GPA

Woodlink Libraries now program partner for Imagination Library
 
        On Dec. 15, the Woodlink Libraries of Wood County assumed the role of Local Program Partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Wood County.
        Imagination Library is a free book gifting program available to all children birth through age 5. Currently reaching over 396,000 children across Ohio, the Imagination Library provides a free, age-appropriate book each month, mailed directly to the child’s home.
        The program has been shown to improve kindergarten readiness and strengthen emotional connections between caregivers and children.
        Woodlink will be working to reach new families, raise funds to sustain ongoing book expenses (currently about $58,000 per year for all of Wood County’s children) and build a strong sense of community support for this rapidly expanding program, according to Kelsey Nevius, Wood County District Public Library communications and marketing specialist.
        Woodlink’s work will start with database maintenance efforts as well as paying for 4,370 books to be shipped to children across all of Wood County. The January shipment will include 132 “Little Engine” books for new enrollees, 98 “Graduation” books for those turning age 5, and the rest of the books divided by age group.
        “Woodlink is proud to take on this new endeavor in helping parents and caregivers inspire the love of reading, because kids who read succeed,” Nevius said.
        For more information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Wood County, visit any public library in Wood County, call Angie Babcock at 419-352-5104 or email dolly@wcdpl.org.
        Woodlink is a collaborative effort among all of the independent public libraries within Wood County. The Woodlink Libraries include Pemberville Public Library, Way Public Library in Perrysburg, Rossford Public Library, North Baltimore Public Library, Wayne Public Library, Weston Public Library and the Wood County District Public Library.
 
Owens grant to help students seeking CDL
        Owens Community College has been awarded a total of $130,758 to help students seeking to earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
        The Toledo-area Campus was awarded $98,754 and the new addition of the program to the Findlay-area Campus was awarded $32,004. The money is part of $2.54 million from the Ohio Department of Education distributed to 35 institutions to help fuel this high-demand career.
        The financial aid will be provided to in-state students who complete the program and agree to live and work in Ohio for at least one year upon earning their CDL. “Northwest Ohio is a major hub for commerce for our country and the CDL drivers are the heartbeat of it all,” said Quinton Roberts, dean of Workforce and Community Services at Owens. “With this award to Owens, we will be able to boost the economy in our region and continue to train more CDL drivers for this in-demand occupation.”
        This financial aid will be distributed to students as a 50% grant, and 50% loan, that will be forgiven upon the graduate working for an Ohio transportation company within a year following their graduation from the CDL program.
        For more information on the Truck Driving program at Owens, visit owens.edu/cdl.
 
Stone Lab seeking applications for research fellowship
        Stone Laboratory invites college undergraduates to apply for its 2024 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Fellowship Program.
        Students selected for the REU program receive a $5,500 stipend and free room and meals for the eight-week fellowship experience at Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University’s island campus on Lake Erie.
        Undergraduates from any U.S. college may apply for this competitive, comprehensive research opportunity. The students chosen will learn how to conduct scientific research in the field alongside top scientists. The fellowship runs June 3-July 26, 2024.
        For Harrison Fried, the REU program was an opportunity like no other. “It covered all costs associated with staying on the island, including room and board, which allowed me to focus on my research. It was hard, but rewarding, work,” said the current Ohio State doctoral student. “I was amazed at all of the resources I had access to on the island, from professors and peers to the local charter captains; there were always people around with strong knowledge of the lake.”
        REU fellows spend their days focused on research, working closely with their supervisors to design an experiment, collect samples and analyze data. At the end of the program, students give final presentations to their peers and the public via webinar. This summer, students will conduct projects in fish ecology, mammology and limnology.     The application deadline is Feb. 26, 2024. Selections will be made by the end of March. Application requirements and more information can be found at go.osu.edu/reu.
        Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources.
        For more information about REU, contact Dr. Justin Chaffin at chaffin.46@osu.edu or 419-285-1800.
 
Heidelberg holding firm on tuition costs
        Heidelberg University is again holding firm with no increase in undergraduate tuition for incoming students in the fall of 2024.
        On Nov. 15, Heidelberg’s Board of Trustees voted again for no increase in tuition for the 2024-25 academic year. Tuition will remain at $32,900 per year. This will be the fifth consecutive year of the Heidelberg Tuition Guarantee for all students and the fourth consecutive year with no increase in tuition for all students.
        The Tuition Guarantee locks in the cost of tuition for students over their four years of study.
        Although the base tuition rate will remain unchanged, students will pay an additional 4-5 percent for food and housing. 
        Additionally, Heidelberg has restructured the method by which the technology fee – previously a flat fee of $728 annually – is assessed. Beginning in the fall of 2024, undergrad students will pay a technology fee of $25 per credit hour, per semester.  For the typical student, this calculates to an average of $750 per academic year.
        In addition to the Tuition Guarantee, the university offers Test-Optional Admission for incoming students as well as a Four-Year Graduation Guarantee for all continuing students. 
        To further ease the pathway to admission, Heidelberg also offers the Open Transfer program for qualifying students who have earned Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees. Earlier this year, it was announced that the PlusOneAdvantage MBA Program will transition to a fully online program to provide further convenience for students.
        “We are steadfast in our commitment to deliver exceptional opportunities for all of our students – current and future – at a cost that makes Heidelberg an excellent educational value for them and their families,” said President Rob Huntington.
 
BGSU Online MBA ranked best in Ohio
        In its 2024 rankings the business publication Poets&Quants named the BGSU Online MBA program the best in Ohio  and number 33 overall, based on the university’s commitment to rigorous academic standards, along with student experience and employment outcomes.
        “A BGSU business education is among the best in the nation and this ranking demonstrates our commitment to offering students comprehensive learning opportunities, no matter where they are,” said Dr. Jennifer Percival, dean of the Schmidthorst College of Business. “Our engaging Online MBA program equips learners with the advanced knowledge and cutting-edge tools needed to thrive in any business-related career, and we’re proud to be recognized for our student-focused efforts.”
        Committed to keeping education accessible, BGSU continues to waive GRE and GMAT testing for most graduate degrees and certificates, including the Online MBA program. All other required documents must still be submitted for admission consideration.
        In addition to Poets&Quants recognition, the BGSU Online MBA program is ranked as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 Best Online Programs Rankings.