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The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM) has officially become the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine, effective July 1. The college was established in 1916 and is one of the largest and most respected podiatric medical education institutions in the country and the only accredited podiatry school in Ohio.
A ribbon-tying event and celebration of the successful partnership will take place at the college on Aug. 8.
The friendly acquisition was designed to provide the best education and training for podiatric students, giving them expanded academic options, including in such areas as public health, biomedical sciences, medical ethics and sports medicine. The merger with Kent State also offers strategic research and teaching collaborations.
“This partnership with Kent State is truly a positive opportunity for the college and our students,” said Dr. Thomas V. Melillo, chief executive officer of the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State. “This is truly a win-win situation for both organizations. The college will now be part of a larger academic entity that can provide more resources for our students, and Kent State will have its only graduate medical college, which only increases its professional status.”
The Kent State Board of Trustees formally established the new Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine during its March 14 meeting. The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to sign off on the acquisition deal from Kent State University during its meeting in March.
“The Board of Trustees and our administration are very excited to be joining Northeast Ohio’s leading public research university,” said Dr. David R. Nicolanti, executive vice president of the new college. “The College of Podiatric Medicine is in a great financial position, and we have a tremendous facility, along with great faculty and staff. We will continue to operate and provide the highest level of podiatric medical education that has sustained us for the last 96 years of existence.”
The new college will remain at its current site at 6000 Rockside Woods Blvd. in Independence, Ohio, and will offer approximately 60 courses leading to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. The college has graduated more than 6,000 podiatrists and currently maintains an average four-year total enrollment of 430 students.
An oversight committee, comprising an extensive group of people from both institutions, has been working in recent months to ensure a smooth transition for the students, faculty and staff of the college.
“I am pleased that this day has finally come,” said Kent State Senior Associate Provost Tim Chandler, Ph.D., chairman of the oversight committee. “On behalf of President Lester Lefton, I want to thank everyone who was involved in the transition for all their hard work and attention to detail that made this a smooth process.”
Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine is situated on a 27-acre campus, which provides state-of-the-art facilities for quality education, research and patient care. The building includes three, 150-seat lecture halls, high-tech laboratories, and indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. The college continues to provide services to the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Institute and local satellite clinics, and works with some area hospitals, to provide a solid base for clinical education, while providing excellent podiatric care to the community.
Logan
1:37 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Congratulations Kent State University in aquiring another campus! Clearly President Lefton is doing a great job in growing enrollment and opportunities for the school, which keep in mind is the second largest University in Ohio! Maybe people will realize to not criticize a University President when he is clearly making great headway in making Kent State a much better institution.
Pad Womack
3:52 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Nevermind that he tried to put in place an illegal tuition hike that was struck down by the state legislature to pay for the new student center remodeling and a clock tower. Never mind that the Art aBuilding is nearly derelict, that Bowman and Satterfield are relics. Nevermind that there is not enough student housing to support the student body wishing to live in the dorms.
I don't "bash" Lefton. I criticize his priorities and that of the board. Education is supposed to be the priority of a university, not expansion, profit and cosmetics.
Logan
4:31 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
In case you are unaware...the remodeled Student Center and esplanade is not just in the budget, but is also heavilly funded by donations. As for classrooms being run down, yes buildings age...surprise! However, being a student that has taken classes in Satterfield and Bowman in the past 2 years, they are just fine. It is no different than any other typical classroom. As for the dorm situation...you must think logically...why would you build too many dorms to not have them filled? It is much more logical to build just enough. I am not saying we do not need more but when it comes to dorms...its better to have a crowding than way too much.
Richard
11:04 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Raising enrollment, acquiring other schools, and the ridiculous clock tower and outdoor performance area are just empire-building on Lefton's part. The focus should be on quality, not quantity, and Kent has been failing in this respect. I know that every department has its own complaints, but the loss of the financial engineering program damages the credibility of the entire finance department. This was one of the few programs that kept Kent on the map, and yet it was one of the first to be killed off because it wasn't profitable enough.
Richard
4:45 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I'm not quite sure why you continue to mention enrollment numbers like they are of some importance. The turn-off of Kent has always been the quality of the programs, not the size of the school. It's funny that you mention Miami, because it is roughly 1/3 the size of Kent in enrollment, but there is little question that it is a better school than Kent in every way. The best way to spend money would be to focus on improving the quality of the programs at the school, improving the almost nonexistent career services available, and otherwise attempting to attract better students and professors.