Toledo Public Schools, BGSU develop pathway for students to earn transfer credits

Partnership will support students in TPS aerospace program

Toledo Public Schools (TPS) and Bowling Green State University have developed a pathway for TPS aerospace students to earn transfer credits to the University.

TPS currently operates an aerospace program at Toledo Express Airport that trains high school students to become aircraft mechanics and earn an Airframe and Powerplant certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. Soon, students who graduate from the Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo will be able to receive at least 24 transfer credit hours to BGSU.

“BGSU is proud to provide opportunities for the students of Toledo Public Schools Aerospace and Natural Science Academy to continue their education without leaving northwest Ohio,” said BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey. “The students will have opportunities to pursue coursework that will lead to degrees in aviation studies, engineering technology, environmental science and biology.”

The partnership will provide a seamless pathway between the Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo and associate and bachelor’s degree programs at BGSU Firelands and in the College of Technology, Architecture, and Applied Engineering or the College of Arts and Sciences at BGSU.

The partnership also creates an opportunity for BGSU to expand College Credit Plus offerings at TPS to provide students with additional course credits toward associate and bachelor’s degrees and to expand Career and Technical Transfer Assurance coursework transferable to BGSU.

“We are pleased with our existing College Credit Plus partnership with Toledo Public Schools,” Mazey said. “This new partnership creates even more opportunity to expand College Credit Plus offerings with TPS and to provide students with additional course credits toward associate and/or bachelor’s degree completion.”

The agreement is expected to be finalized by Dec. 31, with impact to students transferring to BGSU in the fall 2018 semester.

The pathway announcement comes at the same time the Port Authority of Lucas County announced an approximate $4.5 million investment to renovate an existing structure at the airport to become the core curricular center for students enrolled in the academy’s programs. There are 350 spots in the academy’s programs and the job market is promising. The aviation industry anticipates a shortage of more than 113,000 aviation technicians over the next 15 years.