ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
A mutually-beneficial partnership between higher education and corporate employers — allowing graduates far greater access to workforce opportunities — this is what higher education should look like. — Dr. Bill R. Path, President, OSU Institute of Technology LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
As I walk the hallways and sidewalks of our beautiful campus, I am consistently reminded of what makes OSU Institute of Technology great. There is no doubt that the promise of our mission is being heard and felt here at home and in places abroad. We are a unique institution of higher learning. Our outcomes-focused approach and emphasis on workforce needs is essential to our state’s economic improvement. We believe that an academic degree combined with specific industry skillsets prepares our graduates for lifelong careers with a greater appreciation for their civic duty. We thrive on these distinctions, and others are taking note that this model is not just a passing trend, but a necessary change for higher education at large. Over the last year, we were honored to have special guests visit our campus including Gov. Mary Fallin, Congressman Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Commerce Larry Parman, and Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs Rita Aragon. Their presence at OSUIT is validation of our efforts to develop citizens better prepared to shape our country’s economic future. As you flip through the pages of this report, I hope you’ll share in these moments of pride from our OSUIT family as well as the greater Okmulgee community. More than this, I hope you will find ways to contribute to our plans for development either by serving in an advisory capacity or through a gift to the OSU Foundation to see our Campus Master Plan come to fruition. With your continued support, we know we will make an incredible difference in the lives of our students and the communities we serve.
Dr. Bill R. Path
Board of Regents for OSU & the A&M Colleges
Rick Davis, Chairman, Joe D. Hall, Vice Chair, Calvin J. Anthony, Douglas E. Burns, Andy Lester, Tucker Link, Dr. Trudy Milner, Jim Reese, Lou Watkins, and Jason Ramsey, Chief Executive Officer
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2014
OSUIT CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology rolled out a Campus Master Plan for the 160-acre campus in Okmulgee that will take Oklahoma’s only university of applied technology into the next quarter century.
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CAMPUS
OSUIT CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
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2014
Tech Tower
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Beginning in late 2012, OSU Institute of Technology administrators engaged in a discovery process with key stakeholder groups to lay the groundwork for the campus’s future with the primary goal of unifying and expanding the programs in a comprehensive way. The OSU/A&M Regents heard the plan presentation at their regular meeting in January 2014. President Bill R. Path said to his knowledge this is the first long-range master plan for the institution. “We’re blending the campus heritage with its intended future. The campus looks nothing like it did when it was purchased post-World War II. We will naturally evolve, but now we have created the template to work from.” Changes won’t be happening overnight, Path said. A four-person data collection team has toured major divisions and talked with division heads, program directors and instructors. “We’ll find out what’s working, what isn’t working. The good, the bad and the ugly,” he said. Path said the goal is to announce the next major construction project by the end of 2014. “There’s a case to be made for every building on this plan,” he said. “Within
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the next year, we’ll get architects to start designing our next project.” For more than a year, key stakeholder groups — administrators, community leaders, industry partners and campus constituents — collaborated with Dewberry, an architectural firm in Tulsa, to develop the master plan. The process began when representatives from Dewberry took a comprehensive look at the campus and its infrastructure in order to analyze the buildings, classrooms and lab spaces. “OSUIT is absolutely unique. We have gained so much respect for the history of the institution and the mission of the
institution,” said Dominic Spadafore, project manager at Dewberry. Having a master plan means designs for any new projects are made with a vision in mind, Path said. “It allows you to make smarter decisions moving the university forward. Even small decisions like where to put a flower bed, or plant a tree, or put a parking lot,” he said. And it won’t just be buildings that are changing. The plan addresses the issue of vehicular traffic through the campus, as well as better pedestrian walkways and gathering places for students.
It’s not just about planning new walls to replace the old ones, but growing and upgrading to meet industry needs and trends. What makes this campus remarkable is the large laboratory environments that can house learning tools and equipment literally delivered by cranes. The instructional spaces are unique, setting us apart from any other university in the state. — President Bill R. Path OSU Institute of Technology 3
SUCCESS
2014
STUDENTS
NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOW Cody McPherson
Cody McPherson is working to earn his teaching degree, but his real job seems to be helping others. His enthusiasm for service is a reason he was selected as a Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow. McPherson is one of 15 students in Oklahoma to receive the $500 scholarship, and one of 196 in the country named Newman Civic Fellows. “It was a really humbling experience. It’s something I’m proud of, and I’m excited to be chosen,” he said. While working toward an Associate in Science in Secondary Pre-Education from OSU Institute of Technology, McPherson is also an instructor at Sapulpa’s Central Technology Center
working with students with disabilities. Teaching was always what McPherson wanted to do, but he originally thought he would be an agriculture teacher, until he started working with the students at Central Tech. “Until two years ago, I never thought I could work with students with disabilities. Now I can see the impact that I can make on students,” he said. McPherson graduated from Drummond High School in 2009 with only nine other students. “That’s where I got my roots and passion for helping others, giving back to community,” he said. That’s also when he became heavily involved with SkillsUSA, a technical and vocational student organization that
serves more than 320,000 high school, college, high school and college students as well as professionals in the industry. For the last four years, McPherson said he’s dedicated a lot of his time to SkillsUSA on the state and national level, even starting an alumni association in Oklahoma. “I really got to see the impact the organization has on students. How it helps them with their career choices and leadership skills,” said McPherson, who is a third generation SkillsUSA member. Other enterprises he volunteers with include the March of Dimes, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and the Caring Community Food Bank in Sapulpa.
It blew my mind that one in four kids in Oklahoma goes to bed hungry. I couldn’t believe it. You hear about the needs around the world, but we’ve got this problem in our own backyard. — Cody McPherson 4
STUDENTS
SUCCESS
2013-2014
Awards, with several alumni taking part in organizing the awards, as well as taking them home as winners. Civil Engineering Club Takes Top Spot in Concrete Bowling Competition
Students Take Home Honors from Graphex 45 Awards Visual Communications students and recent graduates were recognized at the Graphex 45 awards reception in May 2014. The Graphex Awards, presented by Art Directors Club of Tulsa, recognizes the creative talents of commercial graphic designers, photographers, videographers, web developers, advertisers and writers from across the country. Student winners included Luke Braswell, 2nd Best Portfolio; Valerie Grant, Motion/Digital Media; Victoria Bauer, Photography; and Haley Lingle, Illustration. OSUIT has made it a tradition to be a leader in student achievement at the annual Graphex
The student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers took first place in the Concrete Bowling Competition during the 2014 Mid-Continent Student Conference in April. The ASCE chapter beat out seven other universities, including OSU Stillwater, University of Oklahoma, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, University of Missouri-Columbia and St. Louis University. The competition had two parts: design and appearance of the bowling ball, and then the practical element– how well can you actually bowl with it. Teams had to bowl five frames using the same ball. Culinary Student Scholarships Three School of Culinary Arts students were awarded scholarships from the American Culinary Federation to help further their education. 5
From right to left: Sabrina Finsel, Christina Clanton, Eve Fry
Christina Clanton was the recipient of a $2,000 scholarship. Though she began her degree at another college, she found fulfillment in turning her hobby into a future career at OSUIT. Sabrina Finsel and Eve Fry were awarded $1,500 scholarships. Finsel knew she wanted to be a chef and made plans to attend OSUIT while a freshman in high school. Fry, on the other hand, was looking for a career change. She came with her son on a campus tour and decided OSUIT was exactly what she was looking for.
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Students Give Back to Community Spending a Friday afternoon turning over dirt, planting pansies and mums and laying down 100 bags of mulch sounds like a chore to many, but for more than 20 students it was an opportunity. The nearly two dozen volunteers — from student organizations Phi Theta Kappa, Native American Student Association, Student Senate, and Orthotics & Prosthetics Club — spent four and a half hours at the Okmulgee Baptist Village in fall 2013 working on flower beds and landscaping projects around the assisted living center. Some academic programs and courses include community service hours as part of the curriculum such as the Aggreko program or students enrolled in business courses. One financial accounting class headed up a canned
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food drive and collected enough items to fill the bed of a pickup truck. The food was donated to the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system. Other Arts & Sciences classes collected items such as books, art supplies and nursery supplies and donated them to the Child Care Center on campus. Blanket Drive Helps to Spread the Warmth Donating blankets to local television affiliate KTUL’s annual Spread the Warmth campaign is something Arts & Sciences instructors Glenda Orosco and Dr. Maria Christian do on their own every winter. This year they decided to take it further and reached out to the entire 6
STUDENTS
OSUIT campus. “We thought, there are probably students and faculty who live in Okmulgee who would like to help but can’t take their donation to one of the drop-off sites in Tulsa,” Christian said. So when the spring semester started in early January 2014, she and Orosco gathered boxes and placed them at three locations on campus and started the first OSUIT Cares Blanket Drive in conjunction with television station KTUL’s Spread the Warmth campaign. In its first week, the blanket drive collected nearly two dozen blankets on campus and continued to gain momentum. With such a positive response, Christian and Orosco hope to turn it into an annual event.
STUDENTS
SUCCESS
2013-2014
At the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition, held on the OSUIT campus, competitors go to their laptop computers as often as their toolboxes. Ten pairs of high school age technology center students from across the state have 90 minutes to diagnose and fix as many bugs as possible in 10 identical vehicles.
Student SCHOLARSHIPS
CAT Dealer Prep students Sean Balzanna, from Poteau, and Josh Hurla, from Topeka, Kan., were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the mikeroweWORKS Foundation in April 2014. The mikeroweWORKS Foundation supports and promotes skilled trades and grants scholarships to men and women who have an interest and aptitude in mastering a specific trade.
Fifty-one students from across the country were awarded MRW tool scholarships in 2014, and OSUIT is the only school in the state that had scholarship winners. DCP Midstream awarded three current or incoming students with a $1,500 scholarship — Zachary Copeland, Richard Floyd and Ethan George. The DCP Career and Technical Scholarship is given to full-time students pursing a degree or career in the natural gas industry. Since 2009 DCP Midstream, the largest natural gas gatherer and processor in the country, has awarded more than 60 scholarships totaling more than $100,000 to students across the country. Construction Management students Brian Kizza, Josh Kreinbihl, Adam Jobe and Marshall Motley each received a scholarship from Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma Education Foundation during the organization meeting in May 2014. 7
Motley was also named this year’s student representative to the Construction Leadership Council. The AGC of Oklahoma, which started in 1939, is a full service statewide nonprofit organization for construction professionals. The AGA Education Foundation supports the educational efforts of the chapter by awarding scholarships each year to students enrolled in construction degree programs at OSU, University of Oklahoma, and OSUIT. Dylan Moore was recognized as OSUIT's nominee to the 2014 All-USA Community College Academic Team in April 2014. More than 1,700 students from technical institutions, community colleges and junior colleges were nominated for the honor. The competition is presented by USA Today, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the American Association of Community Colleges.
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U.S. DEPT. OF LABOR GRANTS
GRANTS
OSUIT Awarded $4.4 Million in Grants OSU Institute of Technology received two grants totaling $4.4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor, which awarded grants totaling $474.5 million to community colleges and universities around the country. The Career Pathways for Adult Workers program based at the MidAmerica Industrial Park Advanced Training Center received an advanced manufacturing
received a grant for almost $1.67 million as part of a consortium of five colleges that will focus on increasing the number of students earning credentials to help alleviate the expected shortage of workers. OSUIT’s allotment is part of a total grant of just under $11.2 million. The large grant will allow the five institutions to focus on recruitment and retention as well as provide a way to
federal initiative designed to expand targeted training programs for unemployed workers. The federal grant money helps the development and expansion of innovative training programs in partnership with local employers. The U.S. Department of Labor is implementing and administering the program in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education. “Being selected as the sole recipient of
OSUIT’s outstanding work helps students to find good jobs and helps businesses find the skilled labor they need. That, in turn, is helping to grow Oklahoma’s economy and raise our national profile as a great state to invest and do business in. — Gov. Mary Fallin grant of nearly $2.75 million, which provides participants with academic and student support so they can enter, retain and complete workforce training. The grant allows for the expansion of the program to include night and weekend classes and lab offerings, as well as add blended learning through online offerings of select courses. The Orthotic & Prosthetic program also
give credit to students for prior learning experiences and military vocations. The grant also seeks to create innovative online learning opportunities, accelerate training pathways, support job placement and develop stackable credentials. The awards are part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program, which is a $2 billion multi-year 8
these grants in Oklahoma speaks directly to OSUIT’s track record of success in meeting current economic demand for an educated, highly skilled workforce and reinforces our resolve to collaborate with industry partners to fill the skills gap with qualified technicians,” said President Path.
ADVISORS
SUCCESS
2014
A Walk of Fame plaque dedication was held on Super Saturday for retiring SouthWestern Association CEO Jeff Flora, who helped bring the SouthWestern Association program to OSUIT.
Advisory News Heinz Leuenberger, who served on the advisory committee for the School of Watchmaking, retired from Rolex in June 2014 after more than 30 years of service. To pay tribute to his longstanding service, an instructional space was named in his honor: the Heinz Leuenberger Advanced Watchmaking Laboratory. Jeff Flora, retired SouthWestern Association CEO, was honored with a plaque unveiling and dedication ceremony during Super Saturday. The plaque, now part of OSUIT’s Walk of Fame, is in recognition and appreciation for Flora’s longstanding commitment to the university’s SouthWestern Association Industrial and Farm Equipment program, which he helped establish in 2003.
Watchmaking classroom naming ceremony for longtime advisor Heinz Leuenberger.
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SUPER SATURDAY
More than 2,000 people from Northeast Oklahoma and surrounding states descended on the OSU Institute of Technology campus on April 12, 2014 to take part in the second annual Super Saturday festival. Photo by Bland Bridenstine
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SUPER SATURDAY
2014
"This event is a great way to engage the community and give back a little to our surrounding area. Super Saturday provides a good introduction to what OSUIT really is and stands for." — Andrea Gardner International Relations Coordinator
PROMOTION
Super Saturday Festival is an Okmulgee Tradition Super Saturday, an event aimed at reconnecting the university with the community, offered something for everyone during the daylong festival in April 2014. Campus visitors had a variety of activities to choose from including the Kite Fest, Kids Zone, Mustang Car Club Expo, High Voltage Lineman Rodeo, Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce Trade Show, OSU Tailgate Zone, International Extravaganza, letterpress demonstrations and a free concert by rising country star Dylan Scott. But in addition to the family-friendly activities, Super Saturday is also about showcasing OSUIT and its academic programs. All over campus, guests were given access to firsthand experiences within the expansive instructional spaces that the university is known for. “Years ago we hosted an event, Super Weekend, that was similar to an open house,” said Anita Gordy-Watkins, Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “Super Saturday is now a tradition that means something, that we are more than a college campus. We are a community partner, and our citizenship within Okmulgee is mutually-beneficial.” It seems that message is getting across. This year’s attendance more than doubled last year’s with the addition of more activities and events for the public.
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ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
AWARD WINNERS
2014
ALUMNI HALL OF FAME For the first time in its history, OSU Institute of Technology recognized several of its alumni and inducted them into the new Alumni Hall of Fame. In its inaugural year, four individuals were honored as Distinguished Alumni, those who are established in their professions and whose career accomplishments have been outstanding. Five people were recognized as Rising Stars, those alumni who have demonstrated significant or outstanding accomplishments within their first 10 years of graduation.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
RISING STARS
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5 Nyckey W. Heath, '09
Virgil Sharp, '75 AAS in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technologies Commercial Services Manager, Air Conditioning Innovation Solutions
2 John Hammer, '85
AAS in Commercial Art Former graphic designer & Current fine artist
3 Carla (Jackson) Hammer, '86
AAS in Commercial Art Curator of Paper, Clampitt Paper
4 Chef Aaron Ware, '00
BT in Civil Engineering & AAS in Drafting/Design Project Engineer, Tower Inspection Inc.
6 Markwayne Mullin, '10
9 Nathan Yoder, '11
AAS in Plumbing U.S. Representative for Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District Owner of Mullin Inc.
7 Jason Staggs, '12
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LaQuayne N. Wright, '06 AAS in Natural Gas Compression Artificial Life Corrosion Representative, Chevron
BT in Information Assurance & Forensics Graduate student at the University of Tulsa Recently accepted in University of Tulsa's doctoral program
AAS in School of Culinary Arts Instructor, OSUIT’s School of Culinary Arts
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AAS in Graphic Design Senior Artist, Sevenly (a non-profit)
BUILDING SUCCESS Chesapeake - SouthWestern Association - Phillips 66
DEDICATION
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY NATURAL GAS COMPRESSION TRAINING CENTER
2013
“The new training center will enable OSUIT to more effectively teach students the technical skills necessary to maintain and operate natural gas engines and gas compressor units in an industry-quality laboratory. OSUIT is committed – through the Natural Gas Compression program – to help this vital industry meet its need for trained technicians. Our graduates will work to build, maintain and operate America’s vast energy infrastructure and keep it running strong in the coming decades.” — Roy Achemire division chair
In September 2013, OSUIT dedicated the Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Compression Training Center, the newest development on the Okmulgee campus. The 23,920-square-foot center is the first of its kind in the energy industry, allowing students to learn to diagnose, service and maintain gas compression equipment in a state-of-the-art facility. Thanks in large part to the Chesapeake Center, enrollment in the Natural Gas Compression program is expected to more than double from its previous level.
A leadership donation by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, coupled with donations from Devon Energy, ONEOK and Energy Transfer, launched the project in 2012. OSUIT has offered the natural gas compression training curriculum since 1974, and created an independent program for the study in 1999.
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SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION
2014
DEDICATION
Representatives from the SouthWestern Association were on the OSUIT campus in March 2014 for a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony of the newly renovated space that houses the university’s Industrial and Farm Equipment Technology program.
“The farm and industrial equipment industry is no different from other enterprises where technolog y is always changing and advancing. This is high-tech equipment for a very high stakes business.” — Jeffrey Flora, SWA chief executive officer
The $153,000 renovation has more than doubled the square footage of instructional space for the students pursuing an Associate in Applied Science in Diesel & Heavy Equipment. The association funded the renovation through a capital campaign that enlisted the support of members and industry partners, including equipment manufacturers who generously contributed to the effort. The renovated area includes a 7,550-square-foot lab space, more computer space in the classroom and with faculty offices now in the same area, greater collaboration between students and instructors. The new space also allows for more flexibility in training and improved access to equipment. “The farm and industrial equipment industry is no different from other enterprises where technology is always
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changing and advancing. This is hightech equipment for a very high stakes business,” said Jeffrey Flora, SWA chief executive officer. “Today’s machinery utilizes GPS, computer programming, and wireless applications that require equally skilled technicians to keep these machines going.” The SouthWestern Association program started at the university more than 10 years ago when members of the association saw a need for more skilled technicians in their dealerships and recognized the opportunity to meet that demand through OSUIT. Since then, the program has grown to the point where a larger space was needed to accommodate more students and more pieces of advanced equipment for the students to utilize for training.
DEDICATION
PHILLIPS 66 PIPELINE INTEGRITY TECHNOLOGY
2014
In May 2014, representatives from Phillips 66 were on campus to take part in an unveiling and dedication ceremony of the newly renovated Phillips 66 Classroom in the Pipeline Integrity Technology program.
The renovated classroom includes new teaching equipment, furniture and décor, a first step in growing the program. The larger donation from Phillips 66 will be utilized to develop an outdoor corrosion training facility so students can get more hands-on training. “The graduates that are coming out of this program are vital to not only our industry, but our country, ensuring the miles of pipeline that we all depend on remain safe, stable and secure,” said
Debbie Adams, president of Transportation at Phillips 66. “We are proud to invest in the education and training of this workforce who will do such crucial work for our industry.” The Pipeline Integrity technology program started at OSUIT in the fall of 2013 with nine students, but the fall 2014 semester will be full with 20 students and nearly 80 inquiries into the program so far.
The Texas-based energy company donated $25,000 for classroom improvements and $45,000 toward the development of a hands-on training facility for the university's newest program, Pipeline Integrity Technology.
The graduates that are coming out of this program are vital to not only our industry, but our country, ensuring the miles of pipeline that we all depend on remain safe, stable and secure. — Debbie Adams President of Transportation, Phillips 66 19
ARTPLUS
2014
Illustration/OSUIT Alum Brian Smith
FOUNDATION
Painting/OSUIT Alum John Hammer
ART PLUS OSU Institute of Technology’s Visual Communications Division made history in April 2014 with the debut of ART Plus, an exhibition and silent auction composed of artwork created by alumni.
The silent auction, which raised more than $10,000, was held April 10 in the DIY Gallery of AHHA, the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa’s Hardesty Arts Center. The auction served as a way to raise money for a new scholarship aimed at helping second-year VisCom students continue their education. “It’s a continuing problem. Students come in and have funding for the first year. For a lot of them, there’s no funding beyond that first year,” said James McCullough, division chair for Visual Communications. “We’ve seen some of our best students, our most promising students, have to step out. They leave, and it’s extremely hard for them to come back.” 20
In addition to raising scholarship funds, the exhibit and auction also aimed at raising awareness of the artistic skills and talents of Visual Communications alums. This first year’s exhibit featured paintings by graduates such as John Hammer, Chris Westfall and Gil Adams, alumni who all found success both in their commercial art careers as well as fine artists. “We had a good variety of donated pieces and gave everyone an opportunity to buy something that suited their fancy,” McCullough said. “The variety of styles and techniques gave people a chance to see the talent that these individuals possess and I was pleased with the items donated.”
FOUNDATION
ARTPLUS
Painting/OSUIT Alum Bryan Cooper
Painting/OSUIT Alum John Hammer
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2013-2014
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Retired Major Gen. Rita Aragon was the keynote speaker at OSUIT's Women in Technology conference.
In the last year, OSU Institute of Technology has been at the forefront of the state’s discourse on higher education as national and international leaders have come to recognize the importance of the university’s mission as well as the opportunity it can serve as a model for others. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin Speaking to OSU Institute of Technology’s 197th graduating class in April 2014, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin praised those about to walk across the stage and their decision to attend Oklahoma’s only university of applied technology. “All of you believe in the power of education, which is why you are here. And you are right to believe in that, now more than ever,” said Fallin. Employers require a faster, more skilled, more educated workforce, and recent graduates are now part of that workforce. “You won’t be turning a lever on a factory floor 5,000 times a day. You’re working in highly skilled careers that are truly amazing in their diversity,” she said. “What makes OSUIT unique in the state is the emphasis it places on practical learning environments. Students learn by doing while using industry-caliber equipment and tools that make transitioning from classroom to career a seamless experience.”
U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin OSUIT celebrated its 195th commencement in August 2013 with U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin, a 2010 alumnus, serving as the keynote speaker. Mullin said graduates should attempt to step out of their comfort zone, take risks, make and learn from their mistakes. Mullin was elected in 2012 to serve Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District. He was raised in Oklahoma and still runs several businesses in the state. Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Larry Parman Larry Parman, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce, has been curious about OSU Institute of Technology since he
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took over the leadership position last fall. After hearing so many positive accolades about the university, he made it a priority to see it firsthand when he visited in June 2014. A big part of his job in the commerce department is workforce development, Parman said. Since 1992, Oklahoma has lost $922 million in adjusted gross income to other states. “We know how to train people, how to prepare people. There is a great job being done right here, we just need more people in the pipeline,” he said. “This campus sits at the center of what Oklahoma can uniquely offer to the world, not just the state.” Retired Major Gen. Rita Aragon More than 175 young women participated in the fifth annual Women in Technology event in October 2013, the largest group the event has ever hosted. Those in attendance heard from retired Maj. Gen. Rita Aragon, a female trailblazer in the armed forces in Oklahoma. Aragon was the first female commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and first woman to serve as the Oklahoma Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs. Thirty years after joining, 20 percent of the military is now made up of women, Aragon said. The same is happening in other fields that were once dominated by men such as engineering or construction. “It’s all about capability. What are you good at? Linguistics or science and technology, those aren’t male-only skills,” she said. “Women feel much more entitled today. If they want to do something, they should be able to pursue it.”
My degree from OSUIT not only expanded my knowledge of my field of study, but it prepared me further for the different roles in my life — business owner, rancher and most recently, public service. — U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin 22
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DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
2013-2014
Oklahoma Govenor Mary Fallin spoke to students at the 197th OSUIT graduation.
Congressman Markwayne Mullin delivers the commencement address at the 195th graduation ceremony.
Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Larry Parman tours the Manufacturing Technology program.
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Consul General of Switzerland Andreas Maager speaks with School of Watchmaking instructor Jason Champion.
Chenniappan Gopalakrishnan, third from left, poses with some of his fellow 1971 ACR classmates.
ACR Alum Helps Alma Mater Knowledge, work and relationships are what Chenniappan Gopalakrishnan values most in his life. All three converged on a recent trip to his alma mater. Every few years Gopalakrishnan, or Gopal as he is known, joins his fellow class of 1971 graduates from the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration program for a reunion on campus. After graduation, the group started their careers and Gopal returned to India to continue working in his family’s dairy and grocery chain Nilgiri Super Market. With Gopal’s help and leadership, his family’s grocery chain became of the largest, most successful and well-known businesses in southern
India. He never forgot his alma mater, the education he received or the friends he made. Several years ago, the university began hosting the reunion on campus so the group could speak with current ACR students and meet with administrators. Gopal is now working with the Office of International Affairs on increasing enrollment of students from India and on building partnerships and relationships with other reputable technical schools in India. Consul General of Switzerland Andreas Maager Andreas Maager, Consul General of Switzerland in Atlanta, visited the campus in May 2014 as a part of a special trip to Oklahoma to further strengthen ties between the state and his home country. Switzerland’s Honorary Consul in Oklahoma Rico Buchli and his wife Beatrice, who have close ties to OSUIT, accompanied Maager on a tour of campus, which highlighted the Schools of Culinary Arts and Watchmaking programs. Maager said he wasn’t sure what to expect before his visit “What does this mean 'institute of technology?' I wasn’t aware it represented a type of university we have in Switzerland,” he said. 24
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Maager said 60 percent of young people in Switzerland opt for vocational training at a university, and while training for their career they complete apprenticeships with companies, much like OSUIT students are required to complete internships before graduation. Maager wishes more universities would take note of what OSUIT is doing. “It would be a model for the country. There are so many requests for people with skills and this university can meet that need,” he said. “That’s what industry wants and needs.” UPAEP Cultural Exchange OSUIT and the Universidad Popular Autonoma de Estado de Puebla have utilized the past three summers to build upon a shared partnership designed to enhance cultural exchange opportunities for Mexican nationals through short-term trainings conducted within OSUIT’s Automotive Technologies and Engineering Technologies divisions. UPAEP and the OSU System have collaborated on educational, entrepreneurial and cultural exchange programs since 1991, with OSUIT’s contributions launching in 2006. The Office of International Affairs believes this ongoing partnership between OSUIT and UPAEP positively enriches campus globalization efforts and highlights a workable model for international partnering amongst all academic divisions of the institution.
CAMPUS & BEYOND
ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS
2014
In the last year, OSUIT has entered into articulation agreements with eight universities, with even more expected in the near future. These agreements make transfers and reverse-transfers between OSUIT and the partnering university a smooth and seamless transition for students.
FINISH ORANGE An initiative between OSU Stillwater, OSU-Tulsa and OSUIT, Finish Orange allows students who earn an Associate in Science an easy transfer to a four-year program at either campus.
RSU AGREEMENT The signing of the articulation agreement with Rogers State University was held at MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, where both universities have a presence.
ARTICULATION DAY Most recently, six universities — OSUIT, Langston University, Mid-America Christian University, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and St. Gregory’s University — gathered on campus for an articulation event that would open even more opportunities to students.
As institutions of higher education, our primary goals are to equip students for their future and ensure what they learn while enrolled translates to what they need to know when they embark on their careers. — President Bill R. Path OSU Institute of Technology 25
MILITARY
2014
COMMITMENT
PROUDLY SERVING THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OSU Institute of Technology was founded on the commitment to serve veterans and members of the armed forces in offering training for their post-military careers. The university was established in 1946 specifically to provide returning World War II veterans vocational training in industries where their skills and talents could be put to the best use to advance the country’s infrastructure. That commitment has continued for almost 70 years. For the second consecutive year, OSUIT was named to G.I. Jobs Magazine’s Military Friendly Schools® list. The university also offers membership to its Student Veterans of America chapter. The university is not just military friendly, but military-committed offering technical degrees for veterans that can lead directly to employment in the workforce. The institution boasts a job placement rate of more 90 percent. Our Veterans Affairs coordinator works
closely with veterans to discover how their military skills and training can transfer into college credits and determine which degree program best suits their needs and experiences. OSUIT has two Certified Veterans Service Providers who also ensure veterans and family members are aware of benefits available to them and the requirements for maintaining eligibility. Staff continually look for ways to improve services and develop resources to benefit student veterans and their families. A database of instructors and staff members who are also veterans called the Green Zone is being put together so students are aware of teachers or employees they can talk with and be in a “safe zone.” The university is also developing the Military Crosswalk, an online program where veterans looking to join the workforce can see where their military skills can best transfer into the civilian workforce and what programs fit their skillset.
YELLOW-RIBBON QUALIFIED As a yellow-ribbon designated institution, OSUIT contributes funds toward tuition and fees that exceed the amounts payable under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill for students designated as non-resident.
“I chose OSUIT because they accepted more of my time and experience in the military as college credit, more than a lot of other schools in the state. The campus is smaller than other universities too. You get individual help if you need it.”
“The instructors are more than helpful. They always take the time and talk with you and help you any way they can. The level of training we get is amazing. I’ve been to college before and OSUIT is more hands-on and more technical.”
“My professors were very accommodating when it came to any military duty I had to accomplish during class time. That was a huge weight off my shoulders when trying to balance my military and civilian student life.”
— Betty Eden, current student Associate in Applied Science Nursing & Health Sciences
— Clayton Bush, current student Associate in Applied Science Electrical Construction Technology
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MYCAA BENEFIT ELIGIBLE The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program provides up to $4,000 (over two years) of financial assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields. CERTIFIED VETERANS SERVICE PROVIDERS OSUIT is now one of only four universities and tech centers in Oklahoma to have multiple Certified Veterans’ Service Providers on campus, who support student veterans as they transition back to civilian life.
— Lorena Wilkinson, ‘13 Associate in Applied Science School of Watchmaking
OSUIT campus c. 1962. The campus, originally Glennan Military Hospital, served the U.S. military and eventually POWs held in the region until 1946. Afterward, the barracks served as classrooms and student residences for the burgeoning technical school. The newly built Covelle Hall can be seen in the lower right hand corner.
2014
OSUIT: The University of Jobs Published June 29, 2014 Opinion feature G1 Mike Jones, Tulsa World Associate Editor Editorial Board (excerpts) “But here is, I think, the secret or key to OSUIT: It’s successful because it keeps its classes, if not small, reasonable in size. Every student gets one-on-one instruction. Each student is given the opportunity to not simply learn a job, but to have hands-on experience in the field they have chosen.” “Frankly, there once was, and might still be, somewhat of a stigma about forgoing enrolling in a university and going to a ‘trade school.’ OSUIT breaks that stigma. It’s a college of computers, labs, 3D printers, machines so precise it takes an expert to even turn them on and instructors so involved students can’t fail. It’s a college where smart students pursue their dreams and see them realized.” “OSUIT is a success that every Oklahoman ought to know about. It’s an option that every young person ought to consider. It’s turning out qualified
PUBLICITY
workers for exciting, well-paying jobs in many fields. It’s not your father’s trade school. It’s the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. And it’s one of Oklahoma’s roaring success stories.” How can you get a high-paying, highskilled job in Oklahoma? Published July 2, 2014 Front page feature A1 Kyle Arnold, Business Writer (excerpts) “OSUIT’s new Chesapeake Center shows just how desperate employers are, pumping money — $2 million in this case — into programs and facilities years before they will start producing workers.” “In the Chesapeake building, students and industry veterans alike train on real-world equipment, learning the ins and outs of how it works while studying the physics and engineering behind the equipment.” “Almost the entirety of OSUIT — 3,000 students and 425,000 square feet of space — is dedicated to developing highly skilled workers. The school offers
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MEDIA
37 degrees in programs ranging from power plants and electrical wire training to watchmaking and hospitality management.” Want a better job? Some companies are willing to pay your tuition Published July 3, 2014 Front page feature A1 Kyle Arnold, Business Writer (excerpts) “Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology has opened a branch in Pryor at the MidAmerica Industrial Park to be closer to employees; and its main campus in Okmulgee has about 3,000 students almost entirely focused on high-skilled jobs, including advanced manufacturing and nursing.” “Companies such as Orchid Paper and American Castings have sent dozens of employees through programs at the OSUIT Pryor campus, getting training in advanced manufacturing, equipment maintenance and electrical skills, as well as the science and fundamentals behind those fields.”
FACULTY
RETIREES
2014
RE T I RE ME N T S
30 Years of Service Paul (Mitch) Davis
26 Years of Service Kelly M. Ingold
26 Years of Service Frank D. Lynch
CELEBRATION OF A CAREER When Dr. Linda Avant started out as a teacher at Fort Cobb High School, she had no idea her life would lead her to Okmulgee and OSU Institute of Technology. “I was very content just being a high school English teacher,” said Avant, who retired on Aug. 1 2014 after 26 years working in a variety of positions from coordinator of planning and evaluation to executive vice president, and various roles in between. During her time at OSUIT, she served as interim department head, interim division chair and interim vice president in practically all the divisions and offices on the campus. “You get to know everyone. Every time I filled in, I learned more about the campus and the procedures. I gained experience,” she said. She’s also been integral in the university’s strategic planning and articulation agreements, which align courses and allow credits to be transferred between institutions. Before she came to campus, Avant also taught at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center and then worked at the state level for Oklahoma CareerTech. In 26 years, there have been so many developments in accreditation, academics and administrations, and Avant has been a part of it all, including working to bring Associate in Science and Bachelor of Technology degree programs to OSUIT. “I’ve seen us mature as a provider of general education,” she said. While Avant has always had a hand in the institution’s future, she’s also been instrumental in reconnecting with its past. “Since 1946 we’ve never had an alumni relations office,” she said, but progress has been made with Avant spearheading the advent of alumni relations on campus, as well as an Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony and outlets for alumni communications. She still plans to visit campus occasionally for events and to see friends. “I’m very proud and very excited about the institution’s future,” she said, but she’s glad to hand off the torch. “There’s going to be others that will carry on, and I’ll be in the stands watching.” 29
23 Years of Service David L. Groover
23 Years of Service Janita C. Coulson
21 Years of Service Kathie T. Thompson
19 Years of Service Dolph H. Hayden
18 Years of Service Becky J. Mounger
SUCCESS
2013-2014
FACULTY
Mark Rodriguez EARNS ACCOLADES FOR HIS DEDICATION TO TEACHING For the truly great teachers, public recognition for their work is something they tend to shy away from. They would rather focus on the accomplishments and achievements of their students, and Mark Rodriguez is no exception.
“Here it’s a real hands-on school. The students are prepared to be productive. They have a chance to speak and communicate with the person who is teaching them.”
Rodriguez, a physics instructor, was named a Regents Distinguished Educator by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents as well as a National Institute for Staff and Organization Development (NISOD) Excellence Award winner. Oddly enough, teaching wasn’t his first choice as a profession. He studied science and oceanography and earned his bachelor’s from the University of Washington and master’s from New York University in those subjects. It wasn’t until he and his wife moved to Massachusetts that he considered going into the classroom. “I thought I would teach for a little while, do that for a few years while I waited for a job opening,” Rodriguez said, so he got a position teaching physics at Lexington High School. “I discovered I’m a teacher.” He taught at Lexington for nearly 20 years before moving to Tulsa where he worked for 14 years at Victory Christian High School. Nine years ago, after his children had graduated college, he decided to look for 30
a position in higher education. He found one at OSUIT, where he admits it’s not a typical college campus. “I have seen just as gifted students here but they couldn’t recognize what was there. They weren’t prepared. This place can bridge the gap,” he said. “Here it’s a real hands-on school. The students are prepared to be productive. They have a chance to speak and communicate with the person who is teaching them.” Rodriguez said his passion comes from leading students to see their own potential. “Smart, gifted students are everywhere, not just in those exclusive places at those elite schools,” he said, they just need to realize it. “Some are very humble and don’t even recognize it in themselves.” That ability to see the gifts and talents of his students is one the reasons Rodriguez was awarded both the Regents Distinguished Educator and NISOD honors. The recognition is nice and very humbling, he said, but the real reward is seeing his students reach, and meet, their goals. “I said to my students ‘Your success validates my efforts.’ They are a force to be dealt with in their field. They do us proud,” Rodriguez said. “I’m most energized by seeing my students succeed and do well. This award is just icing on the cake.”
FACULTY
SUCCESS
Outstanding Faculty and Staff winners from left to right: Robbie Van Hooser, Devin DeBock and Mike Madden
Outstanding Faculty and Staff The Annual Employee Banquet once again recognized faculty and staff for their service, dedication and merit. The banquet was held June 5 at Five Oaks Lodge in Jenks. Awards were given for Outstanding Faculty, Outstanding Staff exempt and non-exempt, as well as recognition for years of service. Orthotics & Prosthetics instructor Mike Madden was recognized as this year’s Outstanding Faculty Member. Outstanding Staff Members were Robbie Van Hooser, administrative assistant to the executive vice president, and Devin DeBock, director of Residential Life. Receiving recognition for 20 years of service: Carlos DeLaPena, Danna Martin, and Sharon Taylor; for 25 years of service: Anita Gordy-Watkins; and for 30 years of service: Rickie Montgomery, Anthony Munds, Brian Winn, Emma Williams and Richard Wise. Bruce Force Graduates from Leadership Academy Bruce Force, Director of Student Life, recently graduated from the Council on Student Affairs Leadership Academy conducted by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The leadership
academy offers student affairs professionals an opportunity for advanced training and leadership skills development through in-depth workshops, seminars and forums. The whole process took about seven months to complete, and some of the topics addressed during the leadership academy included campus safety, minors on campus, enrollment, retention rates, graduation rates and budgets. Gayan Herath ASCE Outstanding Faculty Advisor This is the second consecutive year civil engineering instructor Gayan Herath has been named ASCE Outstanding Faculty Advisor for Region 6, which includes chapters in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. Herath joined OSUIT in 2010 and started a student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In the chapter’s three year history, it has already garnered national recognition, receiving a Letter of Honorable Mention from ASCE this year for its outstanding activities, an honor only given to the top one third of all student organizations.
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2013
Gayan Herath ASCE Outstanding Faculty Advisor
Two Faculty Named NISOD Excellence Award Winners The accolades keep coming for physics instructor Mark Rodriguez and Culinary Arts instructor Chef Ron L’Heureux, who were named NISOD Excellence Award winners. The National Institute for Staff and Organization Development recognizes outstanding teaching and leadership in institutions of higher education. In 2013, Rodriguez was named a Regents Distinguished Educator in December and L’Heureux was awarded the OSUIT Outstanding Faculty Member. Chef Aaron Ware Recognized for Excellence in Teaching Chef Aaron Ware, alumnus and instructor in the School of Culinary Arts, was named a 2013 John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award recipient. The award recognizes faculty and staff from two-year colleges and universities across the country. Ware was the only recipient from Oklahoma. Ware, who has taught at OSUIT for three years, said his students come first and the food comes second.
DEGREE LISTING
2014
Arts & Sciences Office Information Systems
DEGREE LISTING
Automotive Technologies Automotive Collision Repair Technology Chrysler College Automotive Program (CAP) Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) General Motors Automotive Student Educational Program (ASEP) Toyota Technical Education Network (TTEN) Independent Service Center (Pro-Tech)
Construction Technologies Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Construction Management Technology Electrical Construction High Voltage Electricity
Engineering Technologies Civil / Surveying Technology Instrumentation Engineering Graphics & Design Drafting Manufacturing Technologies Pipeline Integrity Technology Power Plant Technologies
Civil Engineering Technology Instrumentation Engineering Technology Information Technologies Software Development Network Infrastructure Information Assurance and Forensics IT Enterprise Management
Information Technologies Nursing & Health Sciences Nursing Orthotics & Prosthetics Visual Communications Graphic Design Technology 3D Modeling & Animation Photography Technology
ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREES An Associate in Science provides the required foundational education for future advanced degrees in a wide range of disciplines. Business Elementary / Secondary Pre-Education
Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technologies Aggreko CAT Dealer Prep Komatsu ACT Natural Gas Compression SouthWestern Association
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY DEGREES A Bachelor of Technology includes both classroom and technical training for careers that require a comprehensive education. Upper-level coursework using industry-caliber technology prepares students for lifelong careers with a high market demand.
COURSES
School of Culinary Arts
Enterprise Development Information Technologies Allied Health Sciences
School of Watchmaking
Associate in Applied Science Degrees An Associate in Applied Science degree includes classroom education as well as practical training with industry equipment. Two-year programs prepare students for immediate career opportunities or for further advanced education. Select programs are aligned with OSUIT’s Bachelor of Technology degrees.
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with the Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. Title IX of the Education Amendments and Oklahoma State University policy prohibit discrimination in the provision or services or benefits offered by the university based on gender. Any person (student, faculty or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX coordinator: the Director of Affirmative Action, 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, (405) 744-5371 or (405) 744-5576 (fax). This publication, issued by OSU Institute of Technology as authorized by Marketing & Communications, was printed by Printed Products Inc. at a cost of $10,845, for 3,000 / September 2014.
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OKLAHOMA'S ONLY UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY