Trustees see positive momentum, renews president’s contract
The Terra State Board of Trustees, with an unanimous vote, extended President Ronald Schumacher’s contract through 2024 on Wednesday, May 26 at their monthly meeting held in the Neeley Center on Terra State’s campus.
“He is leading Terra State on to bigger and better things…we can’t wait to see what’s next,” said Chairperson Kay Reiter.
Under Schumacher’s leadership, Terra State saw back-to-back semesters with increased enrollment for the first time in over three years. This leveled off during the COVID-19 pandemic but has not stopped the College from moving in a positive direction. He has led three years of annual budgets in the black.
In fact, since his inauguration in 2018, President Schumacher has set the foundation for the College’s future with the implementation of the new strategic plan, celebrated the College’s 50th anniversary and lead safety precautions through the pandemic – including controlling access to campus, moving classes online, equipping employees to work remotely and hosting vaccine clinics – all so that the College could continue to serve students.
He established the Roy Klay Scholars program, which is the College’s first full-ride academic scholarship; launched a new construction technology program; opened The Landings at Terra Village, the second community college residence hall in Ohio; reinstated athletics with men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball (with baseball starting this coming year); initiated a dual admission agreement with Tiffin University called DragonNext and brought CDL training back to campus through a partnership with Trainco.
The College has secured over $3.6 million in grant funds through the USDA Rural Development, Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) RAPIDS, US Department of Labor Job Corps Scholars, ODHE Short-term Certificates, ODHE Foster Youth, Dorn Foundation Charitable Impact Fund, Choose Ohio First, Ohio Department of Education Equity for Each, Ohio Department of Commerce Financial Literacy, Sandusky County Communities Foundation, Arts Midwest, Erie County Community Foundation, Tiffin Community Foundation, Power & Communication Contractors Association/Wireless Infrastructure Association, Closing the Skills Gap and most recently two Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Partnerships and others under President Schumacher’s guidance.
”I want to thank the board of trustees for their unanimous support and belief in my leadership! We have assembled an incredible leadership team that works nonstop to bring Terra State back to prominence. I also want to thank all of our faculty, staff and students for all they do to continually bring about positive change for the programs at the college that they represent,” said President Schumacher, “We will continue to move the college forward as a team, focusing on infrastructure and continued growth of academic programs through new equipment purchases as well as increasing academic rigor within all of our academic programs. I look forward to the continued challenge we have in front of us to strengthen Terra State and the greater Fremont area, as well as Sandusky, Seneca and Ottawa counties.”