Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma State University ? Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC) seeks funding to construct and launch the Orange Network Economic Opportunity Center, or Orange Center. Through the Orange Center, OSU-OKC will partner with business and industry, nonprofit organizations, Oklahoma Native American tribes, and Oklahoma career technology centers to provide the education, training, and credentials necessary for higher-wage employment, maximizing the opportunity for each student to be successful. By leveraging resources within the OSU system, OSU-OKC will provide short-term, stackable micro-credentials and longer-term, blended degree strategies necessary to meet the immediate needs of today?s changing industry. The Orange Center facility will include a Tribal Education and Training Center, a Career Tech Transition Center, an Industry Testing Center, an Apprenticeship Center, a Community Referral Center, a Campus Health Center, and a Finish Orange Transfer Center. The services provided through the Orange Center will not only help move those disproportionately affected by the pandemic toward self-sufficiency and stability, but will also help Oklahoma achieve a more skilled and educated workforce. Furthermore, the anticipated higher concentration of minorities that participate in these programs and services will lead to increased diversity in the Oklahoma workforce.

EVIDENCE

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Oklahoma?s labor force participation rate of 60.1% continues to decline, evidencing that higher education institutions must increase current efforts to address the needs of individuals who have been affected by the pandemic. OSU-OKC has the experience and has directly served over 3,000 non-credit learners and assisted in excess of 25,000 individuals with career placement, evidencing the ability for the institution to drive statewide change.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Trends regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have evidenced that racial and ethnic minorities and those classified as being lower socioeconomic status, continue to be impacted at a much higher level than those of other demographics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that nine months after the labor market bottomed out, Black and Hispanic or Latino Americans still represented the higher share of job losses with unemployment rates of 9.2% and 8.6%, respectively, compared with 5.7% for their white counterparts. Additionally, Native American employment was hit especially hard by the pandemic as more than one-quarter of the Native American workforce (26.3%) was unemployed in April 2020, the highest rate of any racial group and three times the Native unemployment rate for March 2020. These gaps in socioeconomic disparities will get worse if left unaddressed.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Measurable goals include: 1) increased number of industry certifications, degrees, certificates, and credentials awarded; 2) increased training opportunities for tribal members; 3) increased career tech to college transitional pathways offered; 4) increased number of active apprenticeships; 5) increased number of associate degree completers transitioning to 4-year colleges; 6) increased number of students transitioning into employment, and 7) increased minority participation rate. Using baseline numbers from the 2021-2022 academic year for comparison, progress will be assessed regularly through review of campus data. Students? transition into employment will be tracked through communication with industry partners and post-completion student surveys.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma