Ohio's Central State U: 'Net Copycat Victim?

WILBERFORCE, Ohio (TDB) -- Remember the line that went something like this from the old TV game show To Tell the Truth: Will the real Dr. Spock please stand up? Now glance at the Web sites HERE and HERE. Any chance of confusion? Will the real Central State stand up?

And what about the WARNING on the first Website?

Ohio officials ought to take action that would eliminate further potential for a mixup. Perhaps this is a case for Attorney General Marc Dann to crack.

Besides sharing the same name, the colleges in Ohio and California seem to share the same school colors. Coincidence? Ohio's Central State (the second Web click above) is a public university that has been around for 150 years. The California version is a privately owned institution that looks to be a proprietary school meant to make a profit.

Central State (Ohio version) President John Garland was at the Ohio Board of Regents this week making a pitch for an extra $33 million in state funding for campus building improvements and repairs, student financial aid and academic program enhancements. The historically black college has about 2,000 students. Garland's goal is to retain students and grow. Regents and lawmakers would have to act on the program.

Last January, the regents approved giving the school an extra $4 million. Here's what the minutes say: "Central State University has identified a need for $4 million for its Center of Education & Natural Sciences project. This project, when completed, will provide a facility to house and support the CSU College of Education, Natural Sciences and Institute for Urban Education programs. Currently the College of Education shares space within the library that is inadequate to fulfill the mission of the College of Education program. Natural Sciences are currently housed in Banneker Hall, a facility that is grossly inadequate to support modern science education. Phase I, currently under way, will provide space for the College of Education. This request will provide support to full fund Phase II, which will provide the science facilities for this building."

The regents' action from a year ago is HERE. The surprise is this: All of Ohio's campuses were deteriorating and $5 billion in repairs were needed. "There is a backlog of expensive and critically needed renovation, rehabilitation and replace projects on Ohio's campuses," the report said.

Sooner or later, the campuses will be fixed. But why not do something right away? Why doesn't somebody in power in Columbus find out what is going on with what seems to be a Web look-a-like? Is it poaching? Is it coincidence?

Ohio Regents & Central State U: More Students Needed

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The Ohio Board of Regents, an 11-member body that is the coordinating agency for higher eduction in the state, plans a special meeting today about Central State University, which needs more students to remain economically viable. Central State in Wilberforce is 150 years old. It is one of the nation's predominantly black colleges with a fairly glorious history -- but it has struggled of late.

Don't confuse the Ohio school with
THIS California entity that uses the same name and school colors. It seems to be some kind of "distance learning" operation that is conferring advanced degrees in Asia and around the world. There is more HERE. Inquiring minds might wonder: Should Ohio officials launch some kind of legal action to guard the state school's historic name and reputation? Also, the California school's Web site shows some students receiving doctoral degrees. This is from a report by the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization, a government agency that monitors the use of academic credentials in that state :

"Central State University
California, Canada
Not a state school. Canadian and other foreign 'affiliates' do not have appropriate legal status as degree-granters."

In Ohio, the regents huddle at 4 p.m. The agenda says:

"The purpose of the meeting is to consider strategies to significantly increase enrollments at Central State University to a level that will allow the university to operate efficiently and effectively within the Ohio system for funding higher education institutions. The strategy focuses on major efforts to attract and retain students through developing partnerships with colleges and universities and strategic investments in academic programs, faculty and support personnel."

One move that could be on the table -- hooking the school to two-year community colleges in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus. Also under consideration -- automatically opening the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University grad schools to Central State degree holders. Central State struggled during the 1990s, and was wrecked and rebuilt in 1974 after a massive tornado (the same one that destroyed nearby Xenia). The school has a strong constituency in the black community, and there is a determination to persevere and keep it going. A major strike against the campus: It is in a rural SW Ohio setting. The students it hopes to attract are urban.

Here is the regents advisory about today's special meeting. And here is a
link to the Ohio school's Web site. It is far more comprehensive than what the California entity's has posted online about its operations. And HERE is a recent article about the school.