Michael Baston Featured on 'Smart Business Magazine' Cover for June

Tri-C President discusses importance of aligning academic programs with economic needs

Michael A. Baston wants to align the academic offerings of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) with the needs of Northeast Ohio’s economy. As part of his vision as the fifth president of Tri-C, Baston plans to provide everyone in the region with the skills to succeed and the education to enter a career with family-sustaining wages.

In an interview with Smart Business Magazine, Baston said Tri-C is clarifying its offerings and opportunities, redesigning the student experience and refreshing the institution’s value proposition throughout the community to connect students with workforce opportunities.

He also urged local businesses to rethink their approach to recruiting and retaining talent by looking beyond educational credentials and prioritizing skills.

“We have felt for too long in this country that educational credentials, like the baccalaureate degree, should be the gateway credential,” Baston said. “Because of that, businesses have lost out on talented and skilled people who didn’t have that gateway credential. I would encourage businesses to focus more on the skills and work with places like Tri-C to get the credentials, so we’re not losing access to wonderfully talented people because we’re emphasizing the completion of a degree. If we’re not prioritizing skills, we’re leaving stranded assets.”

Read the full interview at sbonline.com.

June 08, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu