Oregon Tech signs MOU with Klamath Union High School to expand Science & Math opportunities

Freshman students at Klamath Union High School attended a special assembly last week to celebrate the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Klamath Union and Oregon Institute of Technology, “Oregon Tech,” to collaborate on a Science & Math Academy, launching in fall 2018.

Before signing the agreement, Klamath Falls City Schools District superintendent, Paul Hillyer, shared that, “It is rare and exciting to see all the puzzle parts come together to make this possible.”

The MOU will work to pursue the common academic interests of the two schools, with the intention of encouraging closer ties and developing beneficial scholarships. The Science & Math Academy will develop and maintain a relationship in the area of STEM, dual credit courses, student and faculty visits, mentoring opportunities and information sharing that will benefit students. This agreement will serve as a general framework for cooperation between the institutions, and is intended to facilitate further collaboration.

Dean of the College of Health, Arts and Sciences at Oregon Tech, LeAnn Maupin, attended the signing and shared that this is a collaboration to extend the educational experiences of the students. “We work with a lot of different partners in the community to make these opportunities available to enhance the future of these students,” she said. Dean Maupin encouraged students at the event to use this as an opportunity to navigate a pathway that’s meaningful for them.

Bill Jennings, Chair of the Klamath Falls City School Board, reinforced this community effort by telling students that this agreement embodies everything the district stands for. He shared, “Students, I want you to know that your community cares about your success. This is all about opportunities for you.”

In particular, the participating institutions agree in the MOU:

1. To invite faculty, staff and administrators from the partnering institutions to visit for the purpose of becoming acquainted with each other’s programs and operations, develop and enhance the cooperative mechanism, and further expand areas of cooperation.
2. That students who complete a Science & Math Academy certificate at KU will have met Oregon Tech’s admission requirements.
3. That Oregon Tech will work with KU to ensure that all interested students can visit and tour Oregon Tech campuses. The visits will be arranged to provide the students the most exposure to their particular interests. Oregon Tech and KU will work together to support the visits.
4. That KU faculty, counseling staff and administration will promote Oregon Tech’s programs of study when appropriate and identify students on an annual basis who are interested and academically prepared for undergraduate study at Oregon Tech. These students will be invited to visit and participate in campus programs. Oregon Tech will meet with KU faculty and staff to update them on programmatic and other information.
5. KU Dual Credit teachers will attend scheduled Professional Learning Community (PLC) or workshops in their subject areas. Costs for personnel will be the responsibility of KU. Oregon Tech will provide certificates of attendance for Continuing Education and Professional Development documentation.
6. That KU will invite Oregon Tech faculty and staff to be guest lecturers and speakers for classes and other venues such as field trips, in-service, open houses and parent nights. Oregon Tech Academic Agreements and other Oregon Tech entities will be available to assist KU in scheduling.
7. That Oregon Tech will, as appropriate, provide Science & Math Academy students with mentoring provided by Oregon Tech students and faculty, working to match interests and talents so the mentoring is as effective as possible.
8. That Oregon Tech will work with KU to help facilitate identifying internships for specific experiences that are related to Oregon Tech programs.
9. That Oregon Tech and KU will provide appropriate dual credit courses and provide access to scheduled on campus courses for the purpose of enhanced higher education opportunities for qualified Science & Math Academy students.
10. That Oregon Tech will provide professional development opportunities to the KU faculty offering dual credit courses to ensure that the teachers are comfortable with the curriculum and stated outcomes for dual credit courses.
11. That Oregon Tech will provide tuition assistance for dual credit courses for qualified Science & Math Academy KU students when appropriate and work with KU to assist in securing funding to purchase textbooks and equipment when necessary.
12. That Oregon Tech will work with KU to identify possible scholarships for Science & Math Academy students to attend Oregon Tech after high school graduation. The Owl Scholarship and a Presidential Scholarship will be awarded to students who meet the established criteria. The two institutions will collaborate on sources for additional scholarships.
13. That the coordination of this agreement will be the responsibility of the Academic Agreements Office at Oregon Tech and the Science & Math Academy Coordinator at KU. The parties will meet at least once per year to assess the program and change or enhance areas where needed.
14. To identify other areas of possible interest and collaboration. This agreement in no way prohibits students other than Science & Math Academy from benefiting from activities that Oregon Tech and KU agree upon.

This agreement went into effect upon its approval last week, and programs will begin during the academic year 2018-2019.

For more information, contact Marla Edge, Director of Academic Agreements, at 541.885.1034; marla.edge@oit.edu.