Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) has been designated as a Leader College by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing the role of community colleges in providing accessible education and promoting economic mobility. The announcement was made in a press release on March 26, 2025.
According to the press release, the Leader College recognition, awarded to only 15 colleges nationwide, began in February 2025 and highlights COTC's efforts to improve student success and reduce equity gaps. The college achieved significant gains in retention, completion, and narrowing achievement gaps, which are core requirements for this honor. COTC's success is attributed to initiatives like the Student Success Center and increased focus on quality learning experiences and support services.
The college demonstrated a six-percentage-point increase in its credit completion ratio, rising from 65% to 71% between the autumn 2020 and autumn 2023 cohorts. This progress is attributed to dedicated strategies such as enhancing math and English course completion and offering comprehensive student support. Additionally, COTC saw a three-percentage-point increase in its persistence rate, reaching 52.7% for the autumn 2022 cohort. The institution also made substantial strides in reducing performance gaps, improving course completion and retention rates for first-generation students and older students.
"As with any award or special recognition, this Leader College distinction reflects the hard work of our faculty and staff to improve student success and reduce equity gaps on our campus," said COTC President John M. Berry, PhD. "COTC continues to shed light on Ohio as a place to receive a quality education and prepare for a career."
Central Ohio Technical College is a state-assisted institution that provides various academic programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates. Established in 1971 and chartered by the Ohio Board of Regents, the college has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1975. Serving Licking, Knox, and Coshocton counties through four campuses and online courses, COTC is committed to unlocking students' potential by offering programs in high-demand fields as well as transfer degrees that enable students to continue their education toward a bachelor’s degree.
