Washington State Community College hosted its board of trustees Monday to review not only the partnership of the college with the Washington County Career Center in robotics, but also concerning the renovation of the health sciences wing of the college and updates to the delivery of the physical therapist assistant curriculum.

See the local page for a review of the first of two open house events highlighting the partnership with the career center, with a second open house scheduled for today at 7 p.m. at the community college campus in Marietta on Colegate Drive.

* Renovations

With a construction budget of $2,012,825 for renovations to the existing main (health and sciences) building of the college, the board approved an additional maximum expenditure of $167,430 for architectural and engineering services Monday.

Board members noted that while the overall contract is with Sol Harris Day Architecture out of North Canton, an additional consultant on the project under the firm is the local firm, Pickering Associates.

Director of Facilities Brandon Herb explained to the trustees that the capital budget funding from the State of Ohio Controlling Board for the additional funds was approved by the state at the beginning of this month, and following board of trustees approval Monday would be submitted to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for review and approval.

Board Member Randy Barengo noted the $27,000 in reimbursable expenses, which Herb stated were part of a contingency on the project.

* PTA curriculum

Dr. Matt Ammons, a recent hire of the college as of November, briefed the board on changes to the school’s physical therapy assistant program as its new director.

He outlined that both as a response to impacts of coronavirus on student success and that of mental health and wellness, test preparation and new admission criteria will be among the changes implemented before the fall semester.

See a future edition of the Times for further review of this program and its changes to entrance examination from use of the ACT standardized test to a TEAS examination which is a test specifically designed to assess a student’s preparedness to enter the health science fields.

Ammons also noted a need for greater outreach and recruitment into high school programs as an avenue to boost enrollment and student outcome percentages for the program.

* Other business

The board was notified that more than 140 graduates are scheduled to receive their certificates and associate degrees from the college in person at a commencement ceremony on May 15.

The board also heard of the health information technology management program under design and review for curriculum and medical billing programming with a goal for the new program to begin courses in the fall of this year, pending state approval.

The national certifications the program would prepare students for, would allow for remote work outside of Ohio and West Virginia, too, according to college officials.