Portage County College Access Network

The Portage County College Access Program (PCCAN) was created in 2007 and is a collaborative partnership of the Ravenna School District, Kent State University, the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN), PARTA, and the Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC).  As a 501-c-3 charity, CAC of Portage Count acts as the fiscal agent for the project.     

The mission of the Portage County College Access Network--in collaboration with local education, business, government and other non-profits--is to foster a culture within the county to support current educational endeavors that facilitate graduation from high school and transition to postsecondary education including 4-year colleges or universities, 2-year colleges, trade schools, 2-year technical schools and apprenticeships.  In accomplishing that mission, PCCAN seeks to develop and implement college and career readiness activities in local school districts so as to provide students with a wide variety of information, knowledge, and assistance related to the college-going process.  Students meet throughout the school year and PCCAN classes are conducted by school guidance counselors.

In 2016, efforts are focused on students enrolled in the Ravenna School District but future expansion of the program is anticipated.    All PCCAN activities are funded by donations and fund-raising activities, and the partners have established an endowment fund administered by the Portage Foundation to assist with fund-raising and future scholarship activities.   Since its inception, PCCAN has provided over 100 book scholarships to students participating in PCCAN activities in the Ravenna School District and Kent City Schools totaling nearly $25,000.