Running head: COMMUNITY COLLEGE VISIT REPORT
Community College Visit Report
Nicole Waterford
AET 555
05-22-15
Christine Nortz, PhD.
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Community College Visit Report
Cuyahoga Community College is the first and oldest community college in Ohio.
Cuyahoga Community College, also known as Tri-C, was established in 1963 to offer residents
of Cuyahoga County an affordable option for postsecondary education (About Tri C.) Tri-C’s
mission is “to provide high quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities and
services — including university transfer, technical and lifelong learning programs —that
promote individual development and improve the overall quality of life in a multicultural
community” (Mission, Vision & Values.) Cuyahoga Community College is a multi-campus
system; there are currently five campuses in the Cleveland metro area. Tri-C also operates
several smaller job-training centers that offer a variety of programs, including public safety
training, technology training, and corporate job training (About Tri C.) This report will be an
evaluation of Tri-C’s Eastern campus that is located in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.
Cuyahoga Community College’s Eastern Campus encompasses four buildings, all of
which have been recently renovated or newly built (Eastern Campus.) The Eastern campus
features a Student Services Building, Humanities Center, Learning Commons, and Veteran’s
Center. Campus buildings are connected by concrete walkways and are fairly close to one
another. The campus has a modern look and features a way-finding system that makes navigating
buildings simple. Classrooms and offices are clearly labeled and easy to find. There are elevators
and ramps in all of the buildings making Tri-C East accessible for everyone.
The admissions process at Cuyahoga Community College has been simplified throughout
the years. The first step is to complete an enrollment application. The enrollment application is
short and asks for basic identifying information. Students can apply online or in person at any
campus. The second step is to apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA application. The
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FAFSA determines eligibility for loans, grants, and scholarships. The third step of the
admissions process is submitting transcripts. New students, or students attending college for the
first time, must submit high school or GED transcripts to enroll at Tri-C. Transfer students must
submit college transcripts to the Registrar’s office for review. The fourth step to enroll at Tri-C is
to complete placement testing. All new students are required to complete testing to determine
what level of Math and English courses they should register for. Transfer students and returning
students are not required to complete placement testing. The next step for new students is to
attend a New Student Orientation. During this orientation, students meet their academic
counselor and schedule classes. Transfer or returning students do not have to attend a New
Student Orientation and are allowed to schedule classes online upon acceptance to Tri-C. The
final steps in the admissions and registration process are to get a student identification card and
to pay tuition and fees (Getting Started.)
Cuyahoga Community College has a very diverse student population. Student’s range in
age from recent high school graduates to older adults continuing their education. The median
student age at Tri-C is 29 years old. Sixty-one percent of students are female and 39% percent
are male. The diversity of the Tri-C student population is a reflection of Northeast Ohio
demographics; almost 40% of students are from minority groups. A majority of Tri-C students
study part-time, around 65%. Seventeen percent of Tri-C students only attend evening or
weekend classes (About Tri C.)
Cuyahoga Community College grants two-year Associate degrees. Students can obtain an
Associate of Arts, Science, Applied Business, Applied Science, or Technical Study (Programs at
Tri-C.) There is a wide range of programs offered at Tri-C including Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Business, Engineering and Technology, Healthcare, Public Health, and Creative Arts majors
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(Programs at Tri-C.) Thirty percent of students are focusing in areas related to health careers.
Sixty-seven percent of students are enrolled in technical job training courses and 17% are
enrolled in business programs (About Tri C.) Many of Tri-C’s general education courses are
TAG (Transfer Assurance) courses, which means they will transfer and apply toward a major at
any Ohio public college or university (Programs at Tri-C.) More than half of Tri-C students are
seeking an associate degree or are taking courses to transfer to a four-year institution (About Tri
C.) Students that obtain an Associates Degree from Tri-C can easily complete a bachelor’s
degree at any public Ohio college or university without having to retake coursework. Tri-C also
has several certificate and professional development programs available to students.
Cuyahoga Community College has several delivery modalities that students can use to
continue their education. Students can take classes traditionally at any of the five main campuses.
Tri-C also offers online courses through its “my Tri-C” portal. Students can post assignments to
“my Tri-C” from any computer or even their smart phone (About Tri C.) Cuyahoga Community
College also offers distance learning via their television channel, SmartTV. Students can enroll
in “Cable College,” a unique distance learning program that allows students the flexibility of
watching their classes on television or online (SmartTV.) Tri-C also offers community education
and recreation courses that are not for college credit.
Cuyahoga Community College has a wide range of support services available to students.
Each student is assigned an advisor to assist with scheduling and basic questions about the
registration process. Tri-C East has an office of Student Success where students can meet with a
Student Success Specialist to receive one on one assistance and support throughout their
academic career (Student Resources.) Tri-C East offers tutoring both online and in person in the
Learning Commons Building. The Career Services Center offers support and prepares students,
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alumni and community members for a successful job search through workshops and individual
career coaching (Student Resources.) The Writing Center provides one on one consultations and
proofreading services to students of all writing levels. The Transfer Center assists students
transferring to and from Tri-C with the transfer process. Tri-C also has several accessibility
programs including ACCESS (Students with Disabilities), Veteran’s Services, and Counseling
services. The “my Tri-C” portal also offers a variety of online resources to students, including
online scheduling, advising, and account information (Student Resources.) Cuyahoga
Community College cares about the educational success of students and their student support
services display that commitment.
Tri-C has a strong presence in Cuyahoga County and boasts many community
relationships and partnerships. Tri-C has partnerships with Cleveland State University and other
area colleges to provide a wider array of community health services. Tri-C runs several health
clinics where uninsured adults can receive low cost screenings and services from students
studying healthcare professions such as Dietetic Technology, Medical Assisting, Occupational
Therapy Assisting and Physical Therapy (Community Services.) Tri-C has a Faith-Based
Community Initiative program that intends to strengthen the exchange between Cuyahoga
Community College and the faith community (Faith-Based Community Initiative.) The goal of
the initiative is “to provide training and information to faith-based institutions so they can assist
parishioners and community members in achieving their academic, educational and workforce
related aspirations” (Faith-Based Community Initiative.) Tri-C has also partnered with The City
of Cleveland and The Urban League of Greater Cleveland to provide parenting education classes
to community members (Community Services.)
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Cuyahoga Community College is an excellent institution that is committed to providing
quality secondary education opportunities to community members. I attended Tri-C twice before
obtaining my undergraduate degree. I can say from personal experience that Tri-C is an effective
and affordable way to begin your secondary education. I would recommend Cuyahoga
Community College and I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to and to evaluate its Eastern
Campus.
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References
About Tri-C. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tri-c.edu/about/index.html
Community Services. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tric.edu/community/community-services/index.html
Eastern Campus. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tri-c.edu/campuses-andlocations/eastern/index.html
Faith-Based Community Initiative. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tric.edu/community/community-services/faith-based-community-initiative.html
Getting Started. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tri-c.edu/getstarted/index.html
Mission, Vision & Values. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tric.edu/about/mission.html
Programs At Tri-C. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tric.edu/programs/index.html
SmartTV. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tri-c.edu/online-learning/smarttv.html
Student Resources. (2014). Retrieved May 22, 2015, from http://www.tri-c.edu/studentresources/index.html