Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

PROJECT PURPOSE

OSU-OKC seeks to leverage its central location and track record of advancing the social mobility of learners from minoritized and underserved populations to build programming that aligns with the State?s mission to build a stronger, more innovative, and more diverse economy. Through ongoing, robust engagement with leading Oklahoma employers, OSU-OKC has identified strategies that will help meet the immediate and long-term needs of key workforce areas. The implementation and advancement of six academic programs, and the development of blended offerings that will allow students to earn stackable credentials ranging from micro-credentials to associate degrees, will culminate in the delivery of educational pathways that prepare students for careers in software development, data analysis, biotechnology, and automation, which are all areas that support vital services such as health care and infrastructure for all businesses. In addition to building programming, having next level equipment and technology for OSU-OKC?s nursing and court reporting programs, which are both aligned with career fields that are experiencing critical workforce shortages, is of equal importance. Simulation manikins and stenotype machines would allow us to raise the level of instruction for students, better preparing them to meet the needs of employers and equipping Oklahoma with a more qualified workforce.

EVIDENCE

Through this project, OSU-OKC will help meet the immediate and long-term needs of key workforce areas which have been identified by the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development as ecosystems that drive wealth and growth potential. These areas include: 1) Agriculture and Biosciences, 2) Energy, 3) Information and Financial Systems, and 4) Transportation and Distribution. Program development in these ecosystems align with Oklahoma's 2018-2028 Top Critical Occupations List.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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. Additionally, 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. Furthermore, Native American employment was hit especially hard by the pandemic as more than one-quarter of the Native American workforce 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. Situated in a diverse metropolitan area, OSU-OKC is positioned well to address these gaps by offering programs that quickly lead to placement in jobs with sustainable wages.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Measurable goals include: 1) increased number of industry certifications, degrees, certificates, and credentials awarded; 2) increased minority participation rate; and 3) increased number of students transitioning into employment. 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