OTC to eliminate vice chancellor position

The Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees is opting not to replace roles held by administrator Cliff Davis after he starts next month as president of OTC's Table Rock campus.

On Nov. 1, Davis will begin his new role at OTC's campus in Hollister. He succeeds Jeff Jochems, who has served as interim president of the Table Rock campus since it opened in 2013. Jochems will return to focusing solely on leading OTC's Richwood Valley campus, where he's served as president since July 2011, according to a news release.

OTC spokesman Mark Miller said Davis' 10-year roles as vice chancellor for advancement, student affairs and strategic planning and executive director of the OTC Foundation will not be replaced. Instead, those roles will be handled directly by OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon, he said.

"During these tight fiscal times and with decreased funding from the state, OTC cannot afford to add another administrator," Miller said via email.

In Hollister, Davis will lead a Table Rock campus with 595 students this semester, part of OTC's systemwide total of 14,396, Miller said.

"Davis has an excellent record of service to OTC,” Higdon said in the release. “His experience in advancement, student affairs and governmental relations will be invaluable as the OTC Table Rock campus continues to grow and pursue new programs of study.”

Prior to joining OTC, Davis worked at Missouri State University as assistant to the vice president for student and affairs and assistant to the president/director of governmental relations. He also has past leadership experience at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]