COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As current and
prospective college students confront multiple barriers in pursuing
college degrees, Huntington Bank, Columbus
State Community College and Franklin
University have launched an innovative, forward-looking
workforce education program to reduce the burdens on students and
increase the likelihood of their success.
The Exact Track 3+1 dual degree business program launched in
July with a first group of 25 Huntington students whose educational
costs with Columbus State and
Franklin University are being paid up
front by Huntington. The unique
program provides a combination of education, support, and
real-world experience, and its convenient workplace location helps
eliminate some of the hurdles for students hoping to further their
education.
Today, Huntington Chairman and CEO Steve
Steinour joined Columbus State
President David Harrison,
Franklin University President
David Decker, Ohio Lieutenant
Governor Jon Husted and Ohio
Business Roundtable CEO and Chair of the Governor's Executive
Workforce Board, Pat Tiberi,
alongside Exact Track students to celebrate the program's launch at
The Huntington Gateway Center in Columbus' Northland neighborhood.
"We are proud to partner with Columbus
State and Franklin University to
create a unique model that brings higher education directly into
the workplace," Steinour said. "Exact Track is on the cutting edge
of workforce education solutions, and it enables Huntington to invest in the future of our
colleagues so we can retain and promote top talent from within the
bank."
Exact Track classes are held weekday evenings at Huntington
Gateway Center. The program combines eight semesters of
Columbus State curriculum and six
semesters of Franklin University
curriculum, including summer terms, enabling participants to
complete college in five years while working full-time. Exact Track
participants earn two degrees: an associate's of Applied Science in
Business Management from Columbus State
and a bachelor's in Business Administration with a minor in
Management and Leadership from Franklin
University.
"Pairing our workforce needs and workers' skills is one of the
most important things we can do to help people be successful in
their personal goals while giving job creators the talent they need
to grow," said Lt. Governor Jon
Husted. "The partnership Huntington has formed with Columbus State and Franklin
University is a leading example of the type of employer
engagement we need to strengthen our workforce and move our economy
forward."
"For the CEOs of the Ohio Business Roundtable, workforce and
talent remain persistent challenges," said Tiberi. "Ohio employers can no longer sit back and
assume higher education is going to produce a workforce equipped
with the specific skills businesses will need to fill their future
in-demand jobs. With Exact Track, Huntington shows us that businesses can help
meet their own future employment needs."
"Exact Track's scheduling convenience, combined with
Huntington's innovative
Pre-Imbursement program, removes important barriers to pursuing the
goal of earning a college degree for working adults," Dr. Harrison
said.
"As a result of this unique access to education, Huntington employees will gain the skill sets
to advance their company and enrich the lives of their families and
themselves," Dr. Decker said.
Exact Track provides a predictable, manageable class schedule
for professionals balancing career, college and other
responsibilities. Knowing the exact sequence of courses at a
consistent time and location makes it easier to fit college into a
busy schedule. An accelerated three-and-a-half-year program also is
open to applicants from the general public at Columbus State's Delaware campus. More information is available
at www.cscc.edu/exacttrack.
"This type of corporate collaboration with higher education is
the wave of the future when it comes to meeting current and
anticipated needs of Ohio's
workforce. We anticipate this will be a very successful program we
will expand over time," Steinour added."
About Columbus
State
Columbus State is
one of the largest comprehensive colleges in Ohio, currently serving more than 46,000
students and contributing nearly $1
billion annually in regional economic impact. It is the only
community college in the nation to earn the three key national
distinctions of a Guided Pathways college, an Achieving the Dream
Leader College and a Right Signals Initiative college, and in 2019
received the Leah Meyer Austin award, the highest honor a college
in Achieving the Dream's network can earn.
About Franklin
Accredited, nonprofit and dedicated to
educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course
options at over 25 Midwest locations and is an innovator in
providing personalized online education. The University offers
applied in-demand undergraduate, master's and doctorate programs
that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and
professional goals. The University also offers several academic
programs internationally, including its top-ranked MBA, through
agreements with partner institutions.
Franklin University is accredited by
The Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations
for specific academic programs through the International
Accreditation Council for Business Education and the Commission on
Collegiate Nursing Education.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a regional bank holding
company headquartered in Columbus,
Ohio, with $108 billion of
assets and a network of 868 full-service branches, including 12
Private Client Group offices, and 1,687 ATMs across seven
Midwestern states. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank
and its affiliates provide consumer, small business, commercial,
treasury management, wealth management, brokerage, trust, and
insurance services. Huntington
also provides vehicle finance, equipment finance, national
settlement, and capital market services that extend beyond its core
states. Visit huntington.com for more information.
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