Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tours nursing, robotics facilities at BGSU

Ohio’s workforce needs were on center stage as Gov. Mike DeWine toured Bowling Green State University Thursday, with visits to the robotics lab that prepares students for careers in advanced manufacturing and logistics, and the newly launched School of Nursing.

The University has been expanding its nursing programs and investing in state-of-the-art learning facilities to address the state’s increasing need for health care professionals. DeWine spoke with students and faculty members from the nursing program during the tour of Central Hall, the new home to the University’s School of Nursing that officially opened to students in August.

“We are pleased to host the governor at BGSU and are appreciative of his support of higher education in Ohio,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “As a public university for the public good, BGSU is steadfast in its commitment to create and enhance academic programs to educate students to have successful careers and support Ohio’s workforce needs.”

“These are all areas where there is great need to expand the workforce and it’s great to see so many promising students preparing for these fields,” DeWine said.

BGSU invested $3 million in the creation of the nursing facility, which features a 19-bed skills lab space with audio and visual equipment to assist students in guided reflection and debriefing, as well as a simulation center with five computerized manikins: a newborn, a child, an adult, a birthing mom and a geriatric model. Four simulation rooms mimic a hospital environment to provide students with realistic patient care.

BGSU has leveraged innovative partnerships within the public and private sector to strengthen its nursing programs and ensure curriculum meets industry needs, including its public-public partnership with the Wood County Health Department, the Wood County Hospital and Mercy Health.

The University continues to see sustained growth in its nursing programs, with the introduction of new, in-demand degree options.

With 10 industrial training robots featuring integrated automation and control systems, the lab prepares students for work with emerging technologies in the area of robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Similar to its investment and partnerships with the nursing program, BGSU is exploring potential public and private partnerships with regional advanced manufacturing and logistics entities to meet a growing demand in the state.

“BGSU is uniquely positioned to address the talent gap in the advanced manufacturing and logistics fields, both geographically because of our location on the I-75 corridor, and through strong partnerships within the region,” Rogers said. “We hear what the industry is saying, and based on the success of programs such as nursing, we believe in the opportunity to grow our persons in these fields to meet current and future workforce needs."

BGSU offers several applied engineering programs in the Department of Engineering Technologies, including mechatronics engineering technology, mechanical and manufacturing engineering technology, systems engineering and an online quality systems program.