History of the College
Oklahoma City Community College: Built for Student Success
Nearly 50 years ago, our founders had a dream to have thousands of students walk through
our doors each year. Today, that dream has become reality, making OCCC the fourth
largest higher education institution in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Community College: Student-Centered and Student-Driven
At Oklahoma City Community College, every day, in every department, our students come
first. It’s not just our vision; it’s our mission.
OCCC Student Success Advisors are available to aid in the application and admissions
process as well as to lead students to enroll in the classes that will help them achieve
their career goals. Likewise, the OCCC Financial Aid department walks students through
the student loan, grant, and scholarship opportunities that can ease the stress of
paying for a college education.
We realize that our student body is made up of all ages, races, and income levels.
That diversity reflects our view that we are here to serve all students.
Some students come to pursue one of our associate degree programs that will prepare
them to transfer and continue work toward their bachelor’s degrees. As they approach
graduation, OCCC routinely hosts representatives from Oklahoma’s four-year colleges
and universities to ease the transition process.
Other OCCC students share the simple hope of learning new skills to help them advance
in their career fields. They can do this through our certificate of mastery programs
– quick, turn-around programs that get them in the classroom and back to the workforce
immediately.
We are proud of the OCCC student-faculty ratio of 23 to 1. That gives our faculty
members the opportunity to show each student personal attention, leading to the very
best academic outcomes. But it doesn’t stop there.
Oklahoma City Community College faculty members also guide students in building professional
networks in their career fields; this can only happen when professors maintain real-world
experience in their subject matter and stay connected with businesses and industry
in our community. We are proud to say that our professors work diligently not only
to teach our students, but to mentor them as well.
In addition, OCCC offers a wide range of community and continuing education courses,
workshops, conferences and seminars. We work hard to be a hub of knowledge for Oklahoma
City and the surrounding areas.
Mission/Vision
OCCC provides broad access to learning that empowers students to complete a certificate
or degree and that enriches the lives of everyone in our community.
Our Mission Statement describes why we exist and what we do. Traditionally, community
colleges have been about providing access. But, it is not enough that students pass
through our doors - earning a certificate or degree is what changes lives.
Download our plans:
Renewal, Change, & Innovation 2019-2023
Oklahoma City Community College has experienced remarkable success through the years.
Through access, preparation, student and graduate success, and partnering with the
community, OCCC continues to aspire to be one of the most significant community colleges
in the nation.
Oklahoma City Community College’s new strategic plan, Renewal, Change, & Innovation 2019-2023, was developed as a guide to keep the college on the path to greater significance.
Updates in the new 2019–2023 strategic plan include a new aspiration statement, improving
the College’s ENDs to best represent our success factors, and new core indicators
designed to monitor every critical component of the College. The 2019–2023 strategic
plan supports student success with a renewed emphasis on alternative funding and increased
enrollment.
Previous strategic plans were achieved with impressive results, and we expect this
will continue as we double our efforts to focus on the mission of OCCC, improve efficiencies,
and offer innovative programs and support services. Oklahoma City Community College
remains the most affordable and value-added two-year college option for students who
would not otherwise have the opportunity for higher learning.
Renewal - Oklahoma City Community College was founded by residents of the area not satisfied
with the status quo. They saw a need for educational opportunities for the community
and took strong and decisive action to create that opportunity. It is in the spirit
of our founders that we must renew our commitment to overcome any obstacle to provide
educational opportunities for residents of our community. We must continue the work
to propel the College into the next era of excellence.
Change - A tsunami of change continues to sweep across higher education. Students, members
of the community, government leaders, and business and industry all demand change.
Failure to respond to this demand for change is not an option. What we do, how we
do it, and how outcomes are measured must be examined. Policies, practices, and actions
not producing desired outcomes must be changed. Change, even desirable change, is
often stressful and disruptive. To maximize service to students and the community,
OCCC embraces that stress and disruption in the spirit of innovation.
Innovation - Volatility and uncertainty characterize higher education in Oklahoma today. Innovation
is needed now more than ever. Innovation is required for OCCC to advance our mission,
ensure future viability and success, and achieve our goals. Conducting business in
new and innovative ways will assist OCCC in continuing our role as a creative and
progressive institution.
Aspiration Statement
Student Success and Community Enrichment
Each of our students is unique—with a unique set of dreams, challenges, and gifts.
Teaching and preparing them to their potential is what an OCCC education is all about.
Big Goals
“Big Goals” are not meant to be easy. In fact, if you simply extrapolate existing
trends, they may not seem achievable. That is the point. Figuring out how to accomplish
“the impossible” often unleashes the creativity of people and organizations. The unattainable
becomes a new standard.
- Triple annual giving and grants to support student scholarships, community events,
the endowment, and other College purposes. - Close the academic achievement gaps that persist with low-income, first-generation,
and minority students. - Receive designation as a Hispanic-serving institution from the U.S. Department of
Education.
Funding is a challenge. The College is committed to increasing funds that come from
non-traditional sources such as donations, grants, and endowments.
Although two of the three Big Goals in our previous strategic plan were achieved,
our performance to close academic achievement gaps with underrepresented groups of
students fell short. There was progress, including the narrowing of the gap in African-American
and first generation students’ success rates, but significant differences remain.
For that reason, we have retained the goal in this plan.
Finally, the College wants to strengthen its relationship with the Hispanic community
by receiving designation as a Hispanic-serving institution from the U.S. Department
of Education. Achieving this distinction will require a significant increase in Hispanic
enrollment, but will make OCCC eligible to apply for a Title V grant that will provide
funding to support Hispanic students.
Ends Statement
Our ENDs statements describe what success looks like if we were in an ideal world.
As such, they are central to our commitment to accountability. The faculty, staff,
and the Board of Regents regularly review measures that evaluate the College’s progress
in achieving our ENDs. These core indicators are our annual plans that are reported
at least once a year.
- Access: Our community has broad and equitable access to both highly valued certificate and
degree programs and non-credit educational opportunities and events. - Student Success: Our students successfully complete their academic courses, persist in college, and
earn certificates or degrees at OCCC or another institution. - Workforce Development: Our graduates earn higher-level degrees or are successful in technical and professional
careers. - Community Development: Our community's quality of life is enriched through our educational, artistic and
recreational programs and events.
Values
Our values describe the behaviors we exemplify in our work every day. Some, such as
Safety, Stewardship, Integrity, and Diversity, are non-negotiable ethical standards
all employees should follow.
Others—Students, Accountability, and Innovation-are choices that have deep roots in
the College. For instance, when several different approaches to a problem are being
considered, the tie-breaking question often is: what is best for students?
- Students: Fundamental to all that we do
- Safety: Safe and secure environment for everyone
- Accountability: Use of evidence to measure performance and to make decisions
- Stewardship: Wise and efficient use of resources
- Integrity: Honest, ethical, and respectful to all
- Innovation: Creative and forward thinking
- Diversity: Embrace and appreciate the value of differences
Major Initiatives
Complete College OCCC The goal of Complete College OCCC is to increase degrees/certificates by offering
new programs and expanding online and hybrid courses.
Workforce Development Center A new workforce development facility will align the College’s academic programs with
the changing needs of employers.
Proactive Student Success Interventions Early intervention, streamlining curriculum, and strengthening educational partnerships
will increase student success.
Increasing Enrollment Increasing enrollment from the international, nontraditional, and concurrent populations
will be crucial to the growth of OCCC.
Enhancing Campus Safety A new Campus Police Headquarters, providing a Crisis Response Center and a Call Center
will enhance current services to maintain a safe and secure campus.
New and Increased Revenue and Funding State funding for higher education has declined so other external resources to support
the College’s educational offerings will be pursued.
Retaining High Quality Employees With increasing budget constraints, the retention of high quality employees is critical
to maintaining a high performing institution.
Online Learning As the College continues to focus on enrollment, online learning plays a key role
in providing students with the opportunity to take classes anytime and anywhere, thereby
increasing enrollment.
Way Around.
