ACE member Oklahoma State University (OSU) aims to address a statewide shortage of skilled workers through a new initiative called OSU Polytech, which steers students toward careers in STEM.According to the State Chamber Research Foundation, Oklahoma ranks below all but one state in attaining STEM-related degrees or credentials. OSU has launched OSU Polytech to prepare students for high-tech careers to meet industry needs and boost the state’s economy. To this end, OSU Polytech combines an innovative STEM-based curriculum, industry-aligned academic programs, flexible learning opportunities, and real-world learning experiences.
“As the state’s largest university system, OSU is uniquely positioned to ensure that Oklahoma is open for business in the fast-moving areas of science and technology,” OSU President Kayse Shrum said at an OSU Polytech launch event in December.
OSU has decades of experience in technical education. In 1946, the university system established the OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, which offers career-focused programs in applied technology. With campuses across the state providing high-tech education, including in Oklahoma’s two largest cities, OSU is making college and career programs more accessible.
The university is increasing its campuses’ STEM programs and expanding opportunities to take courses online, part-time, and at night. OSU is also partnering with local organizations to make hands-on polytechnic training available to students in every corner of Oklahoma.
“There is a gap and a need in students that are ready to be able to utilize next-generation technology, and that’s one of the roles that we serve now, is being able to help fill that gap,” said Jamey Jacob, director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education.
Keeping pace with workforce needs is at the heart of the program. OSU Polytech has convened an advisory council representing key sectors of the state’s economy, including aerospace and aviation, advanced manufacturing, energy and power, health care and life sciences, supply chain, and information technology. Based on feedback from these stakeholders, as well as the latest science, OSU will update curricula, course offerings, and training opportunities.
“Through OSU Polytech, we will deliver a practical alternative to traditional degree programs and more effectively equip our students with the necessary knowledge, skill, and firsthand experience to succeed in technical and engineering fields,” Kyle Wray, senior vice president of system affairs at OSU, told The Oklahoman. He added that he expects graduates will contribute to their employers from “day one.”
The initiative’s leaders are committed to developing the state’s workforce, whether that means preparing high school graduates for careers in high-demand fields or helping Oklahomans already in the workforce learn new, in-demand skills. OSU Polytech is designed to attract students from various backgrounds, encompassing traditional bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as micro-credentials and certificates.
Students in OSU Polytech programs receive many opportunities to apply their knowledge. Hands-on learning is woven into the curriculum, as are internship and apprenticeship opportunities.
OSU currently offers 60 polytechnic education programs that enroll over 3,700 students. University leaders are optimistic that these figures will rise.
“The challenges faced by higher education present opportunities, and OSU Polytech aims to face these challenges directly,” Shrum wrote in Tulsa World. “The university will work with a visionary purpose in the present to shape the future of Oklahoma’s economy.”