2011-2012 CATALOG - Ozarks Technical Community College

GENERAL INFORMATION
ACCREDITATION
OTC is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission
of the North Central Association (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400,
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504, (314) 263-2504).
Programs in the the College are also recognized and/or
accredited by:
• Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
• Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical
Technology
• American Culinary Federation (ACF)
• Commission of Dental Education of the American Dental Association
(CODADA)
• American Welding Society (AWS)
• Associated General Contractors (AGC)
• Automotive Standards of Excellence / National Automotive Technicians
Education Foundation (ASE/NATEF)
• Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information
Management Education (CAHIIM)
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
(CAAHEP)
• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (APTA)
• Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• HVAC Excellence
• Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair
• Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education
• Missouri Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical
Services
• Missouri State Board of Nursing (MSBN)
• Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education
• Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)
COLLEGE HISTORY
Educational opportunities in the Ozarks took an important step forward
April 3, 1990, when residents of Springfi eld and thirteen surrounding
public school districts voted to establish a “community technical college.”
As the region’s new comprehensive community college, Ozarks Technical
Community College provided an open admission, two-year college with
a focus on technical education. Citizens now could earn a one-year
Certifi cate, two-year Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.), or an
Associate of Arts degree (A.A.). Word spread quickly of OTC’s commitment
to small class sizes, its professional faculty and staff, diverse curriculum
and focus on quality.
In September 1991, with 1,198 college credit students, OTC opened its
doors at Cox Medical Center North and at 815 N. Sherman in Lincoln
Hall and Graff Hall, facilities which formerly housed the Graff Area
Vocational Technical Center. These two buildings became the cornerstone
of the campus.
In 1996, Ozarks Technical Community College, on its fi rst attempt, received
accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central
Association 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 revised
with guidance and input from the members of the 41 programs advisory
committees, who are citizens and business and industry leaders. Since
1991, more than 200,000 citizens of southwest Missouri have taken
advantage of one or more of the college’s educational services.
Enrollment grew at an annual compound rate of 13.3% between 1991
and 2009. Not only did enrollment soar, but quality education continues
to prevail. In February 2001, OTC was given a ten-year reaccreditation
from the North Central Association.
With this growth rate the campus expanded to accommodate the
demand for facilities. The Technical Education Center opened in the
summer of 1997, the Information Commons in the summer of 1998,
the Information Commons East in the summer of 1999, and the Industry
and Transportation Technology Center in 2000. Renovation of historic
Lincoln Hall was completed in 2001, after the building was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in May 2000. A plaque recognizing
the building’s placement on the National Register, honoring it as the
fi rst Julius Rosenwald School in Missouri was unveiled in August 2004.
The Information Commons West opened in 2002. The newly renovated
Graff Hall reopened in the fall of 2003. The pedestrian mall was funded
by a state grant and the fountain was made possible by a gift from
John Q. Hammons.
The fi rst classes were held at the Richwood Valley campus in the spring
2007 semester. Named for the historic area where the campus now
stands, Richwood Valley is located on Highway 14 between the cities
of Ozark and Nixa.
The College’s growth continued in the fall of 2007, when its fi ne arts
programs moved to the third fl oor of the Jim D. Morris Building, in the
Gillioz Theatre complex in downtown Springfi eld. Later that fall, the
Center for Workforce Development expanded into a new location just
west of the Springfi eld campus. In 2008, the Waynesville Education Center
moved to a new 10,300 sq.-ft. facility in the Townfi eld Plaza Center, and
OTC assumed the operation of the Licensed Practical Nursing program
at Gibson Technical Center in Reeds Spring.
8 Ozarks Technical Community College Catalog and Student Handbook 2011-2012