Regional Academic Center History

THE BEGINNING OF THE REGIONAL ACADEMIC CENTER—
FROM ONE CLASSROOM TO AN ENTIRE BUILDING

The "Old School", as it endearingly called by long time residents of Twinsburg, is located in the heart of Twinsburg, Ohio—on the corners of route 82 and route 91.  After the Twinsburg Public Schools moved from this location, the "Old School" building was used as a senior center, outreach program, theatrical business and more.  The "Old School" is now home to the Regional Academic Center, an extension of Kent State University Geauga Campus.  Today, the Regional Academic Center has an enrollment of over 700 students.  Students enrolled have an opportunity to earn college credits towards a variety of degrees.

Regional Academic Center has come a long way from 1991 when a Kent State University professor loaded up his car with textbooks, teaching materials and drove to the Chrysler Stamping Plant in Twinsburg to offer employees an opportunity to take Kent State University courses.  Growing enrollment enabled those courses to move to the "Old School" to use a classroom.  Enrollment continued to grow and course offerings expanded.  In addition to the Stamping Plant employees, the public was also welcomed to enroll in classes held at the Center. One staff member from the Geauga Campus was hired to oversee the Center. 

Course offerings in 1994 consisted of six classes—Accounting, Business Law & Ethics, Introduction to Computers, Computer Programming, Windows and Networking.  Today, the Regional Academic Center offers over one hundred courses.  The Center is a vibrant school with a full staff and faculty offering classes Monday through Saturday.    The staff is friendly and helpful.  Vania Alvarez-Minah, Enrollment Management and Student Services Advisor, said "It is exciting to work here!  The variety of students attending range from recent high school graduates to returning adults working to complete a Bachelor or Associate degree."