A move is under way to bring an Ozarks Technical Community College campus to Texas County.
One of 20 fastest growing community colleges in the nation and tops in Missouri, OTC leaders recently outlined their plans during a meeting in Houston.
If approved by voters, the measure would allow residents living in Texas County school district boundaries to join the Ozarks Technical Community College District, which would open up new educational opportunities – such as technical training – and lower classroom tuition for residents. OTC now offers classes in 16 Ozarks communities in six counties. It is headquartered in Springfield.
The tuition for fall will be $86 per credit hour for schools that vote to join the OTC district. If they don’t, the cost is $126.50. MSU just approved a rate increase. Its undergraduate charge will be $194 per credit hour at Springfield and $107 at West Plains.
The college’s nearest campuses to Texas County are at Lebanon and Waynesville. A new campus is planned at Hollister, where residents approved the measure with 71 percent of the vote.
If placed on the ballot by county school boards and approved by voters, proceeds from a 15-cent per $100 assessed valuation would retire bonds used for the construction of the county campus. For someone owning a $100,000 house that translates into about $29 annually. The median home value in the county is $61,000. (Similar small taxes support the county library system and health department).
A student in Texas County would save $40.50 per credit if the measure is approved and the student is attending OTC. A 12-hour load per semester translates into a savings of $486 per semester. That’s $108 per credit hour cheaper than MSU-Springfield. It is $21 per credit hour cheaper than the MSU-W.P. fee.
The Houston board of education recently approved placing the issue on the ballot and others are expected to follow. A steering committee has been formed to work with school districts.
Dr. Hal Higdon, OTC president, said 232 Texas County students already attend OTC at Springfield, Ozark, Branson, Lebanon, Waynesville or online. If approved, the measure would allow students who live on the fringes of Texas County to still travel to campuses like Lebanon and Waynesville – and get the benefit of the lower fee.
That’s important for those who didn’t qualify for the state’s A+ program, which covers the cost of tuition for two years at some institutions, including OTC. Those who attend OTC also save state taxpayers money – because it is higher to attend other institutions.
School officials said in addition to educational opportunities, other benefits would also develop:
–78 percent of OTC’s operating expenses are spent within its service area to purchase supplies and pay salaries, wages and benefits.
–For every $1 appropriated, OTC’s spending generates $1.45 in earnings within the district.
–The campus would employ more than 50 workers, not counting the many construction jobs to build it.
–About 72 percent of 2007-’08 career/technical program graduates have jobs within 180 days of graduation.
Higdon said the OTC model is a simple one that doesn’t conflict with existing higher institutions in the region. At Lebanon, three share the same quarters. Occupying space on West Bland Road are MSU, OTC and Drury University.
It provides several advantages: Targeting non-traditional students, costs that are half of some institutions, inclusion in the state’s A+ program that pays two years of tuition for those following a high school course program and allows students to stay at home to gain an education and later earn wages allowing them to stay in their hometown. With gas prices hovering at $3.50 per gallon, students also save greatly on transportation costs.
Higdon said community colleges also provide benefits for older residents who want to learn a skill or engage in personal growth, who desire to have well-trained workers to help with their healthcare needs and want to maintain property values for their heirs.
Programs are also tailored to help with economic development efforts. Training classes are created to meet the needs of employers.
Those specialized courses also pay dividends in recruiting jobs to the region, said Ron Reed, the City of Houston’s economic development director. Companies looking for sites now expect the resources of a community college to help train their workforces.
“This levels the playing field,” Reed said. “It’s another step to getting more better paying jobs.”
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