Located in the small city of Lima, OH, James A. Rhodes State College provides a traditional blend of career development programs and academic degrees for students seeking to better their job prospects or begin their college careers.
Named for a former Ohio governor, the college shares a campus with Ohio State University’s Lima campus and has close ties to OSU, making it easy for Rhodes students to transfer to the university or take advantage of its programs.
Of particular note are the college’s health programs, which are very successful in preparing students for careers in the health field. Rhodes students have a very high success rate in passing state licensure exams.
History
James A. Rhodes State College opened as Lima Technical Center in the late 1960s. The school started out offering nursing classes to a small number of students. By the mid-1990s, enrollment had grown to more than 2,500 students and a wide variety of courses and programs were offered at the college. In 2002, the college became James A. Rhodes State College, renamed for a former Ohio governor. Governor Rhodes served as Ohio governor for four non-consecutive four-year terms between 1963 and 1983, one of the few governors in the U.S. to serve four four-year terms.
James A Rhodes State College
Academics
James A. Rhodes State College offers career and academic classes and has a very heavy emphasis on health-related programs. Also of interest are the college’s computer and engineering courses. Engineering courses at James A. Rhodes State College are typically relevant to manufacturing and industry.
Popular Majors
Altogether, the college offers about 90 associate and career technical programs. The most popular majors at James A. Rhodes State College include:
Health: 54 percent of enrollment
Business: 14 percent of enrollment
Engineering: 11 percent of enrollment
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 8 percent of enrollment
Like many community colleges, Rhodes offers distance learning courses to help provide more delivery options for students with family and work responsibilities.
The college’s library is home to more than 80,000 research materials and students are also able to request items from Ohio State University libraries. James A. Rhodes State College also provides a number of services to help support its students, including a testing center, a reading and math center and other tutoring services.
Transfer of Credits
The college has articulation agreements in place with a variety of four-year schools to ensure that Rhodes credits transfer to colleges and universities. The college also has programs allowing high school students to take courses at Rhodes for high school and college credit.
Recognition
The college has recently been recognized for achievements in providing educational excellence, winning,the UJAMAA Community Enrichment Award in 2010 and being a National Bellweather Award Finalist in Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.
Accreditation
The college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits schools in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The association also accredits schools for the Navajo Nation.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at James A Rhodes State College.
James A. Rhodes State College has an open admissions policy, meaning that any student with a high school diploma or GED will be accepted. However, some programs, such as nursing and health, may have ACT test score and other requirements.
Students may be asked to take a COMPASS placement test to determine whether they will need to take remedial courses.
The school has a rolling admissions deadline, but students applying for financial aid should turn in their documentation by Feb. 15. Students should complete the FAFSA and turn in high school transcripts as well as test score and other relevant information.
As of Sept. 2011, the college has a $25 application fee.
Financial Aid
Students applying to James A. Rhodes State College are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of Ohio, the college itself, and other outside organizations that students may be eligible for. For example, the Lima Rotary Club offers scholarships for residents of Allen County to attend James A. Rhodes State College.
The college’s website includes a comprehensive list of scholarships and other programs, such as short-term loans, students can use to attend class at Rhodes and the college’s office of financial aid stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships for which they may qualify. About 80 percent of James A. Rhodes State College students receive financial aid of some type.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
James A Rhodes State College 3757th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Ohio scholarships and financial aid
James A. Rhodes State College enrolls more than 4,000 students. The average student age at James A. Rhodes State College is 25, and about 45 percent of Rhodes students are older than 25.
Student Clubs and Organizations
James A. Rhodes State College offers more than 20 student clubs and organizations, including professional and academic groups, religious groups, political organizations and recreation groups like the Grub Club, which explores cultural diversity through food.
The college has a newsletter, The Communicator. Also the college regularly sponsors What’s On Wednesdays programs for student entertainment. In partnership with OSU, Rhodes offers theatre and choral programs to students interested in the performing arts.
Campus Facilities
The college has an open gym that students can use to keep fit. For students who are parents, the college has a child care center offering services to children ranging in age from six weeks to six years. More than a daycare, the center offers children structured activities intended to foster their later education.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at James A Rhodes State College?
Rhodes is a member of the NJCCA and participates in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference. The college offers men’s basketball, baseball and golf; and women’s basketball and volleyball as well as a number of intramural sports for students.
James A. Rhodes State College teams are known as the Barons.
Bibliography
“Rhodes State College.” Rhodes State College. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2011. <http://www.rhodesstate.edu/>
The College Board College Handbook, 2010 . 47th ed. New York: College Board, 2009. Print.
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Lima, OH 45804
p. 419-221-1112
w. www.rhodesstate.edu