Miami University part of inaugural statewide Workforce Training Directory
University is one of seven Gold Star Institutions identified by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
Miami University part of inaugural statewide Workforce Training Directory
University is one of seven Gold Star Institutions identified by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
Miami University has been recognized as one of seven inaugural Gold Star Institutions by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA), it was announced on Thursday.
Part of OMA’s launch of its statewide Workforce Training Directory, Gold Star Institutions are noted for their deeper engagement in employer-aligned training, career awareness, talent pipeline development, and work-based learning. There are 11 education and training institutions featured in the Workforce Training Directory, seven with Gold Star Institution distinction and four Silver-Tier Partners.
Along with a curriculum assessment against Ohio’s Manufacturing Competency Model, Gold Star Institutions also demonstrate active engagement in the five pillars of Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint.
Miami University Polytechnic was approved by the Miami University Board of Trustees in June 2026 and enables students to benefit from the polytechnic education model with more pathways and a faster timeline toward a degree or credentials.
“Miami University is proud to be among the inaugural Gold Star Institutions as part of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s Workforce Training Directory,” Miami University President Gregory Crawford said. “We are committed to fostering an innovative environment where our students learn those needed skills that employers and businesses depend upon. By collaborating with community and industry partners, Miami Polytechnic is empowering our students to meet the changing needs of the workforce.”
Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub (AM Hub) on the Hamilton campus, Miami Polytechnic is home to advanced manufacturing education, training, and industry partnerships. AM Hub provides space for joint programming between Miami, Butler Tech, and OhioMeansJobs Butler County and serves as the foundation for workforce readiness and advanced manufacturing.
“At Miami University Polytechnic, students learn by doing, through Work+, internships, and hands-on training at Miami's Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub,” said Melissa Thomasson, interim vice president and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science. “They work with industry partners while they study and train on the same equipment manufacturers use.”
Three Miami Polytechnic programs will be available in fall 2027: Engineering Technology, Information Technology, and Applied Biology.
“Connecting education and industry is a core tenet of Miami University Polytechnic,” said Randi Malcolm Thomas, vice president of ASPIRE. “As a Gold Star Institution, Miami Polytechnic takes another important step in supporting Ohio’s manufacturing workforce development. Our hands-on, work-based approach to learning ensures our students are workforce ready from day one.”
Founded in 1910, OMA’s mission is to protect and grow manufacturing in Ohio.
The inaugural group for the Workforce Training Directory includes universities, community colleges, Ohio Technical Centers, career technical centers, and specialized training providers. A news release from OMA indicated the directory will continue to expand.
“Ohio's manufacturing future depends on more than what we make. It depends on the people who will figure out how to make it better,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Miami University recognizes that preparing the next generation of talent isn't just about filling today's jobs. It's about giving Ohio manufacturers the people and ideas they need to compete tomorrow.”