Lake Campus adding medical program in 2016

CELINA - Incoming Lake Campus Dean Jay Albayyari made the rounds Tuesday afternoon at the Celina Rotary Club, introducing himself to members and making a huge announcement about a new program.

"We are going to have a full-blown medical degree to graduate physician-practitioners here on the Lake Campus," Albayyari said to overwhelming applause. "We are very excited about this."

Though details were few, Albayyari said he'd like to see the program start in the fall of 2016. Albayyari said the dean of Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine is coming to Celina next week to discuss the program further with him.

"It should hopefully be a done deal. It's not official yet but we will have a first year, second year, third year and fourth year," he said about the program.

"As you all know, in rural America we're having difficulty replacing the retirees," he added. "A lot of the big schools that offer med degrees are beginning to get a lot of pressure and losing their subsidy unless they do something about it."

Part of that solution is to collaborate with regional colleges, he said.

"We will be the only regional in Ohio to offer a med degree full-blown, as a matter of fact," he said.

Lake Campus' forthcoming adoption of a medical degree program comes as part of a proposed expansion of facilities and other programs to be funded through the "Rise. Shine. Campaign," which began in October, with a combined goal of $150 million for capital improvements at the Dayton and Celina campuses by the university's 50th anniversary in 2017. So far, the campaign has garnered $113 million, Albayyari said.

Plans for Lake Campus include a new athletics and recreation complex with an all-turf baseball stadium; a connector building uniting Trenary and Dwyer halls; a water quality institute; an advanced manufacturing center; and an agribusiness and food science program. To accommodate the expansion, Wright State recently acquired 38 acres adjacent to the campus, which serves more than 1,200 students.

But both Albayyari and Lake Campus Development Officer Julie Miller stressed officials must raise $8 million locally to help finance the estimated $25 million campus expansion.

"When we reach our $8 million goal (Wright State University) President David Hopkins agreed to, the university will match it with $17 million. So we've got that in writing from them," Miller said.

That's why Albayyari in the coming year will roll up his sleeves and visit local businesses, industries, organizations and other groups to solicit donations and learn of their needs, Miller said.

"I don't see a reason why in five, six years, we couldn't be 3,000, 4,000 strong in terms of enrollment," Albayyari said. "I'm just excited. Just imagine having a med degree in here. That's going to create a lot of noise and attract a lot of students."

In addition to the med program, Albayyari said he's also thrilled about new programs for nursing, agriculture, business, food science and engineering. Lake Campus, he said, is adding the kind of programs normally seen at a university's main branch.

Miller said the mechanical engineering program is growing by leaps and bounds, as 17 recent graduates were placed with local industries.

"So they're staying here. It's working. We're retaining that talent. They're going to be the future leaders of tomorrow. We're excited about that," she said.

The school needs to brace for the prospect of quick growth and is considering adding a third dormitory.

"We're going to have 32 students this fall enter our bachelor of science in nursing," she said. "It's a four-year, face-to-face program. It was a competitive admissions process direct from high school and we see that only growing. Next year we'll probably open that up to have some nontraditional students come back and finish a bachelor's and within four years we should be well over 400 students in that program if it really grows like we think it's going to grow."

Albayyari comes from Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne, where he was the associate vice chancellor for research and external support.

He and his wife now live in Celina, he said.

Albayyari earned his bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Albayyari in 1995 started teaching at Northern Kentucky University as an assistant professor of manufacturing engineering. From August 1999 until June 2006, he was the professor of mechanical engineering technology at Eastern Michigan. He then began his career at IPFW where he held several positions: chair of engineering technology departments; associate dean of college of engineering for technology and computer science; and associate vice chancellor for research, engagement and sponsored events.