Ozarks Technical Community College to become system

Effective July 1, Ozarks Technical Community College will become the Ozarks Technical Community College system, a reorganization that will include changes in leadership positions and in the names of the system’s various locations.  OTC is the third largest community college in the state of Missouri, and was recently named one of the top 120 community colleges in the country.

The current president, Dr. Hal Higdon, will become chancellor of the Ozarks Technical Community College system, a position that functions as chief executive officer of the College.  Dr. Higdon will also continue to serve as president of OTC Springfield, the institution’s original campus.  Dr. Jeff Jochems will be the first president of OTC Richwood Valley, the system’s second full-service campus.

The change to a system structure reflects the exponential growth of Ozarks Technical Community College, and puts the institution in a better position for future growth and expansion plans.  The College will now be positioned alongside the other systems in the state, St. Louis Community College and Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City.  This will provide OTC with more significant opportunities for additional funding, for working with state legislators, and for potential partnerships with larger institutions.

Ozarks Technical Community College’s other locations will now be known as OTC Lebanon Center, OTC Branson Center, and OTC Waynesville Center; OTC Online will retain its current name.  A third full-service campus, OTC Table Rock, is slated to open in 2013 in Hollister, Mo.