Safe at CCMS

As we return to campus, we want to thank everyone for their commitment to keeping CCMS a safe learning environment without sacrificing our high educational standards. Below you will find detailed information on how we are keeping you safe during this unprecedented time. But remember, the pandemic is not over, and each of us has an individual responsibility to protect the entire CCMS family. Your compliance to safety protocols is paramount. Please practice compassion for each other; we are all experiencing heightened levels of stress and doing our best to adapt to the many changes in daily life. We will get through this together and will take every precaution and measure to ensure CCMS is a virus free, safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. Decide to make a difference for good and govern yourself accordingly! 

How are we keeping you safe? 

Read through the topics below to learn how CCMS is maintaining a safe learning environment in this unprecedented time.

• See our COVID-19 Dashboard for real-time stats on how the virus is affecting our campus community. You will see the number of positive cases reported, the number of individuals who have reported symptoms, and the number of individuals who have reportedly had contact with someone who has tested positive. 
• Online learning & accommodations for students and faculty/staff. If you are at higher risk for COVID-19, please visit this page to request an accommodation. 
• Take the Healthy Campus Pledge! As a CCMS student and community member, we ask you to take care of yourself and those around you by pledging your compliance to certain expectations.

Why CCMS? 

Media

Get to know our students, graduates, and staff through the articles and videos below. 

CCMS Newsletters

Check out Mortuary Minutes to stay connected! 

James Patrick Flynn

July 26, 1956 — October 20, 2024

Cincinnati

**In Loving Memory of James Patrick Flynn**

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of James Patrick Flynn, a beloved husband, father, and entrepreneur, who left this world peacefully on October 20, 2024, at the age of 68. Jim is survived by his loving wife Christy, his children Paul and Mariana, his stepchildren David (Nina) and Lisa (Andrew), and his grandchildren Marley, Frankie, Mia and Sophia. He is the son of the late Arthur J. Flynn and Mary Ann (nee Kipp), sibling of Tom (Janette) and Paula Flynn Mertes and the late Janet Smith (Flynn).

Jim was a true Renaissance man of remarkable spirit and boundless love. He dedicated his life to building not only a successful career but also a warm and loving family. As the founder of thriving businesses, he inspired many with his passion for innovation and his unwavering belief in the power of hard work. His entrepreneurial journey was marked by integrity and kindness, traits that endeared him to colleagues and competitors alike.

Proudly born and raised in Cincinnati, Jim had deep roots in his community that extended further over the years. He attended Purcell for high school and forged lifelong friendships through the drama club, Queen’s Men, that he undeniably held close to his heart. He always made time to show each of his friends how much they meant to him in so many unique ways. He also achieved his masters in economics at the University of Cincinnati. Jim was always the first to offer a lending hand to anyone in need. He cherished his friendships and to friends, family and his personal restaurant reservations, he was lovingly known as “Big Jim Daddy,’ as was monogrammed on his famous chef coat. With a diverse collection of interests, hobbies and skills, Jim was the epitome of living life to the fullest. He often spoke of his many cherished years living in Europe and Germany, which shaped his love of culture and travel.

Jim was a man who wore many hats, literally and figuratively. Not only did he build a thriving business from the ground up, but he nurtured it with passion, turning many client relationships into dear friendships. Jim had a knack for knowing something about everything and turning every opportunity into a teachable moment. He was incredibly inquisitive about everything, including airplane flight plans and local history alike. A pillar of the community, he was also a proud Board of Trustee member of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

Above all, Jim cherished his family. He shared an irreplaceable bond with his wife, Christy. Together, they explored the world, creating countless memories filled with laughter and adventure. They both shared a deep love for music that spanned from jazz to opera. Their travels took them to beautiful destinations. However, it was over leisurely breakfasts, often featuring fresh, flaky croissants, where their love flourished. Jim glowed whenever he spoke of his beautiful bride and took so much pride in being her husband. Whether wandering through the streets of Paris or enjoying quiet moments at home, their deep connection and love was evident to all who knew them.

Jim was a proud and loving father to his children Paul and Mariana, instilling in them the values of compassion, resilience, and curiosity. His adoration extended to his stepchildren, David and Nina, and Lisa and Andrew. He delighted in his grandchildren Marley, Frankie, Mia and Sophia and was lovingly known to them as “Papa” and “Papa Bear”. He loved nothing more than gathering his family around the table, sharing stories and homemade food, and creating a sense of belonging that will echo in their hearts forever.

His zest for life was contagious, and the sparkle in his eye and his smile could light up even the darkest days. Jim’s laughter, wisdom, and unwavering support will be profoundly missed by his family and friends. He leaves behind a legacy of love, adventure, and a reminder to savor the simple joys of life— a shared glass of wine, a perfect Provencal sauce, a stunning sunset, and the warmth of family.

Jim Flynn’s spirit will forever remain in the love he shared and the memories he created. May he rest in eternal peace, surrounded by the beauty he cherished in life.

Testimonials

A Message from President

Death Care Profession

Jack E. Lechner, Jr., CFSP, M.S.

President & CEO

LFD/LE (Ohio, Virginia), Certified in Thanatology, Certified Funeral Celebrant, Certified Crematory Operator, Crematory Operator (Ohio permit)

jlechner@ccms.edu

Mr. Lechner was appointed as the President of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in January of 2016.  Immediately prior to coming to CCMS he was the Integrated Logistics Systems Division Chief at Headquarters, Department of the Army, Pentagon where he was responsible for ensuring the integrated logistics support for the entire lifecycle of all the Army’s combat platform acquisitions of more than $480 million during a fiscal year or procurement of more than $2.79 billion for the life of the program.

One day after his retirement ceremony from the Army, Colonel Jack E. Lechner, Jr. was asked to revoke his retirement orders and accept an assignment from the Secretary of the Army to Arlington National Cemetery.  He reported in June 2010 as part of a new leadership team empowered to restore honor to Arlington National Cemetery following a serious scandal in 2010.   He served as the Executive Officer, Cemetery Administrator, Deputy Superintendent, and culminated his five-year tenure by serving as Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery until 10 August 2015.  Mr. Lechner has been a licensed death care provider since 1976.

Read more about Mr. Lechner

President Code of Responsibility 

Adjunct Faculty

Staff

Board of Trustees

Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education

Student Body

Housing

Campus 

Floor Plan

Cincinnati

Lab Facilities

Embalming Applications Lab

Anatomy & Dissection Lab

Restorative Art Lab

Our Clinical Services

Anatomical Transport Protocol

Learning Resource Center & Student Services

Library Catalog

Collection Development Policy

Library Use Policy

Learning Resource Center Mission

Shop CCMS

Mission

History

Statistics & Outcomes

This page provides ABFSE directory information and collects data on the school's National Board Exam scores, college graduation rates, employment rate, and student-faculty ratios. 

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation rates,  and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs.

Accreditation

Safety 

Text Message Alerts

Title IX

Emergency Notification and Response Policy

Drugs & Alcohol

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Nondiscrimination Policy

Disability & Accommodation Policy

Student Complaints

Consumer Information Links

Healthy Together Pledge

revised January 2022

CCMS News 

Safety Resources

Coronavirus Information

Healthy Campus Pledge: Learn how CCMS faculty, staff, and students are committing to sustaining a safe learning environment. 

CARES Act Reporting: CCMS received monies through the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and filed quarterly reports on the distribution and use of those funds.

Information Technology Usage 

Students

Circulation Policy 

Compliance

COVID-19 Dashboard

The Dashboard provides a snapshot of how COVID-19 has affected the CCMS community. You will find the following information:

• Number of confirmed COVID cases 
• Number of individuals exposed to COVID
• Number of individuals who have reported symptoms
• Number of individuals who have tested negative

The reporting of aggregate data will allow to protect the privacy of student and employee information while enabling us to observe and understand any campus trends around spread.

Accommodations

Clinical Intake Assistants

Qualified enrolled students are eligible to apply for paid clinical intake employment opportunities. Clinical Intake Assistants serve the needs of our lab during nighttime, weekend, and holiday hours under the guidance of the CCMS Clinical Director. 

Accepted and confirmed students will receive information about student employment opportunities with their Student Enrollment Guide. Only enrolled students are eligible to apply for student employment opportunities.

Question? lab@ccms.edu  

Data Privacy Policy 

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (“CCMS”) is committed to the privacy of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and public. The Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal data. This Policy discloses the privacy practices for www.ccms.edu and applies solely to information collected by this website. This website contains links to other sites; be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information. Examples of such sites are: 

• Student information platform (Populi)
• Donation and support platform (e-Tapestry / Blackbaud) 
• Credit card processing gateway (Authorize.net) 
• 3rd party textbooks sales platform (eCampus)
• Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)

Weather Closures

Revised February 2021

Positions Available

For more information about our upcoming events, please click here!

Why should you choose CCMS? There are many mortuary science colleges in the country, but we firmly believe we provide the best education possible. We are often referred to as the "Harvard of mortuary science" and we think that is a good way to describe us! 

Discover what makes CCMS unique through our Testimonials, Compare Us graphic, and a Message from the President. 

Faces of CCMS: Hear from our Alumni

Thank you for your interest in CCMS. Are you considering a career in funeral service? I invite you to explore our website and compare the quality education you will receive at CCMS to other options.

Adam Dwyer

B.M.S., Licensee, Alumnus 

Adam Dwyer graduated from CCMS in 2001 and went on to do trade services for the Greater Cincinnati Funeral Trade Company & Crematory. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Kentucky and Ohio and has six years of funeral home experience. Adam is a Clinical Adjunct Instructor with CCMS.

Demographics

Each year CCMS attracts students from all over the United States.

The typical student body contains representatives from 18-20 different states and will be approximately 40% male and 60% female. The students are diverse in age (19-60, with an average age of 24), experience, and educational background.

The diversity of students results in exposure to a national perspective on funeral service and to a broad perspective on life.

CCMS does not offer on-campus housing. We encourage you to explore the links below. You will receive information on employment opportunities once you have been accepted to CCMS. 

Find a roommate 

You are encouraged to post a roommate request on our Cohort Connection Facebook page. This page is designed just for students and alumni and is an excellent place to find housing and connect with your fellow students.

Housing search websites 

Abodo   Apartment Guide   Apartment List   Craig’s List   For Rent   Hotpads  Point2  Trulia   Zillow   Zumper

Apartment ratings

Apartment Ratings   Renter’s Voice   Yelp

Crime stats 

City Data   Neighborhood Scout

Relocating

Nerd Wallet   Moving.com   Salaries, Cost of Living, and Relocation

CCMS does not endorse or warranty any of the housing/relocation resources provided in this list.

CCMS is located near Finneytown in Cincinnati, Ohio at 645 W. North Bend Rd., with easy access to I-275 and I-75. (Click here for maps/directions.)

Resting on sixteen acres of privately owned land, the CCMS campus was specifically designed to meet the needs of our students. Constructed in 1995, our modern and comfortable learning environment offers its own clinical laboratory facilities, spacious classrooms, specialized learning environments, student lounge, and theater-style lecture auditorium.

Hotels & Getting around 

Cincinnati Public Transportation Bus Schedule

Hotels

Hotels Near CCMS

Traffic alerts

Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science lab facilities are one-of-a-kind, having been designed and constructed on-campus exclusively for our student body. The campus boasts three independent labs that allow students to achieve unparalleled practical experience in embalming, dissection, and restorative art.

CCMS is privileged to partner with area funeral homes, as well as with Cincinnati’s largest anatomical donation program.  To facilitate efficient management of the clinical lab’s high case volume, the college employs one or two students from each class to serve as clinical lab assistants.

CCMS students have the advantage over their competition as a result of their extensive practical learning.

Learn more about our labs below. 

Students participate in hands-on learning under the direction of licensed clinical faculty in the Embalming Applications Lab.

Instructors will familiarize students with:

• personal safety practices
• lab operations and organization
• regulations and legal processes
• instrumentation
• chemicals
• removal and transfer of deceased human remains
• disinfection and preparation
• embalming operations

Gross Anatomy (SCI446) is a semester IV course taken by students in the B.M.S. program. Students work in small groups, under the instruction of experienced faculty, to learn gross anatomy with an emphasis on those areas of the human body of interest to the embalmer, especially the circulatory system. The selfless generosity of those who have chosen to donate their body to science affords CCMS students the great privilege to gain hands-on experience through the study of human cadavers.

In the Restorative Arts Lab, students practice hands-on application of theories learned in lecture.  Students receive instruction to obtain a thorough understanding of the skeletal and muscular structure of the human face and topical placement of features.  Concurrent with this instruction, students work independently with a skeletal armature and restorative model wax to create the depiction of a face of their choosing. Students do not need to be skilled in art to excel in restoration!

You can rest assured that when you entrust your reputation to us, our aim is to achieve the best outcome possible. Our Clinical Outreach Program allows us to offer valuable, affordable services to funeral professionals.

Let us do the work for you! Free up your valuable time, while contributing to the unparalleled clinical experience of the  men and women who will become tomorrow’s leaders in this trusted profession. Working directly under the supervision of licensed faculty, as well as benefiting from diverse experiences and opportunities, makes CCMS students some of the nation’s most sought after graduates in the funeral profession.

Our philosophy is that there is never just one correct approach to achieve a great result, which makes our outreach services a great match for any professional. Share your preferences, techniques, and requests so we can implement them in seeking to achieve your vision. We appreciate the opportunity to assist your business with any of the following service offerings and more:

• Trauma restoration
• Cosmetics and dressing
• Transport
• Student support with funeral services

Contact us with any questions or for more information.

Clinical Lab
clinical@ccms.edu
513-761-3773

Anatomical Donation Program
anatomical@ccms.edu
513-618-1932

Clinical Lab Director

John Vinnedge

Office: 513-618-1922

Assisting a Family with Death of Registered Donor

The medical facility (or appropriate authority, when death occurs outside of a facility) is responsible for contacting the University of Cincinnati Body Donation Program (UC) upon the death of a registered donor.

All pre-registered deceased donors should be transported to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS) during normal business hours or after-hours. The medical facility should assist the family in making transportation arrangements to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. The family decides who will transport the body – either a funeral home or ambulance service – but the facility can make the arrangements. Transportation is the only expense to the family. See the protocol below for deaths occurring during and outside normal business hours.

Scope of Collection

The LRC exists to support the unique academic needs of CCMS students and faculty; therefore, the collection is necessarily narrow in scope. The library acquires materials in a variety of formats that focus on the embalming sciences, funeral directing arts, and other mortuary science-related topics. In addition, the library acquires and maintains a small collection of general education resources.

LRC holdings include:

• Non-fiction (circulating)
• Fiction (circulating)
• Reference
• Curriculum textbooks
• NBE study resources (study guides, compends, and flash-cards)
• Periodicals and Journals related to death care
• Educational videos
• Historical assets dating back to the 1800's
• CCMS Yearbooks (where available)

View the LRC Collection Development Policy

To maintain a safe environment conducive to study, all users are prohibited from engaging in the following activities in the library and media center:

1.       Eating or drinking uncovered beverages

2.       Possessing alcohol, drugs, illegal substances, or weapons

3.       Behaving in an abusive, sexual, or harassing manner

4.       Stealing or defacing library materials, college property, or other’s private property

5.       Selling, soliciting, panhandling, or loitering on library property

6.       Being intoxicated or impaired

7.       Emitting strong body odors that interfere with or disrupt others from using the library

8.       Using furniture, library equipment, and facilities in a manner for which they were not intended

9.       Duplicating or distributing copyrighted materials outside the guidelines of academic fair use

10.     Accessing pornographic and other offensive materials

11.     Violating the terms of the Information Technology Usage Policy

12.     Engaging in any behavior that disrupts other library users

13.     Any other action deemed inappropriate by college administration

Any breach of these policies will be considered a violation of the student code of conduct.

For more information on the library and its policies and mission, see the college’s website and Student Handbook, or any or contact the Director of Learning Resources.

Download published policy here.

The LRC mission is to support the learning, research, and instructional needs of CCMS students and faculty. To accomplish this, the LRC commits to:

Understand the academic needs of its users

Build and maintain a collection that supports those academic needs

Promote the library’s resources to students, faculty and staff

Promote the library’s resources to potential students, visitors, and the broader community

Create a welcoming environment for study, research, and learning

Provide access to technology that enhances learning and research

In addition to supporting the CCMS curriculum, the LRC seeks to:

Expand the library’s holdings to include formats such as audio books, e-books, and digitized historical mortuary science texts

Provide access to emerging technologies and learning opportunities

Promote lifelong learning, information literacy, and critical thinking

Offer technology classes and one-on-one training

 The LRC upholds the following principles:

Access - The LRC offers equitable access to information, ideas, and creative works for all its users.

Intellectual Freedom - The LRC encourages its users to explore ideas without fear of judgment from library staff. The library respects the diversity of opinions, cultures, and beliefs of its users.

Lifelong Learning - The LRC seeks to instill in students a sense of the importance of learning in all stages of life, even after formal schooling has ended.

Confidentiality and Privacy - The LRC regards all circulation and reference transactions as confidential and will not share this information with third parties, unless given express permission by the library patron in question or as required by law.

Library Bill of Rights - The LRC also supports the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

 Download published mission here.

A leader in funeral service education since 1882!

As embalming developed into a respected trade during the Civil War, it became necessary to standardize the embalming process and train embalmers in a school setting. To meet this need, our founder Joseph Henry Clarke established the Clarke School of Embalming in 1882 and would eventually become known as the “father of American embalming schools.”

CCMS is accredited both regionally (HLC) and professionally (ABFSE). Our accreditation offers not only the assurance of a comprehensive curriculum, but also the benefit of knowing that all CCMS credits earned can be easily transferred to any college or university for those who opt to pursue further studies.

Accredited colleges, universities, and programs are those which are accredited by one of six regional associations. Accreditation is a non-government standards-based process which scrutinizes and reviews institutions through quality assurance and improvement, easing the transfer of credits between higher learning institutes.

Report an Incident

In the event that a student witnesses or is a victim of any crime, violence, sexual assault, building entry, damage to the building, vandalism, or other criminal activity, the student should:

1. Retreat to safety
2. Seek medical attention if needed
3. Inform law enforcement of the incident (CCMS strongly suggests that a victim of sexual assault report the incident in a timely manner. Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation).
4. Complete an Incident Report.

Students are encouraged to opt in for text message alerts, which will be sent for weather and emergency notifications. See Weather Closures and Emergency Preparation for more information.

Clery Act

Title IX Policy

CCMS is committed to encouraging and sustaining a healthy and safe learning community that is free from sex/gender discrimination, harassment, and violence.  To that end, and consistent with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and the Violence Against Women Act, CCMS implements a comprehensive policy that applies to admissions, employment, and all other CCMS education programs and activities whether academic, educational, or co-curricular. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities to include sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct. Sex includes, but is not limited to, biological sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy.  As an educational institution receiving federal funds, CCMS is compliant with all requirements under Title IX.

Click here to view Title IX policy

Revised August 2022

CCMS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ancestry, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other class protected by law in the administration of its admission or academic policies, activities, financial aid, or programs.

See also:

Disability & Accommodation Policy

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS) is committed to providing a non-discriminatory environment to ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are treated in a non-discriminatory manner during the application process and for students to ensure non-discrimination in all terms, conditions, and privileges of the educational program. CCMS provides, at no charge, reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals where such accommodation would not fundamentally alter the academic, technical, or prerequisites and standards for admission or participation in the program or curriculum, or otherwise cause an undue hardship. Course substitutions and/or waivers will not be granted.

View entire policy.

Complaints against the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science may be filed with the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Both current students and prospective students may file a complaint.

Ohio Department of Higher Education
Telephone: (614) 728-3095
Website: https://highered.ohio.gov/students/current-college-students/student-complaints

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEA) requires institutions participating in federal student aid programs to disclose certain information to students and prospective students.  These Consumer Information Links contain a summary of available consumer information that CCMS is providing under HEA. To obtain an electronic or paper copy of the required information to be disclosed under HEA, prospective and enrolled students may contact the Administrator at (513) 761-2020.

Crisis Intervention & Counseling  

Women Helping Women 

24-Hour Crisis Line: 513-381-5610

215 E 9th St #7, Cincinnati, OH 45202

YWCA Hamilton County Domestic Violence Hotline

513-872-9259; toll free: 888-872-9259

898 Walnut St., Cincinnati, OH, 45202

National Domestic Violence Hotline

800-799-SAFE (7233)

National Sexual Assault Hotline

800-656-HOPE (4673)

Police

On-campus (Springfield Township): 513-729-1300

Off-campus (Cincinnati): 513-765-1212

Medical Treatment

University of Cincinnati: Medical Center 

513-584-5700

234 Goodman St. Cincinnati, OH 45219

University of Cincinnati: Health Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program 

513-584-3379

234 Goodman St. Cincinnati, OH 45219

Mental Health 

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services

Legal Assistance

Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati 

Cincinnati Bar Association - Lawyer Referral Service

Electronic Sex Offender Registration Network (eSORN)

Advocacy

Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence

Ohio Domestic Violence Network

YWCA of Greater Cincinnati

Below you will find a listing of compliance topics. If you have questions, please contact the college at 513.761.2020.

FERPA

Nondiscrimination Policy

Disability & Accommodation Policy

Title IX

Clery

Privacy Policy

Information Technology Usage Policy

Student Complaints

Consumer Information Links 

Accreditation

Statistics & Outcomes

CCMS provides computing and network resources to its students primarily for educational purposes. CCMS may provide access to other users at its discretion. Use of CCMS’s computing and network resources is a privilege, which can be revoked at any time. All users are expected to exercise personal and professional responsibility and integrity when using these resources. Each user must understand and acknowledge that his/her freedom to access and display information is constrained by the rights of others.

EMAIL AND ACCOUNTABILITY

A CCMS-provided email address (username@students.ccms.edu) is an official means of communication. Students are responsible for all CCMS communication sent to their CCMS email address. Students must check their email account on a frequent and consistent basis. CCMS communicates regularly to students via email, thus it strongly suggested that students check their email at least once every day. CCMS advises students to respond to all official CCMS communications as directed in each communication (e.g., responding in person, in writing, or by email). Students should not assume an email response is a satisfactory substitution when directed otherwise. This email policy applies from orientation and continues through the academic terms for which they are enrolled, including during breaks, holidays, vacations, and periods of suspension.

• Students may forward their CCMS email to another email address. However, CCMS is not liable for any problems that may result from forwarding CCMS messages to another email account (e.g., problems with spam filters, full mailboxes, or loss of attachments). Forwarding CCMS email may have the unintended consequence of exposing privacy information to third parties because Internet-based email is handled in a public fashion.
• Students should not use their CCMS email for bulk emails, forwards, chain mails unrelated to the essential functions CCMS. Students should not open attachments from unknown sources.
• CCMS employs various measures to protect the security of its computing resources and users’ accounts. However, CCMS does not and cannot guarantee such security. Furthermore, individuals must exercise caution when sending sensitive or FERPA-protected student information via email. In addition, some College information is not appropriate for email communication.
• CCMS hereby advises its students that all electronic data may be reviewed and/or accessed in accordance with CCMS’s policies. CCMS has the authority to access and inspect the contents of any equipment, files or email on its electronic systems.
• After graduation, CCMS permits the graduating student to retain his/her email address for an additional 18 months subject to the provisions of this policy. This is a privilege, which may be revoked at any time for any reason. After the 18 months or if revoked earlier, CCMS will terminate the account and all contents therein. CCMS will terminate the accounts of student users who do not graduate when that student is no longer active. CCMS in no way warrants the contents of any email account, and has no duty of preservation.

INFORMATION SECURITY

Student Information Security

Cyber and physical threats put CCMS and its students at risk.  The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires CCMS to develop and maintain an information security program to minimize risk to students and safeguard sensitive data.  CCMS has designated its IT services provider as the Qualified Individual responsible for overseeing, implementing, and enforcing the College’s information security program.  The Dean of the College serves as the senior member of the College’s personnel responsible for direction and oversight of the Qualified Individual.

The College’s IT services provider regularly conducts a risk assessment that defines reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of student information that could result in the unauthorized disclosure, misuse, alteration, destruction, or other compromise of such information, and assesses the sufficiency of any safeguards in place to control these risks.  Criteria for assessing security risks include vulnerabilities determined from scans of both the external environment and the internal environment. 

When a risk is identified, the risk is addressed by technological scans for vulnerabilities.  Vulnerabilities are categorized into four areas:  Critical; High; Medium; Low.  Vulnerabilities from known exploits are determined as critical or high.  Critical or High vulnerabilities are labeled priority 1 and must be addressed prior to the next scheduled scan.  Medium vulnerabilities are labeled priority 2; low vulnerabilities are labeled priority 3.

Risk assessments are periodically performed at least quarterly and also include reviewing access controls.  Multifactor authentication is used for any individual accessing any of the College’s information systems.  The IT services provider uses qualified information security personnel to manage information security risks and to perform and oversee the information security program.  The College’s contract with the IT services provider requires the provider to implement and maintain appropriate security safeguards. When a risk incident is identified, the College, along with the IT services provider, evaluates and adjusts the information security program to mitigate any potential repeat occurrence of the risk and make corrective action. 

CCMS requires that all passwords are “strong.”  Students must immediately report to the Director of Learning Resources and Student Services the discovery of any malware, such as viruses, spyware, and botnets, on any CCMS computer.  CCMS further advises that devises from which students access their CCMS email account should meet the minimum security requirements set forth in this policy, including anti-malware protections; secure connections, updated operating systems and software, and encryption.

PROHIBITED ACTIONS

No student, employee or agent of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science will utilize CCMS' information technology, including but not limited to, computers, network, email account, fax machine, copy machine, or telephones, for the following:

1. preparation and/or transmission of any illegal or unlawful communication including, but not limited to, obscene or sexually explicit material, libelous or slanderous communications, or communications intended sexually or otherwise to harass or improperly discriminate on the basis of sex, gender identity, race, color, economic status, class, religion, culture, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, position, age, handicap, or disability;
2. any action that violates system security;
3. in violation of copyright law;
4. use of the Internet in general, and social media sites in particular, as a venue and/or platform for discussing any aspect of the care and/or treatment of deceased human beings, including, but not limited to, embalming and restorative art classes, human anatomy lab class, clinical rotations and any other course in which the topic of discussion is of a sensitive and confidential nature; and
5. changing, modifying, or eliminating library computer configurations and loading any application or program software onto the library computers.

This list is not all inclusive.

COPYRIGHT POLICY

Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) provides legal protection of intellectual property in whatever medium. Protected works include, but are not limited to, literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, pictorial, graphic, film and multi-media works. These include books, magazine articles, software, digital works, motion pictures, sound recordings, and unpublished works, among others. A copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce the work, prepare derivative works of the work, distribute copies or recordings of the work, perform the work publicly, including by means of a digital audio or video transmission, and display the work publicly.

• Violations of Copyright laws can result in civil penalties, including actual or statutory damages, as well as criminal prosecution.
• CCMS is committed to remove, take down or otherwise block access to infringing material whenever it is brought to our attention and whether or not the individual who is infringing has received notice.
• Important to an educational institution, under the Copyright Act, is the “fair use” doctrine, which excludes from the limits of copyright law the use of intellectual property for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research. This allows educators and students to use copyrighted materials, in certain circumstances, without having to get permission from the author or copyright owner. “Fair use” is not absolute, but rather must conform to the guidelines of the U.S. Copyright Office on what constitutes fair and acceptable use in an educational setting.
• Please report all violations or concerns about Copyright Law to the Director of Library & Information Technology, who will investigate and take all appropriate measures to remedy the situation. CCMS monitors its network, maintains firewalls to deny access to certain websites known for unauthorized copyrighted materials, and may deny access to any student violating this policy, as well as apply any other sanctions available to it. CCMS, no less than annually, through the use of relevant assessment criteria, shall review the effectiveness of its program to combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.
• CCMS, through its Director of Library & Information Technology, may provide legal alternatives for accessing and downloading copyrighted material.

POPULI PRIVACY POLICY

In addition to the privacy policies set forth in the Student Handbook, Populi, CCMS’s online student information system provided by the third-party (Populi) protects the information collected from or about students and CCMS, including private personally identifiable information, from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Because transmitting information over the Internet or storing information is not always completely secure, Populi cannot guarantee the absolute security of any information, but it does take reasonably necessary measures to do so.

POLICY VIOLATIONS

If a student violates any of the acceptable use provisions outlined in this document, his/her computer privileges will be terminated and future access may be denied. Some violations constitute a criminal offense and may result in legal action and/or other penalties as deemed warranted by the President of CCMS.

See also: Privacy Policy

Checking out items

To check out an item, simply bring it to the Library Director. Not all items in the collection are permitted to circulate, see Circulation Cheat Sheet below for details. CCMS students, faculty, and staff may check out circulating materials. Alumni and visitors may utilize library resources on-site, but may not check out items.

Returning items

Items should be handed to the Library Director during normal business hours. If the Library Director is not available, or if returning after-hours, items may be returned via the book return bin in the library or given to another staff member. All library materials must be returned prior to a student leaving CCMS for any reason, including Co-op, graduation, or withdrawal.

Renewing items

Items that have a hold on them may not be renewed. After a student has renewed an item the maximum number of times allowed, the item must be entered back into circulation for a period of at least 1 day before it can be checked out again by the same student. See Circulation Cheat Sheet below for more details.

Placing holds 

Students may place a hold on an item that is checked out or in processing. Holds can be placed via Populi or by consulting the Library Director.

Lost items

Items not returned in a reasonable amount of time are automatically marked lost in Populi and are charged to the student’s account. The cost will be determined by a number of factors, including current retail price, historic value, etc. See Circulation Cheat Sheet below for information on when items are marked lost in the system.

Damaged items

If a student returns an item that is damaged beyond the reasonable wear and tear expected of circulating materials, the student will be charged the replacement cost. The cost will be determined by a number of factors, including current retail price, historic value, etc.

Download published policy here

CCMS requires that all members of the campus community (as well as campus visitors) self-report  in the event of the following:

• Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, a positive test result for COVID-19 or is being tested due to symptoms suggestive of the infection.
• Anyone with close contact with an individual confirmed to have COVID-19 by laboratory testing or with a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19, meaning not tested but diagnosed by a physician as likely to have the infection.
• Anyone returning from international travel, regardless of country traveled from.
• Anyone returning from travel by cruise ship.
• Anyone entering Ohio after travel to states reporting positive testing rates of 15% or higher for COVID-19.

How to request an accommodation 

Contact the CCMS President to learn more. You will be sent a form to complete and return. 

• President: Jack E. Lechner, Jr. president@ccms.edu 513-618-1923

Welcome to the CCMS news hub!

Check out the links below to stay current on the exciting things happening at CCMS.

• News
• Newsletter Our quarterly e-newsletter
• Media  Media coverage of CCMS students, graduates, and more
• Events
• Continuing education opportunities
• Fundraisers & how you can support CCMS

>>COVID-19 information<<

The College President (or his/her designee) will endeavor to make a decision about closing the campus before 6:00 AM. 

Notifications

The College maintains multiple systems for alerting the College community about campus closures due to weather or other non-emergencies and will use some or all of those systems, depending on the circumstances. The primary means of notification is text messaging. You must “opt in” to receive text alerts – see this page for instructions. 

If there is sufficient time, these channels may be used also:

• E-mail
• CCMS Official Facebook page
• Media 
• College website homepage banner

Notification of closure alerts will primarily be used for inclement weather or other non-emergency campus concerns that warrant closure.

Lab 

Campus closure includes cancellation of clinical lab (CMP). Students and lab assistants do NOT report to CMP.

Remote classes

If campus is closed students are expected to attend classes remotely via Zoom using the links provided in each course dashboard.

2021

What's Ahead for Funeral Service? (American Funeral Director, January 2021) Features CCMS President & CEO Jack E. Lechner, Jr. 

Building Bridges with Anatomy: Can Continuing Education in Mortuary Sciences Transform the Profession? (European Journal of Anatomy, April 2021) Co-authored by faculty member Wanda Lee. See the whole issue here. 

Journey to Serve (American Funeral Director, May 2021) Features CCMS faculty member Leigh Combs.

Toby Day

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Toby M. Day, who left us on September 27, 2023. Mr. Day, a licensed funeral director in both Indiana and Ohio, served as the Director of Business Services and Educational Cremation Center at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He was deeply committed to providing families with a meaningful funeral experience and believed in the importance of helping them say goodbye and creating peaceful memories to pave the way for a healthy grief journey. He took pride in imparting his knowledge to future funeral service providers, being an alumnus of Ivy Tech Community College (2016) and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (AAS - 2018, BMS - 2021). Mr. Day is survived by his loving wife, Mrs. Loretta Day, and his son, Thomas Day. We kindly request that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Visitation will take place from 4p to 7p on Friday, October 6, 2023 with a Masonic Service at 7p and a Celebrant Service to follow immediately after,  at:

First Baptist Church of Aurora

6060 Blair Rd.

Aurora, IN 47001

Visitation for students and guests from 11:00a to 1:00p on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in the Educational Cremation Center, with a reception following.

Private burial to occur at a later date.

Link to Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home obituary for Toby Day

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, located in Cincinnati, Ohio invites nominations and applications of outstanding individuals to fill available positions as published on this page. 

Established in 1882, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science is the nation's oldest, private, non-profit, fully accredited death care educator.  For well over a century, CCMS has maintained a national reputation as a leader in death care education and innovation. 

Our single purpose campus is specifically designed to meet the educational needs of death care students and professionals, offering regionally and professional accredited associate and bachelor of mortuary science degree programs.  

Please see below for openings, instructions, and profile.  Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.   

Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreements

• Transfer Credit Worksheet
• Articulation Agreements
• Transfer of Credit Policy

Accreditation, Approval, and Licensure of Institution and Programs

• Accreditation
• American Board of Funeral Service Education
• Higher Learning Commission

Facilities and Services for Students with Disabilities

• Nondiscrimination Policy
• Disability Services (Student Handbook, pages 18-20)

Privacy of Student Records−Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• Annual Notice of Rights under FERPA

Net Price Calculator

• Net Price Calculator

Cost of Attendance

• Tuition / Fees
• Cost of Attendance

Student Financial Assistance

• Financial Aid

Refund Policy and Requirements for Withdrawal and Return of Federal Financial Aid

• Withdrawal & Refunds

Academic Information & Policies

• Withdrawal Policy (Student Handbook, page 27)
• Textbook information for AAS program
• Textbook information for BMS program
• Educational Programs
• Course Descriptions by Semester

Instructional Facilities

• Lab facilities
• Campus

Faculty

• Faculty
• Adjunct Faculty

Technology

• Copyright Infringement (Student Handbook, Appendix I)
• Information Technology Usage Policy (Student Handbook, Appendix I)

Student Activities

• Student activities (Student Handbook, page 17)

Career and Job Placement Services

• For students & alumni – search job openings
• For employers – post a job opening

Health and Safety

• Biennial Drug & Alcohol Report
• Drug & Alcohol Policy
• Vaccination policies (Student Handbook, page 43)
• Clery Act – Campus Safety

Student Outcomes

• Graduation Rate
• Employment placement rates

Voter Registration

• Voter Registration

Constitution & Citizenship Day (September 17)

• Constitution & Citizenship Day

Student Complaints (State of Ohio)

• Student Complaints (State of Ohio)

As a prospective student, you may be curious about the funeral service profession. Explore the helpful links below and discover how CCMS prepares students to be the best possible death care professionals.

Careers in funeral service

National Funeral Directors Association. Includes Duties/Responsibilities and Education Overview. 

Average salary and job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. 

Licensing Boards & Requirements

National Funeral Directors Association. Each state has their own requirements, and they can also vary by funeral director vs. embalmer. Check your state and become familiar with your requirements. 

Joel L. Getts, PhD

Licensee, Pastor, Alumnus

jgetts@ccms.edu 

Author, educator and pastor, Joel Getts has been involved in education for most of his life. After spending nearly two decades owning and operating two funeral homes in southwest Ohio, he continued his education in pastoral ministry. Joel studied history extensively at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. He is a 1979 CCMS graduate, the Church Leadership Academy of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and holds certifications in Biblical Counseling and Life Coaching from the Light University of Forest, Virginia. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Concordia College in Wilmington, Delaware and a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Apologetics from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana. He also earned his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the St. Luke School of Biblical Studies in Hephzibah, Georgia. He has authored and contributed to several books on theology and history over the last 15 years. Since 1999 Joel has also compiled over a dozen continuing education courses for various licensed professionals throughout Ohio. He has been an adjunct instructor at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science since 2009 and a continuing education seminar presenter for the Central Institute for Educational Advancement in Dayton, Ohio since 2001. He currently serves as the pastor at Trinity Church of Miamisburg, Ohio. He and his wife Jeri, reside in Miamisburg.

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and the Foundation for Mortuary Education Board of Trustees is comprised of no more than fifteen members, as well as (non-voting) affiliate representatives to oversee financial, legal, and administrative requirements. The Board of Trustees holds scheduled meetings every May and  November, and intermittently as the need arises. Members of the foundation are invited and encouraged to participate during the May Annual Members Meeting. Please contact CCMS at (513) 761-2020 or bot@ccms.edu for meeting information and  agenda requests.

The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1970 by Charles Dhonau and Thomas Stueve, is the governing body of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science created to provide the broad support necessary for the college to flourish.

We are proud to say the transformation of death care education is underway – starting with the Foundation! The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, governed by the Foundation, has successfully pioneered advancements in mortuary science education longer than any other educator. The momentum is undeniable as we culminate years of transformational concepts and strategic planning in Transforming Death Care Education.

Classrooms

CCMS has a variety of learning environments designed for optimal learning. Our campus classrooms are spacious and bright, our theater style auditorium classroom is grand, yet intimate, and our applications classrooms are specifically equipped with practical learning aids and supplies by leading casket and funeral suppliers.

The campus learning environment is as diverse as our student body, and that’s a great thing! Diversity in a student’s learning environment has proven successful in yielding the best opportunities in hands-on learning of all funeral service aspects, from the variance in clinical products to the vast array of casketing and disposition products found in our specially designed merchandising classroom.

As a result of access to real world funeral service equipment and products available on campus, students graduate with the ability to apply their knowledge. Every student will experience the opportunity to orchestrate a mock funeral service from first call through final disposition. This allows students to apply what they have learned within a controlled environment prior to entering the workforce.

Entertainment 

Events

Cincinnati Parks

Cincinnati Zoo

Cincinnati Museum Center

Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Bengals

King’s Island

Our Labs and Services

Embalming Applications Lab

Anatomy & Dissection Lab

Restorative Art Lab

Lab Assistants

Clinical Intake Assistants

Our Clinical Services

Anatomical Donor Transport Protocol

Lab Schedule

Students begin their clinical practice in semester I with Clinical Mortuary Practice I (CMP I) and continue throughout their tenure.  Each student is assigned to a lab group prior to each term, consisting of approximately 5-10 of their peers who have varying degrees of experience. Group sizes are determined by enrollment and each group works collectively during their assigned weekly lab time.

Anatomy & Dissection Lab Schedule

Gross Anatomy is taken in Semester 4. The class meets twice per week in the Anatomy & Dissection Lab.

Restorative Arts Lab Schedule

Our semester II and III restorative arts curriculum is structured to prepare students for implementation of real-life trauma and disfigurement restoration procedures. Each student works independently during their assigned weekly lab under the guidance of licensed instructors. Armatures and modeling wax are reserved for each registered student, which they will purchase on campus during the first week of semester II.

Lab Assistants

Qualified enrolled students are eligible to apply for paid clinical assistant employment opportunities. Lab Assistants support the needs of our lab during scheduled times under the guidance of the CCMS Clinical Director. 

Accepted and confirmed students will receive information about student employment opportunities with their Student Enrollment Guide. Only enrolled students are eligible to apply for student employment opportunities.

Question? lab@ccms.edu  

Important Reminders

• WHO TO CALL: Contact UC Body Donor Program Director, then contact CCMS Clinical Lab prior to transport (see contact information and hours below).
• DOCUMENTATION: Copy of the Body Bequeathal Form / registration confirmation letter and/or donor card must accompany decedent and be provided to CCMS at the time of transport.
• PERSONAL EFFECTS: All personal effects and valuables should be removed and given to decedent’s family.

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) specializes in mortuary science and death care materials. With over 1,500 publications, media and historical assets, the LRC is a lending and research library that supports the academic needs of students and faculty.

Students convene in the center to study, collaborate on projects, and socialize while receiving individual attention from the Learning Resource Director who provides resources in technology, research, and other student services.

Students, staff, faculty, and the public can use the library catalog to search for particular items or browse our collection. In addition, registered students and faculty/staff can use the catalog to place holds and renew items.

>Click here to search the Catalog

How to:

• How to Use Populi Library
• How to Search the library catalog

Criteria for Selection

To ensure the collection is relevant and supports the curriculum, the LRC Director collaborates with faculty in selection decisions. In addition, acquisition input may come from student or staff requests. In considering titles for inclusion in the library, the following criteria are used: academic need, individual merit of item, currency, relevancy, existing holdings, and budget. The LRC Director is ultimately responsible for the acquisition and removal of holdings.

Shop CCMS Textbooks

Are you a CCMS student?

CCMS students should see our AAS Textbooks page or BMS Textbooks page for information.

Are you a college bookstore agent looking to purchase CCMS textbooks? 

College bookstores routinely contact CCMS to purchase the two textbooks published by the Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education. These textbooks are two of the industry’s leading mortuary science books and are both sold exclusively by CCMS:

Funeral Service Merchandising: an Introductory Text for Students
Author: Phillip DeArmond
ISBN: 9781883031039

Mortuary Law, 11th revised ed.
Author: T. Scott Gilligan
ISBN: 9781883031145

See below for pricing and ordering details.

The Clarke School

While Clarke was working as a casket salesman for the Whitewater Valley Coffin Company, he became aware of the need for improved methods of preserving human bodies. To learn more, he enrolled in an anatomy course taught by Dr. C. M. Lukens at the Pulte Medical College, located at the corner of Seventh and Mound Street in Cincinnati. Clarke and Lukens hit it off, and eventually they created a school of embalming where they demonstrated arterial embalming techniques using newly developed embalming chemicals.

The first class was organized Monday, March 8, 1882. Lasting only six days, each of the seven students received intensive training in the amphitheater of Pulte Medical College in Cincinnati. With the class being a success, five subsequent classes were organized during the remainder of 1882. To broaden student knowledge and stimulate interest in the school, Mr. Clarke and his colleagues took their teachings to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston where his ventures proved prosperous. (Coincidentally, 1882 was also the founding year for the National Funeral Directors Association.) The Clarke School of Embalming was founded as a permanent institution of learning and renamed Cincinnati College of Embalming in 1909. The College found a home in General Hospital in 1915.

Our Regional Accreditation

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 , Chicago, IL 60604 (800) 621-7440. Web: www.hlcommission.org.

Safety Contacts

Emergencies: 911

Springfield Township Police: 513-729-1300

Hamilton County Sheriff: 513-946-6400, 513-851-6000

Ohio State Patrol Post #9: 513-489-8954

CCMS office: 513-761-2020

CCMS Safety Officer: 513-618-1922

CCMS Title IX Coordinator: 513-618-1926

Opt in for Text Alerts

1. Sign in to your Populi account.
2. In the top right corner of the screen, just to the right of your name, click on the white arrow.
3. Choose “Settings.”
4. Click on the Notifications tab.
5. In the “SMS notification number” area, choose your cell phone provider, then enter your phone number (with area code). Next, click the “send verification code” button..
6. A text message with a code will be sent to the number you just entered. Enter the code in the “submit verification code” field. Then click the “submit verification code” button.

That’s it! You will now be alerted via text message.

Note: instructions are correct as of January 2019

Title IX Contact

Email

titleix@ccms.edu

Phone

513.618.1926

Address

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

645 W. North Bend Rd. 

Cincinnati, OH 45224

In the event of an emergency, contact the Police at 911 to initiate the emergency response.

Emergency Response Procedures

The College President (or his/her designee), in coordination with the Springfield Township Police and CCMS staff members, has developed contingency and communication plans in case of an emergency. The Springfield Township Police and the College President receive information from a variety of sources on campus. If the Police or one of these sources confirms that there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of some or all of the members of the campus community, the Springfield Township Police and the College President (or his/her designee) will use some or all of the methods described below to communicate to the campus community, or appropriate segment of the campus community, and/or the public that there is an emergency. The College President (or his/her designee), in consultation with the Police, will determine the content of the message.

The emergency messaging system may be initiated from on-campus and from remote locations. The College will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, initiate the emergency messaging system, unless issuing a message will, in the judgment of the Springfield Township Police, or other responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

CCMS adheres to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. It will uphold all federal, state, and local laws regarding alcohol and other drugs. It will impose sanctions for violations of the standards of conduct that include all laws as well as student complicity in violations and conduct unbecoming a CCMS student.

2024 Annual Notification of Rights under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.) These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (“College”) receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Registrar or Academic Chair a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The appropriate college official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by college official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.A student who wishes to ask the College to amend a record should write the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing re­garding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing
3. The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The College discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to college officials with legitimate educational interests. A college official is typically includes a person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law en­forcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance com­mittee. A college official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the [college who performs an institutional service of function for which the College would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the College with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another college official in performing his or her tasks. A college official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educa­tion record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

In these challenging times, we are collectively responsible to preserve and promote the wellness of our CCMS community. We will remain vigilant as we likely see continued spread of the COVID-19 virus. As a valued member of the CCMS community we need your commitment and participation in the CCMS Healthy Together Pledge. The Pledge is a required condition of participation in face-to-face instruction and attendance at any CCMS campus-based activities.

• YOU PLEDGE to engage in safe practices both on and off campus and adhere to all recommended and reasonable precautions and campus protocols to reduce risk of exposure.
• YOU PLEDGE to stay informed of CCMS COVID-related communications and resources to promote and ensure compliance with changing campus guidelines and expectations.
• YOU PLEDGE to participate in the daily rotation schedule for communal sanitization of campus surfaces and to clean up after myself in common areas and classrooms.
• YOU PLEDGE to self-quarantine immediately upon known or suspected exposure or if experiencing common symptoms.
• YOU PLEDGE to report any known or suspected exposure to COVID@ccms.edu, complete the required Reporting Form and protocols, and communicate testing status updates with CCMS Leadership.
• YOU PLEDGE to stay on task academically via Zoom remote attendance, should circumstances mandate.

Circulation Overview Chart

The following circulation chart provides information on lending materials, loaning and renewal periods, holds, and more....

View Circulation Chart

2023/2024

Fall/Winter 2024

Spring 2024

Fall 2023/Winter 2024

Summer 2023

Winter/Spring 2023

2022

Spring 2022

2021

Winter 2021

Summer/Fall 2021

Collection of Data

To ensure that we provide you with the best possible experience, we will store, use, and share information about you in accordance with this Policy. Personal Information is any information that can be used to individually identify you from a larger group, such as data including, but not limited to, your:

• First and last name;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Date of birth;
• Mailing address; and
• Comments or messages provided in free text boxes. 

The information that you provide in each case will vary.  In some cases, you may be able to provide Personal Information via email or free text boxes, such as contacting CCMS to request further information.  When providing your Personal Information, please provide only relevant information and do not provide unnecessary sensitive information.  Additionally, we may ask you to create a user name and password that should only be known to you. 

We collect personally identifiable information when you:

• Submit a form (example: registering for an event, updating alumni contact information). Required information is denoted by a highlighted field. 
• Complete a transaction (example: paying Board member dues) 

In addition, we collect the following information:

• The IP address from which you access our website
• The name of the domain from which you access the Internet (for example, aol.com, if you are connecting from an America Online account)
• The type of browser and operating system used to access our website
• The date and time you access our site
• The pages, files, documents, and links that you visit
• The Internet address of the website from which you linked to this website

Cookies

“Cookies” are small pieces of information that some websites store on a computer’s hard drive when visited.  Cookies are usually defined in one of two ways, and we may use either or both of them: (1) session cookies, which do not stay on your device after you close your browser, and (2) persistent cookies, which remain on your device until you delete them or they expire. Like many websites, www.ccms.edu may use aggregate data compiled by cookies to provide us information about traffic to our site. Collecting this information does not allow us to personally identify you.

Of course, if you do not wish to have cookies on your devices, you may turn them off at any time by modifying your internet browser’s settings.  However, by disabling cookies on your device, you may be prohibited from full use of the website’s features, or lose access to some functionality.

Jerome Webster, Ph.D.

Dean

Certified Funeral Celebrant

jwebster@ccms.edu

Dr. Jerome Webster currently serves as the Dean of the College at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.  He previously served as president of Terra State Community College where he oversaw a realignment of curricular programs, focused on determining the distinctiveness of each academic program so that they were signature in design, attractive to a broader community, and drew students to enroll. Under his leadership, course completion rates improved to an all-time high of 91% in 2016.  During his tenure, the College established four fully on-line degree programs; established the Fremont Early College with Fremont City Schools, and other similar partnerships; opened a new conference center; established a Veteran’s Center; and created a new campus entrance off the main State Route.  While president, the College hosted a United States Vice President, state and federal legislators, and national and international entertainers and performers, all to provide students a quality learning experience.

Dr. Webster served as Vice President for Student and Administrative Affairs at Terra State Community College prior to his presidency, and as an adjunct instructor/faculty affiliate in the Higher Education Administration program at The University of Toledo.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources from Olivet College in Michigan where he also served as a Residence Hall Director and Housing Coordinator. He received his Master and Doctoral degrees from the University of Toledo while working in various positions in university housing. In 1999, Dr. Webster was awarded a fellowship with the Community College Presidential Fellowship Program, offered jointly by The University of Toledo and five area community colleges in northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan. He served as Dean of Students at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan and as Dean of Student Affairs with Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio before returning to Terra State.   He has been active in various State and regional organizations in higher education and community organizations including serving as the president of the Ohio Association of Community College’s Chief Student Affairs Officers; Rotary Club International; as a Board Member of the Sandusky County American Red Cross; and on the development committee for the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, OH.  Dr. Webster also served on the Board of Trustees of CCMS prior to his appointment as interim Dean.  Dr. Webster is a certified funeral celebrant.

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Student organizations

SORORITY

CCMS offers female students the opportunity to be a member of Delta Gamma Pi, a sorority established at CCMS in 1994. Delta Gamma Pi maintains an informal atmosphere of acquaintance and promotes an awareness of female contributions to the profession of funeral service. For more information, contact Ms. Dutko.

FRATERNITY

In 1930, CCMS chartered the alpha chapter of Pi Sigma Eta. In 1984, responding to the belief that a more modern concept was required, CCMS again chartered a new professional and educational fraternity, Alpha Tau Epsilon. The fraternity sponsors activities, a scholarship program, local field trips, and guest speakers during the year. The fraternity sponsors various fund-raising activities and sells a variety of T-shirts, coffee cups, sweatshirts, and other items to raise money for yearly projects. For more information, contact Mr. Vinnedge.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Each incoming class will elect a student body President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and two Class Representatives. The elected officers plan activities, participate in CCMS events, act as ambassadors to visitors, and work to create an inclusive environment for all students. For more information, contact Ms. Dutko. 

Dining

Cincinnati.com 

Cincinnati Magazine

Downtown Cincinnati

Trip Advisor

Lab Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 clinical operations in order to meet graduation requirements. Ample opportunity typically exists for students to exceed the amount of required embalming operations via volunteer opportunities. 

Death During Normal Business Hours
(8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon – Fri)

Call UC:

Report the death and verify pre-registration of donor.

UC Body Donation
513-558-5612
Laura Garrison, Program Director

Prior to transport, call CCMS:

Donor Registration documents must accompany donor at time of transport.

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
513-761-3773
Wanda Lee, Clinical Director
645 W. North Bend Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45224

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science is an institution which endeavors to develop end of life professionals who can function with distinction within their chosen profession and within the community of life. The College strives to provide the best education possible, and focuses on offerings that provide convenience, accessibility and outreach to learners.

Dhonau Reforms the Curriculum

In 1909 upon Clarke’s retirement, Charles O. Dhonau purchased the college. Having a high regard for the educational and licensing system, Dhonau pursued his vision of becoming an educator to improve and expand mortuary education. In the 1920’s, Mr. Dhonau was a pioneer in developing an expanded curriculum and was instrumental in the organization of the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), which was established to evaluate mortuary science programs. In 1933, with an expanding curriculum, the college moved into an independent, remodeled building at 3200 Reading Road. It remained there for 46 years.

Safety Links

Report an Incident

Clery Act (crime statistics)

Title IX Policy

Text message alerts

Emergency Prep

Drugs & Alcohol

Cincinnati crime stats

Cincinnati Police Department

Crime on college campuses

Run, Hide, Fight: Surviving an Active Shooter Event (video)

The Student Right to Know Campus Security Act (Jean Clery Act) requires the publishing and distribution of policies and statistics related to campus safety and security.

Making a Report

Individuals are encouraged to report a violation of this Policy to the Title IX Coordinator. Reports can be made by the victim, a witness, or another third party.

Options for reporting:

• Complete an online Incident Report (report is accessible to Title IX Coordinator and the Safety Officer)
• Email titleix@ccms.edu
• Call 513-761-2020
• In person
• Mail to: Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Attention: Title IX Coordinator, 645 W. North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45224

Publications

Drug & Alcohol Policy

2022-2024 Biennial Drug & Alcohol Report

Safe practices

Brittany Pugh

Administrative Coordinator

bpugh@ccms.edu

513-761-2020

Brittany Pugh is new to CCMS and will be the first face you see as the Front Desk Administrator. She came from Child Focus as a preschool teacher. Her and her husband along with four amazing children live on the east side of Cincinnati. In her free time she loves to take trips, hike, and explore the world with her family. She is also a front desk receptionist at US Martial Arts Academy. She is a huge animal lover having 4 dogs and one cat. She has a very bubbly personality and loves meeting new people. 

Data range: April 21, 2021 through current

*Close contact is defined as 15 minutes, unmasked, within six feet proximity of a COVID positive individual

Data range: February 2020 through April 20, 2021

2020

CCMS Names Victoria Krouse Best Young Funeral Director (The Director, June 2020)

CCMS Holds Fall Graduation (The Director, June 2020)

Ones to Watch - Teresa "Tess" Payton (American Funeral Director, Sep 2020)

For CCMS Grad, Job Grows into Rewarding Lifestyle (The Director, Oct 2020)

Position Openings

Director of Business Services - Click here to view position description and details

How to Apply

Application Instructions

Institutional Profile 

CCMS Institutional Profile

Points of Pride

Todd Van Beck

The death care profession lost an icon in funeral service on May 23^rd with the passing of Todd Van Beck. Beloved father of Thomas. Son of the late Tony and Norma (nee Fecan). Brother of Scott (Sarah) Van Beck; uncle of Wesley, Helen, Sam and Neil Van Beck.  Todd was a person who had a half-century love affair with both funeral and cemetery service. He willingly admitted that he was no “expert!” and also quickly admitted that there was nothing about this work and life that he did not enjoy, and in which he did not have intense interest. Todd had said: “I have never done a day’s work in my life; it has all been fun and interesting.” 

Todd was uniquely gifted and took great pride in providing reverent care for the dead and compassionate care for the living. Todd earned his Professional Diploma in Mortuary Science in 1973 from the New England Institute of Funeral Service Arts and Sciences (MA), his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology from Mount Mercy University (IA), and his Master of Arts in Religion from Athenaeum of Ohio (Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary).  In 2005, he was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, (Houston, TX).   Todd held several certifications and licensures, including the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), Certified Funeral Executive (CFE) and licensure in several states.

Prior to his employment as Program Director at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS), Todd served as Faculty/Director of Continuing Education at John A. Gupton College (TN); General Manager of Forest Hill Funeral Homes & Memorial Parks (TN); Director of Family Funeral Care and Public Relations at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home (GA); President and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (TX); Director of Education for the Loewen Group, Inc. (OH), and Director of Education for Trust 100.  His academic career began at CCMS in 1982.

Todd was an active writer and prominent international speaker in the profession. He authored 8 books and over 400 articles on death care topics.  An avid historian and academician, Mr. Van Beck grew up in Southwestern Iowa and declared at the young age of 5 that he would become a funeral director one day. Todd operated funeral homes, cemeteries and mortuary colleges during his career. Todd selflessly served the death care profession in many arenas across the nation and internationally, which satisfied his desire to see the world. An Abraham Lincoln scholar, he was an expert in the deaths of United States presidents and authored a presentation about each of the funerals of the deceased American presidents. He was thrilled and humbled to return to CCMS and his cherished Queen City where he planned to continue his mission until retirement. Todd served on the boards of the Cincinnati Fire Museum, the William Howard Taft National Birthplace Site, and the Funeral Service Foundation of the National Funeral Director Association.

CCMS has established a scholarship in Todd's name to honor his legacy.

Livestream recording of May 27 Cincinnati service for Todd Van Beck

Livestream recording of May 30 Iowa service for Todd Van Beck

Donate to the Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship

Marty Molony

B.A., Licensee, Alumnus

mmolony@ccms.edu 

Marty is the Clinical Lab Manager of the Anatomical Education and Research Laboratory for the Body Donation Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.  He has been an Adjunct Faculty member at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science since 1999.  Marty earned his Bachelor’s Degree from CCMS in 1997.  He teaches the Gross Anatomy for the Embalmer Program at the college and has been involved in many other facets of the Anatomy Curriculum.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Join the Foundation or renew membership

Our Foundation members help to support non-profit education and our mission to transform death care education. Click here to join or renew your membership. Thank you for your support of the Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education!

Lab Facilities

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science lab facilities are one-of-a-kind, having been designed and constructed exclusively for our student body.The campus boasts three independent labs organized specifically to provide unparalleled student practical experience. Our facilities include two fully equipped clinical labs for embalming operations and anatomical dissection and a third lab specific to restorative arts curriculum application.

Newspapers & Magazines 

CityBeat

Cincinnati Enquirer 

Cincinnati Magazine

Death After Business Hours
(after 4:00 p.m. Mon-Fri, weekends, holidays)

Call UC, leave voice message:

Report the death and verify pre-registration of donor.

UC Body Donation
513-558-5612
Laura Garrison, Program Director

Transport must call CCMS at least 30 minutes prior to arrival:

Donor Registration documents must accompany donor at time of transport.

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
513-761-3773
On-call Lab Assistant / Wanda Lee, Clinical Director
645 West North Bend Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45224

The family of the donor is not charged for storage of the body at CCMS.

Collection Management

To ensure the collection remains current, relevant, and useful, the LRC Director audits holdings regularly. Removal of holdings criteria includes relevancy, currency, usage, and condition. Removed items are donated to local libraries or book resellers where appropriate.

Philosophy

The College provides a sound education and learning experience for its students, both in the seated and online environment, to help them prepare for a successful career in funeral service. Central to the College philosophy is the firm belief that by example and excellence in teaching, supplemented by the opportunity for extensive practical experience, the College can develop professionals who will be technically competent, ethical and responsive to the needs of others. Inherent in this philosophy is the college’s recognition of its obligation to the student, the profession, and the community.

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

After developing a cooperative academic program together with the University of Cincinnati in 1966 Mr. Dhonau subsequently renamed the college Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. The Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to support the college, was established which to this day functions as the college’s financial foundation. When Dhonau retired, Dr. George Sleichter, a faculty member of 40 years, became Director of the institution (1970-1975). Dr. Sleichter’s resigned in 1976 for health reasons and Mr. David Fitzsimmons was appointed the 4th President of CCMS(1976-1986).

In 1977, the college established 2 and 4 year programs partnering with Edgecliff College and relocating onto their campus at 2220 Victory Parkway. In 1987, Edgecliff consolidated with Xavier University and CCMS was moved into Xavier’s A.B. Cohen Center where it remained until 1995 when sixteen acres of land was purchased in Finneytown, Ohio and a new, modern building was constructed at 645 W. Northbend Rd.

Our Professional Accreditation

The Mortuary Science associate degree and bachelor degree programs at Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097 (816) 233-3747.  Web:  www.abfse.org. 

Notice of Nondiscrimination

CCMS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ancestry, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other class protected by law in the administration of its admission or academic policies, activities, financial aid, or programs. For further information on CCMS’ nondiscrimination policy, click here. 

You may contact the Title IX Coordinator at 513-761-2020; titleix@ccms.edu; 645 W North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45224.

Emergency Notification System—Notification of an Immediate Threat

The College maintains multiple systems for alerting the College community about campus emergencies and will use some or all of those systems, depending on the circumstances. The following may be used:

• E-mail
• Twitter
• CCMS Social Media Pages
• Media
• Telephone Trees
• Text Message via Populi
• College Homepage

Emergency messaging will primarily be used only for those situations that pose an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees on campus or for the closing of an entire campus or cancellation of classes (i.e., severe weather, chemical spills, fires, and crimes). Messages about criminal activity generally will not be sent using these systems unless it is decided there is an imminent threat of danger. In those cases where a crime has been reported and the Police determine that, although there is no immediate threat, the crime represents a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community, a Crime Alert will be issued, as described above. The victim’s name and other personally identifying information will NOT be included in any Emergency Notification or Crime Alert.

The emergency notification system is provided in addition to existing emergency notification procedures and does not replace or eliminate any other emergency notification system (e.g., fire alarms, tornado sirens).

The College will generally provide follow-up information to the community as appropriate via the College’s website portal and/or email messaging.

Disclosure Without Consent

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to college officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, § 99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose PII from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student —

• To other college officials, including teachers, within whom college has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the College has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) – (a)(1)(i)(B)(3) are met. (§ 99.31(a)(1))
• To officials of another higher learning institute where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of § 99.34. (§ 99.31(a)(2))
• To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
• In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§ 99.31(a)(4))
• To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the College, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§ 99.31(a)(6))
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§ 99.31(a)(7))
• To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§ 31(a)(8))
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§ 99.31(a)(9))
• To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36. (§ 31(a)(10))
• Information the College has designated as “directory information” under § 99.37. (§ 99.31(a)(11))
• To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of § 99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§ 99.31(a)(13))
• To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of § 99.39, if college determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of college rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. (§ 99.31(a)(14))
• To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of college, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if college determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))

SAFE PRACTICES

• Physical distancing (6-10 ft apart) and wearing a face covering
• Frequent and thorough handwashing every two hours and after touching communal items
• Limit social gathering

COMMON SYMPTOMS

• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Difficulty Breathing
• Fever (100.4 and higher)
• Chills
• Body Aches
• Headache
• Sore Throat
• Loss of Taste and/or Smell
• Extreme Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

2020

Spring 2020

People at Increased Risk

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, certain groups of people may have an increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease: 

• Older adults
• People with certain medical conditions 
• Other people who need extra precaution

Usage of Data

The information we gather and that you provide is collected to provide you information and the services you request, in addition to various other purposes, including, but not limited to:

• Assisting you with items such as personalized experiences, facilitation of product usage, and enforcement of any associated terms and conditions. 
• Preventing malicious activity and providing you with a secure experience. 
• Providing service and support for services you request. 
• Providing marketing communications that are effective and optimized for you. 
• Keeping you up-to-date with the latest benefits available from us. 
• Preventing unwanted messages or content. 

Additional uses may include:

Forms: We will use the information you provided for the sole purpose requested by you, including but not limited to contacting you, providing a service, processing an order request, etc. 

Transactions: To complete ordering of goods or services on our site, you must provide the required information (i.e.: name, shipping address, contact info) and financial information (i.e.: credit card number, expiration date, billing zip). This information is used by us or an outside credit card processing company to bill users for goods and services transactions. If we have trouble processing an order, we will use this information to contact you. 

Surveys & Contests: From time-to-time, our site requests information via surveys or fundraisers. Participation is completely voluntary and you may choose whether or not to participate and therefore disclose this information. Information requested may include contact and demographic information. Contact information will be used to notify the winners and awards. Survey information will be used for purposes of regulatory statistic gathering and monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. 

Analytics: CCMS uses third-party analytics providers including, but not limited to, Google Analytics to analyze web traffic and data, and to enhance user experience. The third-party analytics provider does not receive personally identifiable information. For more information on how Google Analytics supports the website and uses information sent from the website, please review Google’s privacy policy available at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. 

Compliance: CCMS complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. CCMS develops internal policies, procedures, and guidelines for data and records retention to ensure compliance continuity with all laws and best practices. 

Tausha Ross

Director of Learning Resources and Student Services

MS, MLIS

tross@ccms.edu

513-866-4084

Tausha Ross is an alumna of Wilmington College (1998), Union Institute & University (2018) and Kent State University (2021). She has been in Higher Education for over ten years, which included previously working in an Academic library. She enjoys working with students and faculty on a college campus and has operated as a Site Director and Associate Dean at Chatfield College in the last year assisting students in their educational journey for Associates & Bachelor’s degrees.

After earning her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University, Tausha decided to return back to what she loves best, which is working in a library. She loves books and considers it to be her happy space.

Tausha was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and has a large family. She enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling the many nieces and nephews that she has. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking, reading, decorating, shopping at HomeGoods and traveling.

Tausha is excited to be apart of the CCMS family and looks forward to assisting students, faculty and staff in the Learning Resource and Student Services Center.

Holly Hoffman

Assistant Dean/Director of Admissions

hhoffman@ccms.edu

513-618-1929

Holly Hoffman is a lifelong resident of northwest Ohio with a short hiatus in Florida. Holly earned her MBA from Tiffin University. During her hiatus in Florida, Holly was a Lifestyle Director at River Strand Golf & Country Club. Prior to her move, she spent almost 10 years at Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio in several positions including Administrative Assistant to the President, Manager of Conference & Event Services, Adjunct Faculty in the hospitality program, and most recent Coordinator of Workforce & Community Education.

Holly has relocated to the Cincinnati area with her husband Randy. She has a son Chris, two stepsons Matthew and Jarrod (Wife Raven and children River and Forrest), a stepdaughter, Jennie (Husband Tom and daughter Eva). Holly enjoys spending time with her friends and family and in her spare time, she loves cooking, crafts and working in the flowerbed!

External Library Access

Alex Whitley

Spring 2022-2023

Hello, I'm Alex and I've been living in Cincinnati for the past four years now. I'm a lab assistant for the spring 2022 semester and I'm going to be a first-generation funeral director and embalmer. I received my Associates Degree from Terra State Community College and I am looking forward to gaining the knowledge and insight I need to be a well-rounded and respected death care provider here at CCMS. In my spare time I like to listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, and hang out with my puppy and bunny. I am excited to assist all our future students and cannot wait to see them on campus. If you any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Contact:awhitley.students@ccms.edu

2019

A Conversation with Jack E. Lechner (American Funeral Director, January 2019)

Community Champions - March 2019 (Dimple Times, March 20, 2019). Features 2015 alumna Ashley Thacker.

CCMS to Build Revolutionary Cremation Facility (Funeral Home & Cemetery News, June 2019)

President Lechner is Inducted into Army Quartermaster Hall of Fame (ICCFA, Aug-Sep 2019)

CCMS President Inducted into Army Quartermaster Hall of Fame (The Director, Sep 2019)

Ones to Watch - Adam Grisier (American Funeral Director, Sep 2019) 

The American Exchange Programme September 2019 (The Embalmer, Winter 2019)

CCMS’ rigorous curriculum exceeds accreditation standards and prepares students to be top funeral directors. Our on-site lab facilities are devoted to embalming, restorative art, and dissection, and because we partner with the area’s largest anatomical donation program, our students gain unparalleled experience in embalming. We offer unique learning opportunities for our students, including crematory operator and celebrant training. Our faculty and adjunct faculty bring real-world experience to the classroom; they are licensees, certified funeral celebrants, business owners, and much more.

We invite you to compare us to other mortuary science programs! 

Click image to enlarge. 

Update your information or report a member's death

Click here to complete the online form. You may update your contact information or report the death of a Foundation member. 

PHI THETA KAPPA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Each class has students who excel academically. These students and their accomplishments are recognized during Commencement, as well as formally noted on students’ diplomas and official transcripts with the placement of the National Phi Theta Kappa emblem seal, to forever reflect their exceptional achievement.

General

Travel Bureau

Cincinnati.com

Downtown Cincinnati

City of Cincinnati- City Government

What's it like to live in Cincinnati?

Donor Program

Visit UC Donor Site

Learning Resource Center Services

• Reference textbooks for all courses
• Computers (laptops are available for students to check-out)
• Printers
• National Board Exam study resources
• Books, periodicals, and media 
• Information technology support
• Reference services
• Online catalog

Challenged Materials

The College recognizes that some materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons. Selection of materials will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in this policy. Objections to particular items should be reported to the LRC Director.

CCMS Becomes Accredited

In 1980, CCMS received authorization from the Ohio Regents to award the Associate of Applied Science degree, and in 1982 it received accreditation of that degree by the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1986, CCMS became the first private college of mortuary science in the nation to be authorized to award the Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree. In 1987, CCMS was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association and by the American Board of Funeral Service Education at the bachelor’s degree level. CCMS has maintained both its regional and professional accreditations to this day.

Ohio Revised Code

Search Ohio’s Sex Offenses. See Appendix A in our Title IX Policy for a list of offenses.

Addiction/Recovery Resources

Ohio Behavioral Health Directory

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

Addictions-Leading the Way to Recovery

Guide to Financial Recovery After Substance Abuse

Obtaining Insurance for Medical Care

Drug & Alcohol Rehab Help

Cincinnati Addiction Treatment

Program Information - Cincinnati 

CINCINNATI COLLEGE OF MORTUARY SCIENCE

645 W. North Bend Road

Cincinnati, OH 45224

Mark Ivey, Program Director

Phone:  (513) 761-2020

Email:  mivey@ccms.edu

Web:  www.ccms.edu

Accredited Degrees Offered:  Associate in Applied Science; Bachelor of Mortuary Science

Distance Education - NO

Part-time option available - No

COVID-19 symptoms

Annual Campus Security Report 

The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (“CCMS” or the “College”) prepared this Annual Security Report (“ASR”) to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and the Violence Against Women Act, which expanded the Clery Act to afford additional rights to campus victims of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. This includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on CCMS campus and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and other matters.

A crime log is maintained in print and electronically. Crime data for the most recent three year period may be requested by contacting 513-761-2020. This data is published in the Annual Security Report.

>Click here for the 2024 Annual Security Report. 

Beth Williams

On May 8, 2023, the CCMS family lost a dear member.  Beth Williams lost her courageous battle with breast cancer.  Beth was an alumna of the University of Cincinnati (1996) and CCMS (1998), completing her Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree at CCMS.  She was pursuing a Masters of Thanatology degree at the time of her death.  Beth had been an Ohio Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer since 1999 and was certified as a Master Funeral Director/Embalmer and Funeral Celebrant.  She also held an Ohio Crematory Operator Permit.

Beth joined the CCMS team in 2013 after many years as a practicing Funeral Director/Embalmer.  She served as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Chief of Staff.

Beth is survived by her husband Russell (Rusty) and her two children, Lainey and Grey.

CCMS has established a scholarship in Beth's name to honor her legacy.

Livestream recording of Beth Williams memorial service

Donate to the Beth Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund

Access the Ohio Web Library (OWL)

The Ohio Web Library may be accessed by all Ohio residents as well as by anyone using a computer or mobile device in Ohio. See Access the Ohio Web Library below for more information. 

Choose general or specific 

• General - Click here for the OWL's homepage. You will be able to search many of the resources at one time. 
• Specific - To find databases that are specific to a particular subject, browse the topics in the section below - "Find a Database or Website." 

Let OWL know you are in Ohio

• OWL resources are provided free of charge to all Ohio residents or anyone using a device within the State of Ohio.
• OWL will try to verify that you are in Ohio; if that can be confirmed, you will be granted access.
• When you see a screen asking for your library card number, do not panic! You should see a pop-up message informing you that "OPLIN wants to know your location." Click the YES button.
• If you do not see this message, you may need to go into your browser's settings and allow pop-ups. 

Kurt Olding

Adjunct Clinical Instructor

A.A.S., B.M.S.

kolding@ccms.edu

Kurt graduated from CCMS in 2011 and has worked as a licensee in a range of funeral homes from small family owned and operated firms to large central preparation facilities. His experience covers facets of the funeral home work life from funeral attendant work to management. He is most proud of his time spent developing and managing a large central care facility and has always gravitated to the clinical aspects of the industry, but never losing sight of serving families in the process. The many responsibilities and experiences in Kurt’s career have shaped a strong mentorship mentality and he is excited to assist in developing the future generations of the death care industry.

Outside of CCMS, Kurt is still working with families and conducting funerals as a certified celebrant; and works as a fulltime firefighter for the Cincinnati Fire Department. He is a proud girl dad and enjoys many hobbies that surround computer and table-top gaming. 

2019

January 2019

February 2019

April 2019

June 2019

Holly Sauerbrunn

M.A.

hsauerbrunn@ccms.edu 

Holly Sauerbrunn graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Kentucky University in 1990, with a BA in English and minors in speech and Honors. She went on to achieve a Master’s degree in English at Indiana University.  Holly has been teaching English for over 20 years, both at CCMS and at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

Michael Ryan, Board Chair

“My professional career began with a CCMS education. It is a privilege to give back ten times over to the continued success of this school and all those who seek to become tomorrow’s professionals.”

Shorten & Ryan Funeral Home, Vorhis & Ryan Funeral Home
Certified Funeral Celebrant, Licensed Professional – OH
Alumnus 1978

Transforming Death Care Education

The Foundation's entirely new governance model

The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is comprised of over a dozen diverse professionals who are strategically focused, sharing a vested interest in the College’s success. In 2016, this diversified Board of Trustees sought to understand the challenges that had hindered implementation of strategic concepts developed over the years. They recognized the need to first and foremost answer a very foundational question: “To whom does our non-profit Board—and, in turn, the Foundation— answer?” As a college, there are no shareholders, but there are stakeholders.  The Board answered, “CCMS is accountable to the entire death care profession and the families it serves.”  These are the stakeholders.

With this answer, the Board of Trustees next assessed whether it had an effective governance approach to truly transform death care education. This prompted the 2016 adoption of the innovative Carver’s Governance Model for Non-Profits, which in turn gave immediate momentum to the College’s initiative. Under this model, the Board, in collaboration with the CCMS President & CEO, while considering the needs of practitioners and the community, sets “end goals” that push forward the mission and vision of the College.  The Board then allows CCMS’s President & CEO to develop the “means” for achieving success.

The implementation of an entirely new governance model, along with enhanced stewardship and growth of the College’s assets, has laid the necessary groundwork for CCMS to culminate existing strategic concepts along with new transformational visions, and to bring them to fruition. The successes achieved since 2016 and the growing momentum are exciting!

Clinical Embalming Lab

The embalming lab is designed for the application of classroom curriculum in the embalming sciences, with two primary embalming stations where students engage in the practical application of Clinical Mortuary Practice I, II, and III curriculum.  Students work in small assigned groups with licensed clinical instructors. Groups are structured specifically to provide the best range of student experience levels, ranging from those with no clinical experience to those who may have excessive experience assisting licensed professionals during the embalming process.

Miscellaneous 

Spring Grove Cemetery

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Gifts

The LRC accepts donations of books and other materials and will determine whether gifts can be utilized and added to holdings. 

Program Learning Outcomes

To support the Mission, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science adopts the following Learning Outcomes as set forth by the American Board of Funeral Service Education:

1. Explain the importance of funeral service professionals in developing relationships with the families and communities they serve.

2. Identify standards of ethical conduct in funeral service practice.

3. Interpret how federal, state, and local laws apply to funeral service in order to ensure compliance.

4. Apply principles of public health and safety in the handling and preparation of human remains.

5. Demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art that are necessary for the preparation and handling of human remains.

6. Demonstrate skills required for conducting arrangement conferences, visitations, services, and ceremonies.

7. Describe the requirements and procedures for burial, cremation, and other accepted forms of final disposition of human remains.

8. Describe methods to address the grief-related needs of the bereaved.

9. Explain management skills associated with operating a funeral establishment.

10. Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and research skills needed for funeral service practice.

Current Campus

The design of the current building remains specific to the education and training of funeral service students. Students enjoy a spacious, modern learning environment, equipped to enhance practical experience, with its own embalming and gross clinical laboratory complex. With a focus in hands-on applications and clinical/restorative art lab training, construction of the new building was completed with the intention of creating a venue where students apply practical applications to develop confidence and competence in all aspects of funeral service.

For over 130 years, CCMS continues to deliver a high standard of excellence in comprehensive curriculum, practical experience, and overall student satisfaction. We invite you to stop in at 645 W. North Bend Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio if you are ever in the area!

Additional Communication

In the event of a significant on-campus emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, faculty, or staff, the College will also post information on its homepage. The College has access to an off-campus back-up server in the event the College’s computing services fail during an emergency.

The Business Manager for the College is charged with notifying the media in the event of an emergency. Updated information will be posted to the College’s website and provided to the media.

DEFINING CLOSE CONTACT, QUARANTINE, ISOLATION

Communing with others increases the risk of exposure. Exercising precaution at all times, both on and off campus, is imperative as some carriers display little or no symptoms.

CLOSE CONTACT

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more unmasked.
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19.
• You had direct physical contact (hugged or kissed them), shared eating/drinking utensils, or an infected individual sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.

QUARANTINE

Keeping physical distance from others from those who might have been directly exposed to an individual who has the virus.

ISOLATION

Keeping a COVID-19 infected individual away from all others, even in their home. People who are in isolation should:

• Stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others.
• Stay in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom (if available).

Sharing of Data

We will not share your information with any third party outside of or unaffiliated with our organization, other than as disclosed or necessary to fulfill your request. 

Disclosures

We will share your data if one or more applies: 

• We have previously notified you that sharing the information is necessary
• We have your consent to share the information
• We need to share your information to provide the service or product you requested
• We need to send your information to companies who provide a service or product to you on behalf of CCMS
• The information is student directory information
• To respond to subpoenas, court orders, or any other legal requirements
• When it is necessary to protect and defend the legal rights and/or property of CCMS
• To protect your safety and/or the public’s safety

CCMS complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits the release of education records except in limited circumstances. We also comply with the applicable provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) where relevant and appropriate.

Britt McWilliams

Spring 2022-2023

Hello all! My name is Britt McWilliams I am from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. I attended Ivy Tech Community College where I completed my Associates degree. I will be a first-generation funeral director and embalmer with no prior experience. I was drawn to the death care industry after the passing of several family members and helping my loved ones with the arrangement process. I look forward to gaining experience and lifelong knowledge while being a Clinical lab assistant here at CCMS. Please feel free to email me!

Contact:bmcwilliams.students@ccms.edu

Mark Ivey

Program Director

mivey@ccms.edu

Mark Ivey is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who graduated from CCMS in 1990.  Mark is returning to CCMS after having served as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the college from 2018 to 2021.  In addition to being a funeral home and crematory owner,  Mark has extensive experience in end-of-life services.  He has served as a manager for combination funeral and cemetery properties,  large funeral organizations, family-owned businesses as well as a cremation service, taught courses at CCMS, and has a background in hospitality management.  Mark earned his MBA from Thomas More College in Kentucky.  He brings a unique set of skills and experience and the college is excited that Mark has decided to return to CCMS as the Program Director.

2018

Ones to Watch 2018 (American Funeral Director, September 2018). Features current student Christopher "Topher" Crosby.

CCMS Holds Spring Commencement (Funeral Home & Cemetery News, June 2018)

CCMS Holds Commencement Ceremony Spring 2018 (ICCFA, June 2018)

CCMS Congratulates Spring 2018 Graduates (Buckeye Director, Summer 2018)

Honoring the Past...and Looking to the Future (American Funeral Director, May 2018)

Celebrant Training in Mortuary School (The Director, Apr 2018)

Students Earn InSight Funeral Celebrant Certification (The Buckeye Director, Spring 2018)

CCMS is partnering with OFDA to offer a scholarship in memory of CCMS alumna Rachael Anderson.  (The Buckeye Director, Spring 2018)

Transforming Death Care Education Gala (ICCFA, Feb 2018)

Hall of Fame (Funeral Home & Cemetery News, Feb 2018)

Transforming Death Care Education & Gala (Funeral Home & Cemetery News, Feb 2018)

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Hall of Fame Inductees (CFSA Newsletter, January 2018)

Page updated 11/13/2024

Learning Resource Center Access

The LRC is staffed during CCMS’ normal business hours and open to Alumni for reference (materials may not be checked-out to alumni).

Students enjoy unlimited access to the LRC with use of an issued security badge.

Access the Online Library Catalog

Contact the LRC:

library@ccms.edu 

(513) 866-4084

PROGRAM INFORMATION - Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

Report exposure, symptoms, test results

If you suspect you have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of illness, we ask you to immediately:

• Isolate yourself from others 

• Email COVID@ccms.edu to alert President Lechner, Vice-President Ivey, and your instructors

• Complete the CCMS COVID-19 Exposure Reporting Form that will be emailed to you and return via email. The form is also found at www.ccms.edu > Student Resources > Forms section in the footer of our website’s homepage 

• Arrange to receive a COVID-19 test. Advise the scheduling status and result to COVID@ccms.edu 

Contact your instructors individually for instructions on attending class via Zoom until further instruction is provided or you are approved by President Lechner/Mr. Ivey to return to campus. 

• Quarantined students are expected to attend all scheduled classes via Zoom. 

• Those experiencing severe symptoms who feel they are unable to attend a scheduled class via Zoom must notify each instructor prior to the scheduled class time via email to receive an EXCUSED ABSENCE. 

• Quarantined students and who have not contacted an instructor prior to class and are not present for class via Zoom, will receive an UNEXCUSED ABSENSE.

REPORTING PROTOCOLS

The information you provide helps us maintain a healthy campus community.  When we are not made aware of exposure, symptoms, or test results, the campus community is put at risk and our ability to comply with federal and state reporting requirements is compromised. Please keep CCMS Leadership and Faculty advised of any and all information at COVID@ccms.edu .

KNOWN OR SUSPECTED EXPOSURE --SYMPTOMATIC (QUARANTINE REQUIRED)

If you experience cold/flu-like symptoms, have had a known or suspected exposure, or have a COVID-19 positive household member, immediately SELF-QUARANTINE and contact COVID@ccms.edu to advise and receive further instruction and return date. All instructors are notified when you communicate to COVID@ccms.edu. Further guidance will be provided on the Exposure Reporting Form.

KNOWN OR SUSPECTED EXPOSURE—ASYMPTOMATIC (QUARANTINE POSSIBLE)

If you have known or suspected exposure, or have a COVID-19 positive household member, immediately contact COVID@ccms.edu  to advise and receive further instruction. If you are vaccinated, you can return to campus while wearing a mask. If you are unvaccinated, you are required to SELF-QUARANTINE. Further guidance will be provided on the Exposure Reporting Form.

POSTIVE TEST RESULT (ISOLATION REQUIRED)

If you are confirmed COVID-19 positive, immediately ISOLATE from others and contact COVID@ccms.edu to advise and receive further instruction and a return to date. All instructors are notified when you communicate to COVID@ccms.edu. Further guidance will be provided on the Exposure Reporting Form.

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS

CCMS has worked diligently to establish a remote learning option to accommodate the needs of students who are quarantined or isolated to ensure continued academic participation. It is your responsibility to attend scheduled classes remotely using Zoom course links provided in Populi course dashboards using the following important guidelines: Non-participation in a remote class due to extreme illness requires you email your instructor prior to the scheduled class start time. Please adhere to the following attendance expectations:

Quarantined and isolated students are expected to attend each scheduled class session remotely, unless too ill to participate, using the provided Zoom link in your Populi course dashboards.

  If too ill and unable to participate in a scheduled class remotely, you are required to email each course instructor prior to the scheduled class time to receive an excused absence.

To receive an excused absence for a missed class, you are required to email each instructor prior to the scheduled class start time to advise. Failure to email prior to start time will result in an unexcused absence.

RESOURCES

All COVID related inquiries, reporting, and follow up should be directed to COVID@ccms.edu. Communications to/from this email notifies all relevant administrators and all instructors.

• CCMS guidance and expectations
• CDC guidance 
• CDC general resources 
• CDC testing locations

Andee Welsh

Adjunct Faculty

A.A.S, B.M.S

awelsh@ccms.edu

Andrea "Andee" Welsh is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Ohio. She earned her Associates of Applied Science in Technology Degree from Kent State University in 2009. She went on to graduate CCMS with both an AAS and BMS in the Spring of 2011, where she graduated Cum Laude and as Class Vice President. Andee is currently employed at Spring Grove Funeral Homes, at their Cremation Society. She is also a licensed Substitute Teacher for K-12 in the State of Ohio. 

Since the beginning of her licensure in 2013, Andee has had the opportunity to serve many families at many different types of funeral homes; from the small family-owned, to the large scale corporate. She also had the opportunity to work in preneed insurance sales, which helped her realize that at-need funeral directing better fit her passion. 

Andee moved to Cincinnati in 2017 from Northeast, Ohio (Warren/Youngstown area). She currently lives on the Westside (Bestside) with her partner, Craig; daughter, Zella; bonus kids, Abby and Charlie; and two golden retrievers, Samson and Noodles. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, tending to her plants and garden, playing dungeons and dragons, volunteering at her kids' school, and enjoying the local bar-band and karaoke scene. 

2018

October 2018

Kathleen Shaffer, Vice Chair/Fiduciary TTE

“I am driven to contribute to maintaining the standard of excellence for which CCMS is known.”

Ducro Funeral Services
Certified Funeral Service Practitioner  (CFSP), Certified Funeral Celebrant, Certified Pre-planning Consultant, Licensed Professional – Ohio
Alumna 2008

Purpose of the Foundation

The non-profit foundation provides a broad range of financial and governance support to the College’s growth and transformational initiative.

Transforming Death Care Education is ongoing, beginning with expansion and development of education programs and opportunities for students and practitioners, including:

• Construction of the CCMS Educational Cremation Center (2019)
  • Expansion of cremation curriculum
  • Integrate hands-on learning not currently available to students or practitioners
• Develop and launch affordable online education programs (students & practitioner)
• Ongoing expansion of innovative curriculum and specialized training
• Encourage, promote, develop and enhance education, instruction, training, and research
• Secure and increase endowments and grants for sustainability and enhancement of:
  • Student scholarships and grants
  • Alumni events and networking opportunities
  • Affordability and relevance of lifelong learning programs for practitioners
• Develop relevant and engaging continuing education programs
• Disseminate of imperative information and knowledge to all death care professionals
• Assure and ensure the continuity of CCMS as the nation’s first and leading force in death care education

Gross Anatomy & Dissection Lab

The anatomy and dissection lab is designed for the application of gross anatomy curriculum in the Bachelor of Mortuary Science program. Students participate in hand-on learning with the use of cadavers, learning the different systems of the human body.

The anatomy and dissection lab consists of eight stations equipped for gross anatomy and overflow embalming, as well as a designated area for practical application of the capstone curriculum which includes cosmetizing, dressing, and casketing.

Evacuation Procedures

When Evacuation is needed, it is necessary to remove College faculty, staff, students and visitors from the College building.

• Evacuate persons in immediate danger.
• The order to evacuate an area or the facility must come from the College President or his/her representative. The evacuation order will be announced overhead and/or via the email system.
• Evacuation can be immediate, partial (from one area to another area) or total (removal of everyone from the building).
• If an evacuation of the building is necessary, all occupants will gather in the Assembly Area (the Southeast corner of the CCMS parking lot).

Evacuation routes are posted on campus. In the event of a building evacuation, students are required to exit the building and meet at the designated meeting location. The designated meeting location is the Southeast corner of the CCMS parking lot (behind the dumpsters). Students may only leave campus once they have met at the designated meeting location and have been accounted for.

2024 Publications

Student Notification 

Parent Notification

Security of Personal Data

We take precautions to protect your information. Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a closed lock icon at the bottom of your web browser or by looking for "https" at the beginning of the url. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email, website forms, or other direct contact from you.

You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website:

• Inquire, change, correct, delete any data we have about you. 
• Express any concern you have about our use of your data. 

Teresa Hoskins

Executive Assistant to the President

thoskins@ccms.edu

513-938-8470

Teresa (pronounced Teressa) comes to the College from The Christ Hospital where she served as an Executive Assistant.  She has 10 years experience in healthcare and over 25 years of Executive Assistant experience.  Teresa is a native of Cincinnati, OH and grew up in the Madisonville area.  She has a number of hobbies and interests such as motorcycles, crafts, travel and spending time with loved ones and is excited to be a part of the CCMS family! 

2017

CCMS to Honor Alumnus Ken Cahall, 2017-18 NFDA President; Appoints Stephen Bittner to Board of Trustees (The Director, November 2017)

Standout Women Reflect: What Funeral Service Means to Me (The Director, October 2017). Features CCMS alumna Denise Melvin Hammelrath.

CCMS student Mika Ziv is featured as a 2017 "Ones to Watch" in American Funeral Director. (September 2017)

Watch CCMS president and students share the reality of this rewarding profession and what it’s like to learn from the nation’s leading funeral service educator! Watch it here. (WCPO – 9 On Your Side, June 2017)

President Jack E. Lechner wrote an article for the Funeral Business Advisor Titled: What Does “If You See Something Say Something" Have to Do With Ethics and Integrity”. (Funeral Business Advisor, May 2017)

President Jack E. Lechner, Jr. gave a commencement address at Mercer County Community College (May 2017).  

Jack attended there and graduated with an Associate of Science Degree in 1975 and in 1976 earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Mortuary Science. He was asked to represent the Business and STEM department at the 50th Annual Commencement Exercise by being one of the three speakers at the commencement. One of the unique aspects of this commencement address was that Jack was asked to speak at a competing Funeral Service Program, demonstrating the unique bonding aspects of funeral service.

*Timely graduation = complete program in 1½ times designated program length.

**Graduation rate reflects cohort graduation rate (% of students from original cohort completing in the designated year)

***Left before completing the program; did not finish.

CCMS calculates employment rate according to the following definition approved by the Higher Learning Commission: the percentage of graduates eligible and seeking an apprenticeship who obtain one.  Excludes students unable/not willing to relocate, along with those pursuing additional education, another career or military service. According to this calculation the employment rate for 2023 was 96%.

FORMS

FERPA Release Form

Request for Directory Information

Education Verification Form

COVID-19 positive protocol

Kym Smith

Bookkeeper

ksmith@ccms.edu

513-618-1925

As bookkeeper, Kym is responsible for all day to day financial processes that take place at CCMS.

Kym graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's in Accounting. She has over 20 years of experience in this field, and is excited to bring her expertise to CCMS to forward their vision.

Kym and her family live on the east side of Cincinnati. She spends her time outside of work volunteering at her daughter's school, being a karate Instructor at the U.S Martial Arts Academy, or playing with her two loving cane corso dogs: Zeke and Onyx.

2017

March 2017

July 2017

November 2017 (2017 Gala issue!)

Codi Kindoll, CFSP

Clinical Director 

Faculty / Clinical Faculty

B.M.S, LFD/LE (Ohio, Kentucky), Certified Crematory Operator (Ohio permit), Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, Alumnus

ckindoll@ccms.edu 

513-618-1921

Codi Kindoll is a lifelong resident of Northern Kentucky and is currently a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Kentucky and Ohio, a licensed crematory operator in Ohio, certified funeral celebrant and Certified Funeral Service Practitioner. He has been working in funeral homes since he graduated from high school in 2012, where he discovered his passion for the funeral service profession.

Codi earned his AAS degree from CCMS in 2014 and was awarded the Joel E. Crandall Award for excellence in the art of restoration. Later, he returned to CCMS to earn his BMS and his celebrant certification. Codi served his apprenticeship at a local funeral home in Northern Kentucky and reciprocated his Kentucky licenses to Ohio in 2021 to open the door for more career opportunities.

Codi returned to CCMS in May of 2022 as a faculty and clinical faculty member and teaches courses dealing with management and regulatory compliance. Codi is passionate about funeral service and is equally as passionate about teaching stating: 

"It is our obligation as licensees to pass on our knowledge and experience to future death care professionals for the purpose of continuing to provide service through our profession. Giving students the tools to serve their communities and become outstanding members of our ever-evolving profession is truly an honor."

In Codi's spare time, he enjoys DIY home projects, which often involve "up-cycling" of everyday home items. He enjoys spending time with his loveable cat, Finn, and caring for his reef aquarium and koi pond. Codi also enjoys gardening, often growing plants from seeds or seedlings or propagating them from existing plants.

Kenn Peterson, Treasurer

“After many years of serving funeral professionals who help make the worst day of a family’s life a little easier, it is an honor and privilege to be able to influence the learning process where it all starts.”

National Guardian Life Insurance Company, Vice President, Business and Lending Development

MBA, University of Toledo, MS, Miami University, MEd (TBC), Miami University

Support the Foundation & CCMS

Support us in Transforming Death Care Education

CCMS is unique in that it receives no state or federal funding, outside of the financial aid our students receive for tuition, for its operation., As a result, CCMS heavily relies on support from the Foundation, alumni, and private individuals. Their generous and continual support is in large part why we have remained successful for well over a century.

CCMS alumni, service professionals, and supporters of the College are encouraged to join the Foundation. Graduates of CCMS receive dues-free membership for one year after graduation. All dues-paying members are invited to attend the Foundation’s annual meeting and participate in the strategic planning processes as we transform death care education.

Restorative Art Lab

The restorative art lab is designed for the practical application of classroom instruction in the art of restoration. Students work independently, applying their knowledge as they create a life sized wax replica of the human face. Two semesters are devoted to the creation of a likeness, beginning with the skeletal and muscle structure through completion of facial feature placement, cosmetics application in restoration, and finally adorning with appropriate accessories to achieve the likeness of a person of their choosing. Restorative art lab doesn’t require artistic skill, but rather, confidence and a desire to learn the techniques necessary to develop the skills required in best serving families dealing with the loss of a loved one to trauma or disfigurement.

Emergency Drills, Testing and Evacuation Procedures

Evacuation drills are to be coordinated by Springfield Township Police at least annually and may be conducted in the form of a drill, tabletop, functional, or full scale exercise. A description of each exercise, as well as the date and time of the exercise, and information about whether the test was announced or unannounced must be documented by the College. Testing of the Communication Alert Systems occurs annually.

The purpose of evacuation drills is to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of an emergency. At CCMS, evacuation drills are used as a way to educate and train student and employees on issues specific to the building. During the drill, students and employees ‘practice’ drill procedures and familiarize themselves with the location of exits and the sound of the alarm.

Data Retention

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The records/computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment. 

2016

CCMS Welcomes President Jack E. Lechner, Jr. (CCMS Press Release, Jan 22, 2016)

CCMS on “Cincinnati Edition” (WVXU, February 4, 2016)

Lechner Discusses New Role as CCMS President (Memorial Business Journal, Feb 11, 2016)

Lechner Named CCMS President (American Funeral Director, March 2016)

From Funeral Service to the Army to the Pentagon and Back Again (The Director, April 2016)

Back at his Alma Mater (American Funeral Director, May 2016)

Funeral Director Artist Spotlight: Miranda Benge Robinson (Answering Service for Directors, June 2016)

Students Succeed in Community Service Beyond the Profession (CCMS Press Release, Jan 17, 2017)

LRC Mission and Policies

LRC Mission

Circulation Policy and Circulation Chart

Use Policy

Collection Development Policy

Meet our faculty and leadership team. 

NATIONAL BOARD STATISTICS- Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

School pass rate is based on 1^st time test takers within one year of graduation.

National Board Examination scores, graduation rates, and employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited degree programs are available at www.abfse.org. To request a printed copy of this program's scores and rates, go to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, ATTN:  Mark Ivey, Program Director, 645 W. North Bend Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, or by e-mail at academics@ccms.edu, or by telephone at (513)761-2020. More information about the National Board Examination can be found at https://theconferenceonline.org/.

Online classes 

John Vinnedge

Faculty/Safety Officer 

M.Ed., LFD/LE (Ohio), Certified Crematory Operator, Alumnus

jvinnedge@ccms.edu

513-618-1922

John Vinnedge is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of Ohio having served in funeral service since 1998. He is also a veteran of the United States Army having served with the XVIII Airborne Corp in Fort Bragg, NC from 1995 to 2003 in both active and reserve duty status.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from CCMS in 2012 and earning his professional licenses in 2013, John has returned to join the Faculty as Clinical Lab instructor, as well as teaching Embalming Theories I & III, Microbiology & Pathology, and Cemetery & Cremation Fundamentals. John is a CANA certified crematory operator and authorized to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the guidelines of the courtesy card Act (KRS 316.14). John earned his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati.

John is a proud dad of two children and cherishes his time as a husband and father. In his spare time he enjoys film, literature, and spending time in the great outdoors for both sport and leisure.

“Confidence tempered with humility. Graceful competence and bountiful empathy. Love for humanity and appreciation for the value of life. A funeral director requires all of these. Since 1882, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science has assembled quality individuals with these traits and set them on the most worthy of paths; service to those in need.”

2016

March 2016

June 2016

September 2016

December 2016

Library

Students spend lots of time in the library studying, collaborating on projects, and socializing. The library offers many services to students and alumni, including computers, printers, and a collection of books, journals, and educational videos focused on mortuary science. Students love the fact that they can check out their course textbooks at the library! The library is also an outstanding resource for students in preparation for comprehensive exams and the National Board Examination. A full-time Library Director staffs the library and helps students with reference, research, and technology.

Annual Publication

The College publicizes its emergency response and evacuation procedures to all students and employees, as well as in conjunction with its annual test of the evacuation procedure. Further, general information about the College’s response and evacuation procedures is publicized each year as part of its Campus Safety Report, which is published as part of its compliance with the Clery Act.

View or print Emergency Notification & Response Policy

Your California Rights

Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1798.83, we will not disclose or share your Personal Information with third parties for the purposes of third-party marketing to you without your prior consent. 

Other than as disclosed in this Policy, the website does not track users over time and across third-party websites to provide targeted advertising.  Therefore, the website does not operate any differently when it receives Do Not Track (“DNT”) signals from your internet web browser. 

Laura Nobbe, Secretary

“My commitment continues to be the success of students and business owners as a trusted pre-need advisor with Homesteaders Life Company, serving the unique and individual needs of clients across five states since 2007. I have had the privilege to serve the death care profession since 1990, having formerly owned a funeral home as well as serving in casket manufacturing, sales, and preneed marketing.”

Heartland PreNeed Systems, President

TRUSTEES

See also:

Weather Closures

Text Message Alerts

All safety topics

2015

March 2015

June 2015

October 2015

December 2015

Student Lounge

Want to hang out with your fellow students or take a break from studying? The CCMS student lounge was designed to give students a place to decompress with their peers. The lounge is equipped with a flat screen television, DVD player, video game system, vending machines, lockers, and private kitchenette.

For website visitors outside United States

Our website is designed for use by individuals in the United States only.  We do not warrant or represent this Policy or the website’s use of your Personal Information complies with the laws of any other jurisdiction.  Furthermore, to provide you with our services, we may store, process, and transmit information in the United States and other locations around the world, including countries that may not have the same privacy and security laws as yours.  Regardless of the country in which such information is stored, we will process your Personal Information in accordance with this Policy.

Brittany Marcum

Registrar

bmarcum@ccms.edu

513-761-2020

Brittany Marcum has held several positions at the College including Front Desk Administrator and Accounting and her newest role as Registrar. Along with her bubbly, inviting personality and love of meeting new people, Ms. Marcum also strives to provide assistance to both current students and alumni.

She joined CCMS after serving in pre-K education as a preschool teacher with Child Focus. She and her husband along with their four amazing children reside on the east side of Cincinnati. In her free time she loves to travel, hike, and explore the world with her family.

In her spare time, she also serves as a front desk administrator with US Martial Arts Academy several evenings during the week. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home with four dogs and a cat. 

Steve Bittner

"I feel so privileged to serve on the CCMS Board of Trustees. As a cemeterian of 50 plus years, I am excited to be part of the proactive approach of taken by the college to engage all the various service providers of our End of Life ministry. Together, we can truly keep our ministry moving forward!"

Certified Catholic Cemetery Executive (CCCE); Certified Cemetery Executive (CCE); Cincinnati Catholic Cemetery Society, President; Catholic Family Security Association, Vice President; Catholic Cemetery Conference (CCC), Past-President

Opt Out

Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email with college and professional news, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy. To unsubscribe, call or email us at 877-377-8433 or by email to info@ccms.edu. 

Revised January 2021

2014

June 2014

September 2014

December 2014

Teresa Dutko, M.A.

Faculty

Fellow in Thanatology, Death and Grief Studies Certificate, Certified Funeral Celebrant/Trainer, Certified Crematory Operator

tdutko@ccms.edu

513-618-1928

Teresa Dutko, M.A., FT, is Academic Chair and faculty member at CCMS. For over 35 years she has taught the College’s social science curriculum, including courses such as Social Aspects of Death and Dying, Professional Relationships in Funeral Service, Psychology of Grief and Counseling and Aftercare in Funeral Service. Teresa coordinates the College’s assessment program designed to ensure student learning and improve institutional effectiveness. She also serves as the College’s liaison to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB).

Teresa holds the Fellow in Thanatology (study of death, dying and bereavement) advance-practice credential through the Association for Death Education and Counseling and a Death and Grief Studies Certificate through the Center for Loss and Life Transition. A certified funeral celebrant for 17 years, Teresa is also one of the celebrant trainers for CCMS bachelor’s degree students. 

In her leisure time, Teresa enjoys reading, cooking, and practicing yoga. She is married to writer and educator, Louis Martinelli. Together they enjoy hiking, canoeing, playing golf, and traveling.

Parking

CCMS has ample parking available in our private lot for all students and visitors at no extra charge.

Updates: Our Privacy Policy is subject to change. Revisions may be found on this page. 

Questions: If you have questions or concerns regarding the college’s adherence to this privacy policy, you should contact us by telephone at 877-377-8433 or 513-761-2020 or by email to webmaster@ccms.edu  

Download or print Privacy Policy 

See also:

Information Technology Usage Policy

Other compliance topics

Coleen Ellis

“I am excited to partner with CCMS, a forward thinking educator that understands and embraces the value that pets have on the family system and the role of a funeral director in providing that service. As founder of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center (2009) and Pet Angel Memorial Center (2004) I was able to address and meet the needs pet parents had to mourn, memorialize, and celebrate the life that they shared with their beloved pets.”

Founder, Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, Consultant Specializing in Pet Death Care, International Speaker on Pet Loss & Grief, BBA Marketing, Fort Hays State University, Pet Loss & Grief Companioning Certified, Center for Loss, Certified in Thanatology, Association of Death Education & Counsel

Subscribe or unsubscribe

Subscribe or unsubscribe to our newsletter by contacting social@ccms.edu.

Wanda Mullins Lee, CFSP, M.S.

Faculty

LFD/LE (Ohio), Certified Funeral Celebrant/Trainer, Certified Crematory Operator, Medicolegal Death Investigator

wlee@ccms.edu

513-618-1932

Wanda (Mullins) Lee is an Ohio licensed funeral director and embalmer, a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), a Certified Funeral Celebrant, a Certified Funeral Celebrant Trainer, and a Certified Indiana Medicolegal Death Investigator (MDI). She is a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, the Greater Cincinnati Funeral Service Association, the Ohio Embalmers Association, the Indiana State Coroner’s Association, and the Funeral Ethics Association. Wanda is authorized to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the guidelines of the courtesy card Act (KRS 316.14).

Wanda is a 1996 graduate of CCMS where she earned her Bachelor of Mortuary Science Degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Indiana University, and a Master of Science in Psychology from Walden University. Wanda has taught a variety of courses at CCMS, including Embalming Theory II & Clinical Embalming Lab, Restorative Art & Restorative Art Lab, Funeral Service Seminar: Ethics, Funeral Service Co-op, Capstone, Funeral Merchandising and Finance & Pricing. She also served as our Clinical Lab Director for 9 years, prior to her promotion to Registrar in 2022. Wanda has served the Franklin County, Indiana Coroner’s office in a variety of capacities since 1995. She served as Deputy Coroner, Chief Deputy Coroner, and 2010-2018 was the elected Coroner until term limitations permitted her from running for that office again. She still remains with the office as a Deputy Coroner. Wanda served on the Board for Franklin County Emergency Management Services (EMS) for 10 years, and was a member of the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency’s (EMA) Chief’s Association for 8 years. She also formerly served on Indiana’s Region 12 Child Fatality Review Team, aimed at identifying areas of risk and reducing child deaths.

Wanda lives in Franklin County, Indiana with her husband, Rob, and their two sons, Isaiah and Adam. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, reading and going to the occasional Cincinnati Reds game. Her all-time favorite activity, however, is attending her boys' sporting events.

Jim Flynn

“As a descendant of Funeral Directors, I look forward to providing governance to the nation’s leading death care educator.”

Federal Retirement Advisors, RICP, Retirement Income Certified Professional, B.A. Economics, University of Cincinnati.

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Kiana Alford

Faculty/Clinical Instructor

kalford@ccms.edu

Kiana is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Indiana, and is reciprocating her licensure and certifications to Ohio. She graduated from CCMS in 2022 with her Bachelor’s Degree and was awarded The Dodge Award for exceptional advancement in the art and science of embalming; she is also a Certified Life Celebrant and Crematory Operator in Indiana. She is earning her Masters Degree in Thanatology from Marian University – Wisconsin. She has background previously in sales and management.

Kiana is a Tri-State area native and served as a funeral director and embalmer for two local Indiana funeral homes, both of which she contracts for as an embalmer. She grew up with an interest in death care and later in life found her calling to the funeral profession in which she loves deeply and wants to help transform in order to take away the macabre stigma surrounding it. Kiana’s passion for the death care profession is apparent and she wants to give back to the students entering CCMS’s doors to help them become the best funeral directors and embalmers they can be.

In her free time Kiana enjoys reading, arts of all kinds, attending concerts, and being an aunt to her two young nieces and friends children.

Duane Hedrick

“Having the privilege to expand beyond practitioner to service supplier has afforded the opportunity to meet countless CCMS graduates, which has inspired my mission to contribute to the future of the foundation and college.”

Dodge Company
Licensed Professional – Ohio
Alumnus 1993

Cyanna Westfall

Enrollment Services Assistant

cwestfall@ccms.edu

513-618-1926

Cyanna Westfall is a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati! After attending the School of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning (aka DAAP), she received her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She has done multiple co-ops in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mexico City, and Chicago, Illinois. Cyanna has assisted in designing hotels, large office spaces, commercial restaurants, and worked on designing Targets as well. Not only did she choose Interior Design as her degree because of her love of creating beautiful spaces, it's also because she loves people and bringing them to in said spaces. She is a born and raised Cincinnati native and the oldest of six siblings ranging from 23 (herself) to three years old. She is a pro at multi-tasking and being a big sister. In her free time she enjoys thrifting, reading, listening to music/going to concerts, trying new food, and adventuring to new places with her longtime boyfriend - Carlo.

Tim King

“As a funeral professional, it is of great importance that I invest in the future of my Alma mater.”

Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home
Licensed Professional – Ohio
Alumnus 1997

Tausha Ross

Director of Learning Resources and Student Services

MLIS

tross@ccms.edu

513-866-4084

Tausha Ross is an alumna of Wilmington College (1998), Union Institute & University (2018) and Kent State University (2021). She has been in Higher Education for over ten years, which included previously working in an Academic library. She enjoys supporting the academic needs of students and faculty on a college campus and previously served as a Site Director and Associate Dean at Chatfield College assisting students in their post-secondary educational journey.

After earning her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University, Tausha decided to return back to what she loves best, which is working in a library. She loves books and considers it to be her happy space.

Tausha was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and has a large family. She enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling the many nieces and nephews that she has. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking, reading, decorating, shopping at HomeGoods and traveling.

Tausha is excited to be apart of the CCMS family and looks forward to assisting students, faculty and staff in the Learning Resource and Student Services Center.

Poul Lemasters

“Having a career in deathcare as a funeral director and embalmer than spans over 20 years, I quickly recognized the growing risk and liability for funeral homes and cemeteries, along with the lack of support and resources available to those in this profession, as a deadly combination. So, I went to law school and now provide legal and professional resources to the vast deathcare profession.”

Founder Lemasters Consulting founder, ICCFA Legal Counsel, Licensed Professional – Ohio, National Speaker in Deathcare and Legal Topics, Alumnus 1996

Kym Smith

Bookkeeper

ksmith@ccms.edu

513-618-1925

As bookkeeper, Kym is responsible for all day to day financial processes that take place at CCMS.

Kym graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's in Accounting. She has over 20 years of experience in this field, and is excited to bring her expertise to CCMS to forward their vision.

Kym and her family live on the east side of Cincinnati. She spends her time outside of work volunteering at her daughter's school, being a karate Instructor at the U.S Martial Arts Academy, or playing with her two loving cane corso dogs: Zeke and Onyx.

Jerome G. Weaver, M.Div, D. Min

Rev. Dr. Weaver is a Bereavement Services Manager with Vitas Healthcare. He's worked in hospice for the past 20 years as a Chaplain, Community Educator, and Clinical Manager. Jerome also has 25 year career in pastoral ministry serving churches in Massachusetts, Ohio and Indiana. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati, a M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a D. Min. from United Theological Seminary. His ordination is through the American Baptist Churches, USA. Jerome's ministerial praxis rests on the belief and hope of healing through faith, compassionate presence, education, clinical guidance, and healthy support systems. 

NON-VOTING BOARD AFFILIATES

Jack Lechner, Ex-Officio
Brian Dershaw, Legal Advisor
Teresa Hoskins, Liaison