2013 - 2014 Catalog - Ozarks Technical Community College

General InformationAcademic CalendarPlease check the OTC website, www.otc.edu, for the most currentacademic calendar.AccreditationOTC is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commissionof the North Central Association (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400,Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504, (314) 263-2504).Programs in the College are also recognized and/or accredited by:• Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)• Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology(ARC-ST)• Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC)• American Dental Association (ADA)• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)• American Welding Society (AWS)• Associated General Contractors (AGC)• Automotive Standards of Excellence/National AutomotiveTechnicians Education Foundation (ASE/NATEF)• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP)• Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the EMSprofessions (Co AEMSP)• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (APTA)• Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)• HVAC Excellence• Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair• International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)• Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE)• Missouri Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services• Missouri State Board of Nursing (MSBN)• Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education(DESE)• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Lab Sciences (NAACLS)• National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC)• Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)College HistoryEducational opportunities in the Ozarks took an important step forwardApril 3, 1990, when residents of Springfield and thirteen surroundingpublic school districts voted to establish a “community technical college.”As the region’s new comprehensive community college, Ozarks TechnicalCommunity College provided an open admission, two-year college witha focus on technical education. Citizens now could earn a one-yearCertificate, two-year Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.), or anAssociate of Arts degree (A.A.). Word spread quickly of OTC’s commitmentto small class sizes, its professional faculty and staff, diverse curriculumand focus on quality.In September 1991, with 1,198 college credit students, OTC opened itsdoors at Cox Medical Center North and at 815 N. Sherman in LincolnHall and Graff Hall, facilities which formerly housed the Graff AreaVocational Technical Center. These two buildings became the cornerstoneof the campus.In 1996, Ozarks Technical Community College, on its first attempt, receivedaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North CentralAssociation of Colleges and Schools.OTC’s potential to meet the job training needs of the area became apparent.New programs were developed and existing programs continually revisedwith guidance and input from the members of the 41 programs advisorycommittees, who are citizens and business and industry leaders. Since1991, more than 200,000 citizens of southwest Missouri have takenadvantage of one or more of the College’s educational services.Enrollment grew at an annual compound rate of 13.3% between 1991and 2009. Not only did enrollment soar, but quality education continuesto prevail. In February 2001, OTC was given a ten-year reaccreditationfrom the North Central Association.With this growth rate the campus expanded to accommodate thedemand for facilities. The Technical Education Center opened in thesummer of 1997, the Information Commons in the summer of 1998,the Information Commons East in the summer of 1999, and the Industryand Transportation Technology Center in 2000. Renovation of historicLincoln Hall was completed in 2001, after the building was placed on theNational Register of Historic Places in May 2000. A plaque recognizingthe building’s placement on the National Register, honoring it as thefirst Julius Rosenwald School in Missouri was unveiled in August 2004.The Information Commons West opened in 2002. The newly renovatedGraff Hall reopened in the fall of 2003. The pedestrian mall was fundedby a state grant and the fountain was made possible by a gift fromJohn Q. Hammons.The first classes were held at the OTC Richwood Valley Campus in thespring 2007 semester. Named for the historic area where the campusnow stands, Richwood Valley is located on Highway 14 between thecities of Ozark and Nixa.6 Ozarks Technical Community College • Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 2013–2014