OTC to help displaced ITT Tech students

Ozarks Technical Community College is scheduled to host an open house next week to help displaced ITT Technical Institute students continue their education.

Steven Bishop, OTC provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the school is working with former ITT Tech teachers - some of whom now work at OTC - and students to gain information about the classes they have taken.

Bishop, whose calls to officials of Carmel, Ind.-based ITT Educational Services Inc. (NYSE: ESI) haven’t been returned, fears students may be having the same trouble and could be unable to retrieve their transcripts. That makes the transfer of credits to OTC difficult, but the school is seeking solutions so ITT Tech students can transfer their technology and computer-based studies to the Springfield community college.

“We want to do whatever we can to help them finish up a degree,” Bishop said, noting a study underway of the course load at the Springfield campus could help with the transition. “We hate to leave them hanging.”

Bishop, who said OTC officials recently visited the 3216 S. National Ave. campus but the doors were closed, estimated less than 200 students in the Queen City were affected this week when ITT Educational Services announced it was immediately discontinuing operations.

“We really have no clue how many people will want to continue on,” he said, adding officials are hoping “as many as possible will come talk to us.”

The open house is scheduled 8 a.m.-6 p.m. in two rooms at OTC’s Information Commons West building, 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway. OTC advisers will be on hand to help students apply, as well as work on credit transfers and financial aid assistance.

All ITT Tech campuses closed Sept. 6, with officials of the for-profit university citing a recent government ruling that prohibited the college from accepting new students with federal aid.