Oregon Tech President Chris Maples said, “These increases reflect an intentional push to help more Oregonians earn in-demand degrees that are valued by industry in the state and across our region. For Oregon Tech, this begins with a strategic decision to prepare high school students to arrive on campus with college credits in hand, enhancing their academic success, which results in a higher likelihood of staying in college and earning a degree. Do all of those students come to Oregon Tech? No, but we’re more concerned that we are part of the statewide goal of ensuring that high school graduates are more prepared for college or for work when they leave the K-12 system.”
Maples added, “Our investments in On-line programs, including new, fully-online bachelor degrees, are paying off as well, opening up new ways for students from across Oregon and the country to earn degrees in ways that meet their life and work challenges. Similarly, growth at Oregon Tech’s Wilsonville campus shows the continuing need for the type of applied, intensive programs offered at non-traditional times in the Metro-area that we’re known for: engineering, technology, management and healthcare.”
Oregon Tech’s unique hands-on academic model has led to high returns for its degree-earners and national attention in recent years: a 90% success rate for graduates, who are either employed or seeking further degrees within six months, and average starting salaries of $54,000—among the highest in the nation.
Dr. Lisa Graham, Chair of the Oregon Tech Board of Trustees, said, “This growth signals a need in Oregon’s high tech and healthcare markets for the types of degrees that a polytechnic university offers: applied, technical, and which produce creative problem solvers who are ready to work when they graduate. Our students acquire hands-on experiences at Oregon Tech so they have authentic work-related education: they are put immediately into the field, into labs, and on real-world problems.”
Oregon Tech faculty, who focus on teaching and advising, provide retention support along with professional staff. Efforts over the last few years are beginning to be reflected in retention rates, with Fall 2015 reaching 77.7 percent, up from 73.1 percent in fall 2014, due to several new, innovative strategies that are helping at-risk students stay in school.
Dr. Erin Foley, Vice President for Student Affairs said, “We’re really pleased with the strong returning-student numbers of 7.3 percent. It shows that all of our hard work in recent years around retention is paying dividends for students. This includes a strong TRIO program, support for veterans, an innovative texting program, faculty who teach and advise students, and free tutoring services with wonderful peer-tutors.”
Serving Oregonians remains an important focus for Oregon Tech, with a 13.7 percent increase in resident students over Fall 2014. Non-resident students increased almost 5 percent, and international students grew by 69.0%. Diversity also increased over last year, with just over 26 percent of students of color now enrolled.
Fall 2015 Total Student Enrollment by Location, Headcount, FTE, and Credit Hours
Number and percent increase (decrease) from Fall 2014 to Fall 2015 (4th week)
| Campus | Headcount* Fall 2015 | Number & Percent increase (decrease) Fall 2015 & 2014 | FTE Fall 2015 | Number & Percent increase (decrease) Fall 2015 & 2014 | Credit Hours Fall 2015 | Number & Percent increase (decrease) Fall 2015 & 2014 | ||
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*Because students use a hybrid approach of taking some classes online and some in the classroom, there are duplicate headcount numbers reflected in this column, but total unduplicated headcount is 4,786. **Oregon Tech offers Dental Hygiene programs at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, and in La Grande in collaboration with MODA Health and Eastern Oregon University; and offers programs at Boeing in Washington. | ||||||||
| Klamath Falls | 2,228 | (25) (1.1%) | 1,838 | 8 0.4% | 27,540 | 115 0.4% | ||
| Wilsonville | 823 | 49 6.3% | 522 | 32 6.4% | 7,777 | 495 6.8% | ||
| Online | 1,248 | 190 18.0% | 385 | 63 19.5% | 5,774 | 939 19.4% | ||
| Other** | 242 | (33) (12.0%) | 121 | (12) (8.8%) | 1,790 | (187) (9.5%) | ||
| TOTAL ENROLLMENT EXCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS | 3,930 | 129 3.4% | 2,866 | 91 3.3% | 42,881 | 1,362 3.3% | ||
| High School Programs | 861 | 370 75.4% | 242 | 112 86.3% | 3,637 | 1,685 86.3% | ||
| TOTAL ENROLLMENT Unduplicated Numbers (all categories) | 4,786 | 513 12.0% | 3,108 | 203 7.0% | 46,518 | 3,047 7.0% | ||
2015 Fall Enrollment Fact Sheet
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission will be releasing its official enrollment results for Oregon Tech and the other six public universities on Monday, November 16.
About Oregon Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is the premier public polytechnic university in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communication, and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public, and international communities through hands-on learning. Oregon Tech has a full-service, residential campus in Klamath Falls, an urban, industry-focused campus in Wilsonville, and extension sites serving specific program needs. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Institute of Technology.
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