Rule 3333-1-16 | The STEM Public-Private Partnership Pilot Program.
(A) The rule is established by authority conferred upon the chancellor of higher education by section 733.13 of Amended Substitute House Bill 64 of the 131st General Assembly.
(B) Policy and intent
The purpose of the STEM public-private partnership pilot program is to encourage public-private partnerships between high schools, colleges, and the community to provide high school students the opportunity to receive education and training in a targeted industry, as defined by JobsOhio established under section 187.01 of the Revised Code, while simultaneously earning high school and college credit for the course.
(C) General
(1) Partnerships shall consist of one community college or state community college, one or more private companies, and one or more high schools, either public or private.
(2) For purposes of the program, the partnering community college or state community college shall pursue one targeted industry during the pilot period. However, the college may partner with multiple private companies within that industry.
(3) The chancellor shall develop an application and review process to select the five partnerships to receive grants under the program. The community college or state community college shall be responsible for submitting the application for the partnership to the chancellor. The application shall include a proposed budget for the program. Students that take courses offered under the program shall earn college credit for that class from the community or state community college.
(4) Students, high schools, and colleges that participate in this program shall do so under the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code.
(5) The curriculum offered by the program shall be developed by and agreed upon by all members of the partnership.
(6) The private company or companies that are part of the partnership shall provide full- or part-time facilities to be used as classroom space.
(D) Application requirements
The chancellor shall issue a request for proposal that will be posted on the chancellor's website ohiohighered.org. The request for proposal will set forth the eligible costs and other requirements. The chancellor will then select the five partnerships for the program based on the following considerations:
(1) Whether the partnership existed before the application was submitted;
(2) Whether the program is oriented toward a targeted industry;
(3) The likelihood of a student gaining employment upon graduating from high school or upon completing a two-year degree in the industry to which the program is oriented in relation to its geographic region;
(4) The number of students projected to be served;
(5) The program's cost-per-student;
(6) The sustainability of the program beyond the duration of the two-year pilot program;
(7) The level of investment made by the private company partner or partners in the program, including use of facilities, equipment, and staff and financially.
(8) Other criteria as determined by the chancellor.
(E) Application review and program awards
The chancellor shall review each application submitted in response to a request for proposals. Applications received from entities deemed to be ineligible to submit applications as defined in the request for proposals shall not be reviewed. Applications will be scored on a set rubric developed by the chancellor.
The chancellor shall notify each applicant of the decision concerning each respective application.
(F) Award agreement
(1) Any recipient of the STEM public-private partnership pilot program award by the chancellor shall enter into an agreement with the chancellor governing the use and disbursement of the award.
(2) Any recipient of an STEM public-private partnership pilot program award by the chancellor may be required to provide the chancellor with periodic program and fiscal reports as provided in the instructions for proposal and agreement.
(3) Award recipients shall agree to maintain financial and non-financial records documenting the activities of the funded program. Such records shall be subject to inspection and review at the discretion of the chancellor to ensure fiscal accountability, operating progress, and desired outcomes.
(4) The chancellor may require an award recipient that violates the terms of its agreement to repay the award plus interest calculated on any outstanding principal balance of that award of not more than four per cent per annum, as described in the request for proposal and agreement. A decision of the chancellor to require such repayment shall be final.
Last updated October 2, 2023 at 8:16 AM
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