Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC), located in Owensboro, Kentucky, was approved as a single college accredited by SACS in June 2003. This action brought together two institutions, Owensboro Community College and Owensboro Technical College, which were sister colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
Owensboro Technical College was opened in 1929 by the Owensboro Board of Education as the first trade school in the area. It was transferred to the State Department of Education in 1957 and operated by the Office of Vocational Education as the Owensboro Vocational School for both high school students and adults. The 1960s and 1970s saw an increasing demand for vocational programs. The Daviess County State Vocational Technical School, the second state owned and operated technical institution in the area, opened in 1971 in response to this increase. In 1991, the two schools were made a part of the Kentucky Tech System with the formation of the Cabinet of Workforce Development. In July 1998, after the passage of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, these two postsecondary schools became Owensboro Technical College, a member of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
In July 1986, Owensboro Community College was founded as the fourteenth community college in the University of Kentucky Community College System. The college grew quickly and moved to its current 104 acre campus in 1989. It received its initial accreditation from SACS in 1990 and its reaffirmation in 1995. The college became a member of the newly created Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) effective January 14, 1998.
As part of the KCTCS initiative to consolidate the services provided by its colleges at the local level and in response to a long-held community belief in the need for a unified college, Owensboro Technical College and Owensboro Community College began the process of consolidation in 1999. The KCTCS Board of Regents approved a Memorandum of Agreement on the consolidation of the colleges’ functions, services, and programs in September 2000, and a Prospectus for Substantive Change was approved by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in June 2003.
Owensboro Community and Technical College offers the associate in arts degrees, the associate in science degrees, the associate in applied science degrees, and diplomas and certificates in technical programs. General arts and sciences programs designed to provide the first two years of a baccalaureate degree program and career-oriented programs designed to prepare students for immediate technical or semi-professional employment are available to students. The college also offers continuing education programs that include workforce training for business, industry, and the community.
The college features an open door admissions policy and flexible course schedules including online, hybrid, evening, weekend, and off-campus classes; and financial aid for qualified students is available. Counseling, advising, and academic services are provided to help students assess their aptitudes, determine their goals, and develop skills to increase student success. The college is committed to a policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students, regardless of economic or social status, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, beliefs, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical disability, or mental disability.
The college serves Owensboro, Kentucky, and the surrounding area, including Daviess, Hancock, Ohio, and McLean Counties. With a total population of approximately 140,000, the area has traditionally relied on agriculture, mining, and manufacturing as its economic foundations; however, recent changes have promoted a transition toward a service-oriented economy, advanced manufacturing, and biosciences. Featuring cultural opportunities unusual for communities of similar size, the area also benefits from strong community leadership in support of education.
Vision Inspire and empower individuals to enhance their lives through progressive educational experiences.
To cultivate lifelong learning opportunities through career degree programs, workforce and community development, and transfer-to-baccalaureate degree programs. OCTC, a member of the KCTCS, is a public two-year degree granting institution serving Daviess and the surrounding counties of Kentucky.
The following new off-campus site, established by the college since reaffirmation, offers at least 50 percent of the coursework leading to a credential awarded by the college.
All Locations
OCTC provides pathways for students to earn certificates, diplomas, and associates degrees at three campus locations in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA.
The Downtown Campus at 1501 Frederica Street houses degree, diploma, and certificate programs where 50% or more of the coursework may be obtained primarily through traditional classroom instruction. The Downtown Campus is also the location of the college’s Center for Community and Economic Development/Workforce Solutions and Adult Education programs.
The Southeastern Campus at 1901 Southeastern Parkway is the location of the personal service and skill trade programs, where 50% or more of a degree, certificate, or diploma can be obtained primarily through traditional classroom instruction.
The Main Campus at 4800 New Hartford Road houses the majority of the college’s degree programs and most of its general education and transfer courses. Additionally, the Advanced Manufacturing programs are located on this campus. At the Main Campus, 50% or more of a degree, certificate, or diploma can be obtained primarily through traditional classroom instruction.
While the college offers courses in other locations throughout the greater Owensboro region, students are unable to obtain 50% or more of the coursework toward a degree in any location besides the three campuses of OCTC and the newly opened Hancock County Center at 8010 Highway 60 West, Lewisport, Kentucky
DT-Downtown, HC-Hancock County Center, MN-Main, SE-Southeastern
OCTC students may enroll in KCTCS Online Learn by Term and Learn on Demand courses. Online courses offered by OCTC in 2010-2011 made up 9.5% of instructional credit offerings; details can be found at the links below. More than 50% of the following credentials are available online. Through KCTCS Online partnerships with sister KCTCS institutions, OCTC awards the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees. Through local offering of online courses, OCTC awards the Associate in Applied Science degrees in Business Administration Systems and Criminal Justice. A diploma program is available in Organizational Leadership through Business Administration. Certificate programs in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Business Studies, and Human Services are also available to students. The majority of students taking online courses are located in Kentucky and across the surrounding service area.