Oregon Tech freshmen enrollment increases despite COVID | Local News

First-time undergraduate pupil enrollment on the Oregon Institute of Know-how (Oregon Tech) for fall 2020 once more registered a robust enhance, signaling demand for professionally centered diploma applications with excessive returns for graduates.

New freshmen at Oregon Tech in fall 2020 elevated greater than 11% from 2019, which was beforehand the biggest freshman class enhance for the college in 30 years, and a rise of just about 40% since 2017.

“Greater than 1,200 new college students joined Oregon Tech this time period, and it’s an honor to welcome them into the Oregon Tech household throughout this unprecedented fall time period,” mentioned Oregon Tech president, Dr. Nagi Naganathan. “The rise in first-time college students is a testomony to the high-quality diploma applications at Oregon Tech and the excessive return on funding our college students proceed to expertise as our graduates. That is additionally a very impactful contribution to our state as we meet the rising calls for for certified workforce throughout these unsure occasions we’re presently dealing with by means of the pandemic.”

Total, Oregon Tech’s headcount (not together with highschool twin credit score college students) is 3,962 college students — 30 college students greater than fall 2019. As well as, 1,363 twin credit score college students are taking Oregon Tech programs in excessive colleges this fall for an total enrollment of 5,325 college students.

The rise in enrollment was achieved regardless of a lower in new switch college students from group schools.

“Whereas we skilled a decline in enrollment of switch college students, that may be a pattern we see each few years and the quantity was not as vital as we estimated,” mentioned Provost and vp of Educational Affairs, Joanna Mott, Ph.D. “Switch college students are an integral a part of Oregon Tech and we worth their expertise and the power they carry to our campus group, so we’re glad to nonetheless have almost 500 new switch college students becoming a member of us this 12 months.”

As Oregon Tech approaches winter time period, the college continues to stay vigilant in regards to the well being of the campus group and can comply with the preventative measures needed to attenuate threat of publicity, and alter course supply strategies as needed.

In Klamath Falls, the winter time period will mimic the autumn time period with 100 and 200 stage lectures continued to be provided in in-person format, whereas 300 and 400 stage lectures are deliberate to be distant (primarily synchronous).

“As with the rest of the autumn time period, our plans for winter time period stay topic to vary, because the circumstances could demand,” mentioned Naganathan. “It has taken diligent and considerate effort on behalf of every particular person at Oregon Tech to take care of wholesome campuses. I’m happy with their efforts and my honest thanks and appreciation goes to each member of the Oregon Tech group.”