Ohio created a 'Centers of Excellence' program four months ago, tapping specific state schools to focus a curicullum on Advanced Energy.
In this round, 14 schools were selected; to focus on bio-medical and health care research.
Among them are Case Western Reserve, which will focus on five health areas; Cleveland State, which will host a Center of 21st Century Health Professionals and Researchers; and Kent State - whose center will concentrate on the Health of Individuals and Communities.
Provost Bob Frank of KSU says there are less than 20 bacculareate degree programs in Public Health in the U.S, and for Kent State, the designation is integral to their goals of growing the Public Health sector into a major part of the university.
BOB FRANK: "With a focus on it by Kent State, it really becomes a true mark of excellence for Kent State and benefits the state in a way that's truly excellent."
Those benefits to Ohio come in forms of both research dollars, and recognition, which Governor Strickland said today would generate new economic growth, and new, hard-to-outsource jobs.
Bob Frank says there is already early growth, with more than 30 students signed up to major in Public Health at Kent State, and that all the participating universities can use this as a way to keep top Ohio high school students who might otherwise have left the state for schooling, here at home.
25 faculty members will be hired at Kent State alone, to create its' new center.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
