Rhodes State College

Rhode State College shares their campus with Ohio State University, Lima Campus. It is a public, state assisted institution offering 2-year degrees. James A. Rhodes State College is a two-year, state-assisted institution located in Allen County in west-central Ohio. Although its legally chartered district, established by the Ohio Board of Regents, is limited to Allen County, Rhodes State's service area extends to nine other surrounding counties. The College was established in direct response to Allen County leaders' expressed need for post-secondary technical education. In February 1967, the Lima Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey to identify the technical education needs more clearly. The survey results served as the basis for the College's Official Plan submitted to the Ohio Board of Regents. The Regents subsequently appropriated funds to The Ohio State University (OSU) to construct facilities on its Lima Campus to accommodate technical education. Penta County Technical Institute of Perrysburg, Ohio was invited by the Ohio Board of Regents and OSU to assume operational control of technical education on the Lima Campus. The first class, representing 49 nursing students, enrolled at the Lima Technical Center in September 1969. In June 1971, upon further recommendation of the Ohio Board of Regents, and in accordance with the Ohio Board of Regents-Master Plan of 1966, the Allen County Technical College District was created under the provisions of Chapter 3357 of the Ohio Revised Code. Interim operation of technical education was transferred from Penta County Technical Institute to OSU. On September 17, 1971, a local Board of Trustees was appointed and assumed legal, statutory, and fiduciary control of the College. On May 18, 1972, the College was officially recognized as Lima Technical College (LTC). In 2002, Lima Technical College changed its name to James A. Rhodes State College, in honor of former governor James A. Rhodes, who played a role in establishing Ohio's two-year college system.