as online, remote, hybrid and flex modes. Throughout the decades, COTC’s more than 15,000 graduates have made significant contributions to their professions and communities.
Throughout the coming year, COTC will celebrate its 50th anniversary with special celebrations at each campus. Members of the public are invited to a free, family-friendly drive-in movie featuring the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” The drive-in event will be at the COTC Newark campus on Oct. 9.
COTC 50th Anniversary Ice Cream
In spring 2021, the college received almost 1,000 votes in a public campaign to select a limited release new Velvet Ice Cream® flavor produced exclusively for COTC’s 50th anniversary. The winner – berry rumble, a fruity blend of strawberry, blueberry and blackberry ice cream – will be available at all COTC 50th anniversary events, autumn semester welcome week activities and for purchase at Velvet’s Ye Olde Mill in Utica.
Investing in the Future
Remaining true to its mission to meet the technical education and training needs of students and employers in the area, COTC continues to grow and adapt to changing workforce needs. This August, the college invites all members of the public to ribbon-cutting ceremonies for two academic buildings. Each building will be open for tours immediately following the ribbon cuttings.
The 60,000-square-foot John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology brings a Health Science Simulation Center to the COTC Newark campus. This multi-disciplinary space, mirroring an acute care hospital, contains two patient rooms, an emergency room and an operating room with an adjoining scrub-in station so COTC students can experience various “real life” medical scenarios in a learning environment. The ribbon-cutting will be 9-11 a.m. Aug. 13.
The COTC Pataskala campus will reopen for classes in autumn 2021 after a $4.2 million yearlong renovation. COTC will begin offering several health care and IT career-ready associate degrees and certificates as well as transfer degrees in full at the Pataskala campus. The ribbon-cutting will be 9-11 a.m. Aug. 27.
To learn more about COTC’s 50th anniversary plans, visit cotc.edu/50th-anniversary.
COTC is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs. COTC is the only technical college in Ohio operating four full-service campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.
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