OTC to build campus in Christian County

Ozarks Technical Community College is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by announcing plans for a second campus.

OTC officials Oct. 17 announced plans for a second campus to be located on 78 acres of land between Nixa and Ozark in Christian County, off Highway 14. Jerry Hagerman, of Pellham Phillips Hagerman Architects-Engineers, designed OTC's campus in Springfield and will also design the new campus. A billboard marks the campus' future site, which is across Highway 14 from Countryside Christian Church.

A master plan for the new campus, which will be developed over the course of the next year, will reveal the specifics, such as its design, cost and groundbreaking date. OTC projects a fall 2004 opening date for the new campus, and OTC Public Information Officer Mar' Ellen Felin said she thinks construction will begin on the first classroom building about a year before that.

OTC President Norman K. Myers said the first building will probably cost between $5 million and $8 million, and will comprise approximately 60,000 square feet.

A study performed by Land Forum LLC for OTC determined that a campus in Christian County would best serve the rapidly growing population of south Springfield and Christian County, which makes up a significant portion of OTC's district. OTC's district is based on a taxing area unique to the college, and follows along the school district borders of Springfield, Nixa, Ozark, Marshfield, Republic and Willard, as well as eight additional area towns. In addition to local property tax and student fees, OTC receives funding through state appropriations.

The site chosen for the new campus located halfway between Nixa and Ozark will allow many OTC students, including those who live in south Springfield, a faster commute to class, according to OTC.

OTC is out of room at its main campus at National and Chestnut Expressway, and had been searching for a location for a second campus for some time, Myers said. The college had promised the north Springfield neighborhood the main campus is adjacent to that it would not expand beyond its 40 acres there, OTC Board President Cliff Davis said.

"The main campus, which is on 40 acres in Springfield, is landlocked and has room for two more buildings and a total of 10,000 students," Davis said. OTC, which opened in fall 1991 with about 1,200 students, reported a fall 2000 enrollment of 6,343 students. OTC predicts it will reach an enrollment of 10,000 in five to 10 years and anticipates a shortage of classroom and parking space in coming years.

Myers said he anticipates at least 1,200 students to show up for classes when the new campus opens. He estimates the new campus will eventually serve 4,000 to 6,000 students. Myers said the new campus would not duplicate programs offered on OTC's main campus it will initially offer general education programs, then new programs that the main campus cannot accommodate space-wise.

"We'll offer a full array of associate of arts degrees, as well as associate of science degrees at the new campus," Myers said.

He listed pre-allied health courses, electronics courses and computer classes as examples of the kinds of classes that may be offered on the new campus. Distance-learning classes, expanded possibilities for continuing education and noncredit courses, and customized training will also be offered there, Myers said.

OTC offers classes from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the week, as well as Saturday and Sunday classes to accommodate as many students as possible.

"Right now we can assist students in finding scholarships and aid to attend school, and we can place them in classes appropriate to their skill level. Our greatest challenge is finding the space in which to teach the courses that are filling a community need," Myers said. "We are planning now so we don't have to turn away people, who are willing to learn job skills, due to lack of space."

OTC officials said the new campus would create about 200 jobs for the area. Ozark City Administrator Collin Quigley said the new campus will be a boon to the Christian County area and beyond.

"This will be a tremendous benefit, not only to the city of Ozark, but the entire region. They're estimating 1,200 students at first, who will be coming in and out of the area. It will also take a lot of people to staff that kind of facility," Quigley said. "Employers also often look to locate in an area where there is a trained work force. We're looking forward to a relationship with OTC."