Ozarks Technical Community College

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Ozarks Technical Community College is a "community technical college" in Springfield, Missouri, established by Springfield and thirteen surrounding public school districts on April 3, 1990. 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.

Students can earn a one-year Certificate, two-year Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.), or an Associate of Arts degree (A.A.). In 1996, it received accreditation from the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, on its first attempt.

In addition to its college credit component, OTC provided area citizens with several other educational options:

High school juniors and seniors could participate in half-day job skill programs through OTC's area vocational-technical school;
Specific training could be custom designed for business and industry at the work site;
Non-credit personal and professional enrichment courses were made available; and
Adult Education and Literacy was made available to adults working toward the General Equivalence Diploma (GED).

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 OTC campus.

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 from business and industry leaders. By 2001 about 100,000 citizens of Southwest Missouri had taken advantage of one or more of OTC's educational services.

Enrollment grew at a rate of 10-20% each year with the campus expanding 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 wing in the summer of 1999, and the Industry and Transportation Technology Center opened in 2000. Renovation of Lincoln Hall was completed in 2001, with the Information Commons West wing to be complete in fall 2002. Grants and a contribution from John Q. Hammons also made beautification of the campus possible with the construction of a pedestrian mall between buildings and a waterfall along Chestnut Expressway.

OTC's comprehensive mission and focus on job-skill training and college transfer preparation have made it a vital part of one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Missouri.

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