CEAS enrollment growth aligns with UC goal of more STEM grads

At the close of 2020, the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati is celebrating growth that aligns with efforts by UC to increase the number of graduates in STEM fields and produce a skilled group to enhance the burgeoning Cincinnati Innovation District created earlier this year through a partnership with Ohio and the city. 

The number of first-year students entering the College of Engineering and Applied Science rose by nearly 8% from 2019 to 2020. Retention of students between the first and second year has grown by more than 3% from 2018, remaining at 90 percent in both 2019 and 2020. 

A growing pool of STEM scholars from UC could expand the number of graduates working in those fields in the state, which is a goal set forth by the university and the state of Ohio. 

At a March 2020 event, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that JobsOhio, the state’s economic development corporation, was making an investment of up to $100 million intended to result in 15,000 STEM graduates from UC over the next decade, and expand UC’s research efforts and real estate development with the Cincinnati Innovation District toward a goal to create 20,000 new high-skilled jobs and generate $3 billion of annual economic impact. 

The Cincinnati Innovation District is anchored by UC and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. It includes UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub and the Digital Futures building, a state-of-the-art research facility under construction.

“It is great to see our Next Lives Here vision truly resonating with thought leaders across Ohio,” said UC President Neville Pinto at the March announcement. “This historic investment in our academic mission only reaffirms the world-class talent and immense promise of our faculty, staff and students. I want to extend a special thanks to my leadership team for partnering with JobsOhio to see this endeavor to success.”

The Cincinnati Innovation District has been bolstered further in recent months by a UC agreement with Microsoft to attract tech talent to the region and develop digital skills programming for UC’s students and faculty. In another partnership, consumer products company Kao USA is opening a new innovation center inside of UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub and will also work with UC’s Venture Lab tech accelerator and business incubator. These opportunities open the doors for students from CEAS and other UC colleges to collaborate and gain experience with leading companies. 

Other established tenants co-locating in the Cincinnati Innovation District include Fortune 500, mid-sized and start-up businesses, such as Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Cincinnati Bell, CincyTech, Fifth Third Bank, FIS, Hillman Accelerator, Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Kingsgate Logistics and others.