Missouri Governor Jay Nixon visited Springfield on Wednesday, August 1, to announce a new Innovation Campus grant for a collaboration between several area organizations, including OTC.  The grant will fund the new Health Professions Academy, a combined program involving a variety of health and educational entities in the Springfield area, including CoxHealth and Mercy Health Springfield Communities, Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical Community College and the OTC Middle College, Springfield Public Schools, and Greene County.

The Health Professions Academy provides an opportunity for area high school students, primarily from low-income backgrounds, to receive accelerated training through the various cooperating institutions and enter the health care workforce in 3-5 years after high school - with little or no school debt.

"This collaborative effort is yet another example of area organizations working together to improve our community," said Dr. Hal Higdon, chancellor of OTC.  "The funding from this grant will make it possible for more young people to get an education and begin a career.  The students will benefit from the opportunity, and the community will benefit from having more qualified health care professionals in the workforce."  

Students who complete a bachelor's degree through the Health Professions Academy program will receive priority hiring at CoxHealth and Mercy.  Enrollment in the program will open in the fall of 2012.

The 2012 Practical Nursing Recognition Ceremonies were recently held in Reeds Spring and Springfield, celebrating the achievements of students in the College's Practical Nursing program.

The OTC Springfield Campus held its ceremony on July 26 at the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield (pictured, left).  A total of 32 nurses received their caps in recognition of program advancement, and 28 nurses received pins in honor of program completion.

The ceremony for the Reeds Spring students was held July 25 at Our Lady of the Lake Parish Center in Branson (pictured, right).  A total of 25 nurses received their pins before a packed audience of families and friends.  

Congratulations to all of these nurses on their successes!   

Welcome to the first installment of the Student Learning Committee Corner!  The Student Learning Committee is OTC's faculty-led Assessment Committee.  Please see our folder on the R: drive for more information, meeting minutes, etc.

This month we want to remind you about the new LENS Mini-Grants that will be available this fall.  As you prepare for a new semester, don't forget to brainstorm with your department/program and apply for a LENS Mini-Grant to fund your idea to improve student learning at OTC!  You will be provided more information at your beginning of semester division meetings.

Focusing the LENS on Student Learning...

We know great things are happening in assessment around the college that we don't know about, so each month we will pose a question related to assessment in this section of the employee newsletter.  Please email your responses back to the Student Learning Committee and we will share YOUR great ideas with the rest of the college in next month's newsletter.

This month's question: What strategies do you use to keep students motivated around the time of the semester's first big exam/project?

Email your responses to studentlearning@otc.edu by August 15 and check back next month for some great ideas from your colleagues!

The OTC Respiratory Therapy program has teamed up with the OTC Health and Wellness Clinic to provide no cost pulmonary function tests for full-time employees and their dependents.  These lung tests determine how fast a person blows air out, the total amount of air contained in the lungs, and the integrity of the membrane between the air sacs of the lungs and blood supply surrounding them.  All pulmonary function tests require a physician's order.   
 
According to Dr. Jim Blaine, Health and Wellness Clinic Medical Director, "Physicians use pulmonary function tests to diagnose and assess lung diseases that include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and other lung conditions.  Most physician offices have simple office spirometry testing; complete pulmonary function testing is more accurate and is usually only available in hospitals or in large multi-specialty clinics.  We are fortunate that the OTC Respiratory Therapy program is willing to provide this valuable and convenient service to our patients."
 
The pulmonary function laboratory and associated equipment is housed within the respiratory therapy lab in Lincoln Hall.  The equipment is the same that is used at local hospitals and was obtained through an enhancement grant a few years ago.  Until now, the program has used the equipment for research and teaching purposes only.
 
"Pulmonary function testing normally costs hundreds of dollars," said Doug Pursley, director of the Respiratory Therapy program.  "In partnering with the Health and Wellness Clinic, not only are we providing a service to college employees, but we also will be providing a service-learning project for our respiratory therapy students in the fall and spring semesters."
 
Since starting the partnership in early June, fifteen patients have undergone pulmonary function testing, with many more expected over the next year.  

On Saturday, July 14, Fox KRBK held local American Idol auditions at the OTC Richwood Valley Campus.  The event began with a line of people camped outside!  Everyone in line eventually made their way through the audition process, but only one lucky winner, Josh Bebout , was selected for a guaranteed audition in Tulsa, OK, plus $300 for travel expenses.  Thanks to all who helped make this exciting community event a success!  (Pictured, left to right:  Fotsch from Power 96.5 and winner Josh Bebout.)  

Two students from the Hearing Instrument Science program joined Program Director/Instructor Dr. Larry Brethower at the OACAC Back to School Fair in Marshfield on Thursday, August 2, to perform hearing screenings for students from the Marshfield area.  Approximately 120 kindergarten through 6th grade students were expected to participate in the fair, which was held at Faith Southern Baptist Church in Marshfield.  (Pictured:  an OTC HIS student prepares a Marshfield student for testing.) 

On Wednesday, July 25th, Chef Paul Trout held a session on "Creating Food Art" at the Howard Johnson Inn and Conference Center Ballroom, as part of the 43rd Annual Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education Conference.  He and his team presented on Garde Manger artistry to several ProStart instructors from across the state, while highlighting the OTC Culinary Arts program.  Participants learned professional preparation, plating, garnishing, and food art presentation techniques that they can share with their students in the classroom.  The entire presentation was videotaped by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for future broadcast. (Pictured:  A member of Chef Trout's team demonstrates a fruit cutting technique.)