Oregon Institute of Technology: Advanced, High-Tech Education for Economic Development & Job Creation in Oregon Senate Interim Committee on Commerce and Workforce Development Christopher G. Maples, President Oregon Institute of Technology September 21, 2010
Presentation Summary Information about Oregon Tech & our Students Oregon Tech s history, present, & future in high-tech green sectors & related areas Plans for continued growth & development of Oregon s [green] high-tech economy Questions
Oregon Tech s Focus
Mission Oregon Institute of Technology, a member of the Oregon University System, offers innovative and rigorous applied degree programs in the areas of engineering, engineering technologies, health technologies, management, and the arts and sciences. To foster student and graduate success, the university provides an intimate, hands-on learning environment, focusing on application of theory to practice. Oregon Tech offers statewide educational opportunities for the emerging needs of Oregon s citizens and provides information and technical expertise to state, national and international constituents. Mission Core Themes Applied degree programs Student and graduate success Statewide educational opportunities Public service
Oregon Tech: Student Transfers Fall 2009 Total 980 new students 62% College Transfers Transfers from Oregon Community Colleges (F2009) 265 Portland Community College 67 Klamath Community College 43 Chemeketa Community College 25 Central Oregon Community College 22 Lane Community College 22 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 355 284 OIT Previous Attendance by Educational Source Fall Terms 385 367356 358355 329 321 450 452 457 265 296 288 515 495 362 368 612 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 New Admits from High School New Admits from College
Oregon Tech: Where Our Campuses Are Portland (4 Portland locations) La Grande Klamath Falls Seattle
Oregon Tech s Success Measures Are Tied to Professional Growth Even in this economic climate: Enrollment up 11.5% in 2009 92% graduate success rate (job or advanced education); 71% in related fields $55,000/year average starting salary
Oregon Tech s History with Renewable Energy Geothermal heat has been used for decades at the Klamath Falls campus for melting snow & ice Geothermal drilling (above) in Klamath Falls in the 1950s
Oregon Tech s History with Renewable Energy UTC Geothermal Electric Converter (above) is on line now in Klamath Falls Deep-geothermal drill rig on Klamath Falls campus (right) in 2010
Educating Students for the New Green High-Tech Sectors Oregon Tech's Sustainability Mission Oregon Tech's sustainability mission is to be the leader in sustainable technology education and to excel in full sustainability integration in campus operations, academics, & community involvement. Full-time Staff Dedicated to Green Accountability Two Sustainability Coordinators & an Energy Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's (AASHE) Sustainability, Tracking, and Rating System (STARS)
Educating Students for the New Green High-Tech Sectors Renewable Energy Engineering Began in 2005; now has highest enrollment 100% graduate job success last year (N=20) M.S. degree offered in 2011 National prominence & recognition Graduates of the program will be prepared for graduate study or for immediate employment as: Field engineers Energy auditors Renewable energy system integrators Manufacturing engineers Designers for components and subsystems Government renewable-energy inspectors Planners Other positions
Sampling of Prospective Employers That Have Interviewed &/or Hired Oregon Tech REE Students Atlasta Solar Center - Beaverton School District - Biomass Renewable Technologies - Bonneville Environmental Foundation - Bonneville Power Administration - Braeside Farms - City of Springfield - Clear Edge - Conservation Service Group - Daimler Trucks - Ecos Consulting Enerfin - Energy Trust of Oregon - GL Garrad Hasson - General Electric - Haticon Solar - Hodaie Engineering - Horizon Wind - Iberdrola Renewables - Imagine Energy - Intel - Jacobs Engineering - Johnson Controls - Lockheed-Martin Moventas - Mr. Sun Solar - Oregon Green Solutions PacifiCorp - Pacific Northwest National Labs - PAE Consulting Engineers - PECI - Port of Portland - Portland General Electric - Portland Office of Sustainability - Positive Energy - Power Engineers - PV Powered - REC Solar Repower - Real Energy Solutions - Rocky Mountain Institute Shorepower SNC-Lavalin - Solar Nation - Solar World Stantec Suzlon - SunPower Corp - Taurus Power - Vestas Americas
Educating Students for the New Green High-Tech Sectors Oregon Renewable Energy Center (OREC) Promotes energy conservation and renewable energy use through applied research and education programs Geo-Heat Center Provides technical support for geothermal development OIT Sustainability Committee Environmental Science/Sustainable Technologies Klamath Sustainable Communities A group of people working for a healthy future in the Klamath Basin through education and community activities
Other Good News Federal Grants to support green job education: U.S. Dept. of Energy: Strategic Training and Education in Power Systems (STEPS) = $2.5 million Five faculty, new labs, curriculum, industry engagement, internships U.S. Dept of Labor: State Energy Sector Partnership = $175,000 for grant-supported internships in energy sector Two new offices to support industry partnerships and job creation: Office of Strategic Partnerships (sponsored projects, lab support, industry-sponsored applied research) Office of Innovation and Technology Transfer (intellectual property development, assistance for industry university collaborations)
Oregon Tech: Recognition & Kudos Named as a top-10 Green College Program in the US by WiseChoice in recognition of Renewable Energy Engineering degree Listed as one of 6 best Land Surveying Schools in the US by ehow Noted in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 600 colleges and universities in the US (top ~15% in US)
Oregon Tech: Recognition & Kudos Ranked #7 college in the western US in 2010-2011 USNews & World Report Ranked #2 in Peer-Assessment (US Air Force Academy) Ranked #3 public college (USAFA; Cal Maritime Academy) Ranked #42 engineering program (bachelors & masters institutions) in US in 2010-2011 USNews & World Report Tied with Boise State, Cal State Sacramento, & 4 others Tied for 15 th Best Public University Baccalaureate Engineering Program
Oregon Tech: Moving Forward with a Portland-Metro Consolidation in Wilsonville Adjacent to I-5 131,000 ft 2 >500 parking spaces >6 acres Industry >100,000 CC students
Summary/Conclusions: What Oregon Tech Brings to the Oregon Job-Growth Table Oregon Tech s unique niche in the OUS provides ideal opportunities for collaboration in Oregon Oregon Tech s focus on applied engineering/science, undergraduate and professional degrees, and Oregon student access is ideal for Oregon Oregon Tech s connection with and attention to local business needs, especially in the high-technology and allied-health sectors, is the hallmark of our curriculum development and post-graduate success Oregon Tech s already established operational presence throughout Oregon reflects our commitment to access and degree completion
Questions? Comments? Points of Discussion or Clarification?