Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) has received official designation from the Oregon Legislature as Oregon’s Polytechnic University through the passage of House Bill 2472A. The designation identifies Oregon Tech as the state’s polytechnic university, specializing in tech-infused degrees and a unique teaching and learning approach that is hands-on, experiential and project-based.
The designation is not a name change, but an active effort to showcase the University’s strength as a leader in hands-on, experiential education that includes industry-sponsored internships, co-ops and other learning environments that form an innovation ecosystem of professional practice.
Oregon Tech president, Dr. Nagi Naganathan, shares that: “A polytechnic university is a technological university that ensures that our professional-practice education approaches are meeting the state’s and region’s workforce needs. Oregon Tech’s approach prepares students for the jobs and careers they will be stepping into immediately after graduation, across all sectors and industries in Oregon, the region and further afield. That is a distinction that makes us unique in the state for both our approach to teaching and the outcomes that our students achieve.”
Governor Kate Brown signed HB 2472A into law today. Chief sponsors of the bill who were instrumental in advocating for the bill throughout the legislative process include Senator Betsy Johnson (District 16 – Scappoose), Senator Dennis Linthicum (District 28 – Klamath Falls), Representative E. Werner Reschke (District 56 – Klamath Falls) and Representative Courtney Neron (District 26 - Aloha, Beaverton, Hillsboro, King City, Newberg, Scholls, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville).
As a polytechnic, Oregon Tech provides graduates with bachelor’s and advanced degrees to fuel Oregon’s industries from high-tech manufacturing to specialized healthcare to community-based nonprofits.
The worth of a polytechnic education reflects graduates’ professional experience, which also carries a high marketplace value. This is proven out by Oregon Tech’s graduates’ average starting salaries of $60,000, the highest in Oregon; and employment or further education rates of 96 percent within six months of graduation.
Endorsements
Senator Johnson
“This bill sets Oregon Tech apart within Oregon’s university community and demonstrates its unique value. This bill will motivate enrollment growth, increase philanthropy, and expand state and industry engagement. Oregon Tech provides great careers and high paying jobs in the fields of engineering, healthcare, business and technology.”
Senator Linthicum
“The passage of HB 2472 celebrates Oregon Tech’s origin as a vocational institution serving returning World War II veterans and its current impact both in rural Oregon and statewide. It also demonstrates Oregon Tech’s unique role in Oregon - delivering high-value careers while ensuring affordable and equitable access for students.”
Representative Neron
“We need to be thinking about training for our future economic needs and Oregon Tech emphasizes this focus through their renewable energy engineering, cybersecurity, and data science degrees. As HB 2472 designates Oregon Tech to be Oregon’s Polytechnic University, it opens a wider pathway to federal and private funding that will support their innovative approach to higher education.”
Representative Reschke
“HB 2472 will help position Oregon Tech as an elite, hands-on, higher education institution of learning. Prospective students will see the advantages of Oregon Tech’s unique approach to teaching by learning both in and out of the classroom, and how this pays dividends as they enter the workforce or continue on to graduate school.”
###
