OTC hits milestone, increases class sizes

SBJ Staff

Posted online August 17, 2006 | 11:00 pm

Ozarks Technical Community College has surpassed the 10,000-student enrollment mark for the first time in its 15-year history.

As of Thursday afternoon, 10,002 students had registered for classes at OTC. About 1,100 of those students will attend classes at OTC’s education centers in Lebanon, Ozark, Branson and Waynesville.

“The growth of the college has mirrored the growth of the area, and OTC is proud to be able to offer so many students an opportunity to learn with us,” said Hal Higdon, OTC president, in a news release.

The enrollment growth has prompted the school to make more room in its classrooms.

Seats have been added, and enrollment caps for some courses have been increased. Some classes will be moved to conference rooms and other larger facilities, and administrators will teach at least one class to make more course sections available.

OTC opened in 1991 with 1,198 students, and enrollment has grown every year. More than 100,000 students have taken classes at OTC since it opened.[[In-content Ad]]