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What’s next at OIT
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| H&N photos by Todd E. Swenson Oregon Tech students Cameron Malby, 26, from left, Zhuoyuan Qian, 20, and Gonzalo Castaneda, 21, work on a human anatomy and physiology lab at the Oregon Center for Health Professionals on Thursday. |
Research, enrollment, fiscal health among goals
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Late president Martha Anne Dow’s influence will be felt as Oregon Institute of Technology continues its course into the future.
“In the last year, she put in place a very aggressive strategic plan,” said provost David Woodall, who is interim OIT president.
The plan is intended to guide the university through 2017. Thirteen committees were formed to study various topics, with each group meeting for a year prior before last spring’s strategic congress. The groups consisted of OIT faculty, staff and students, and community members.
A move toward even more applied research is one of the top priorities, according to the plan. Continued emphasis on enrollment growth and fiscal sustainability are other top goals.
Woodall said OIT will maintain its strong emphasis of hands-on undergraduate programs, as well as concentrate on graduate programs in the health professions and other disciplines.
“We also will maintain our emphasis on renewable energy,” he said.
Addition of a deep geothermal well is being sought as a way to become the first totally energy sufficient campus in the nation. A green research park using geothermal and photovoltaic energy also is planned, with the goal of attracting private industry partners to use the facility.
Seeking more partnerships
OIT also wants to expand its educational partnerships.
“Partnerships have been a hallmark of OIT,” Woodall said. “We anticipate working even more closely with Klamath Community College. We can do much more together than separately.”
University spokeswoman Valeree Lane said the school wants to continue “the excellent relationship we have with Klamath Falls” while expanding its Portland-area presence.
One example of OIT’s partnering has come at a Portland campus under the direction of Mateo Aboy, assistant professor of electronics engineering technology.
Aboy acquired new laboratory equipment from Tektronix Inc. that is worth about $20,000. He also won a $50,000 fellowship grant from Intel for curriculum development. It has been used to record and simulcast lectures.
Recording is important, Aboy said, because many students are already working in the electronics industry, often being required to travel. Through the grant, they can watch lectures online or access recording of sessions they had to miss.
“If for some reason they have to travel, they don’t have to drop the course,” Aboy said. “It’s helping us significantly with student retention.”
Capital construction
Besides completion of phase two of the Martha Anne Dow Center for Health Professions, other construction projects are anticipated on campus.
Joe Holliday, vice president for student affairs, said new dormitory units are being planned.
“We absolutely know we need new, more modern buildings,” he said.
The dorms would be like apartments, affording more privacy than the current dorm. The university is looking for a private developer to lease the ground and build the dormitories in a phased project, Holliday said.
“In the last year, she put in place a very aggressive strategic plan,” said provost David Woodall, who is interim OIT president.
The plan is intended to guide the university through 2017. Thirteen committees were formed to study various topics, with each group meeting for a year prior before last spring’s strategic congress. The groups consisted of OIT faculty, staff and students, and community members.
A move toward even more applied research is one of the top priorities, according to the plan. Continued emphasis on enrollment growth and fiscal sustainability are other top goals.
Woodall said OIT will maintain its strong emphasis of hands-on undergraduate programs, as well as concentrate on graduate programs in the health professions and other disciplines.
“We also will maintain our emphasis on renewable energy,” he said.
Addition of a deep geothermal well is being sought as a way to become the first totally energy sufficient campus in the nation. A green research park using geothermal and photovoltaic energy also is planned, with the goal of attracting private industry partners to use the facility.
Seeking more partnerships
OIT also wants to expand its educational partnerships.
“Partnerships have been a hallmark of OIT,” Woodall said. “We anticipate working even more closely with Klamath Community College. We can do much more together than separately.”
University spokeswoman Valeree Lane said the school wants to continue “the excellent relationship we have with Klamath Falls” while expanding its Portland-area presence.
One example of OIT’s partnering has come at a Portland campus under the direction of Mateo Aboy, assistant professor of electronics engineering technology.
Aboy acquired new laboratory equipment from Tektronix Inc. that is worth about $20,000. He also won a $50,000 fellowship grant from Intel for curriculum development. It has been used to record and simulcast lectures.
Recording is important, Aboy said, because many students are already working in the electronics industry, often being required to travel. Through the grant, they can watch lectures online or access recording of sessions they had to miss.
“If for some reason they have to travel, they don’t have to drop the course,” Aboy said. “It’s helping us significantly with student retention.”
Capital construction
Besides completion of phase two of the Martha Anne Dow Center for Health Professions, other construction projects are anticipated on campus.
Joe Holliday, vice president for student affairs, said new dormitory units are being planned.
“We absolutely know we need new, more modern buildings,” he said.
The dorms would be like apartments, affording more privacy than the current dorm. The university is looking for a private developer to lease the ground and build the dormitories in a phased project, Holliday said.
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