2017-2018 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
    Mar 18, 2024  
2017-2018 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Support Services



Counseling Services

The Counseling Services staff seeks to support and strengthen members of the OTC community by providing the following individualized and confidential services:

  • Individual and group mental health counseling
  • Referrals to community resources
  • Educational programs both on and off campus
  • Crisis intervention services
  • Campus-wide outreach events
  • Online self-help resources

The counseling staff has extensive experience working with a variety of personal issues faced by OTC’s diverse student population and all of the department’s individualized counseling services are free and confidential. For more information about these services or to schedule an appointment, contact the Counseling Services office at (417) 447-6974, visit us on the web at students.otc.edu/counselingservices/ or email us at counseling@otc.edu.

OTC Cares and the Behavioral Intervention Team

OTC Cares is a set of resources that has been established to protect the health and safety of the OTC community.  Maintaining a safe environment allows students to focus on their education and get the most out of their time at the college.

OTC’s Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) coordinates OTC Cares to address the needs of students who are experiencing behavioral disturbances.  All members of our campus community are asked to report student behaviors of concern using OTC’s online Student Concern/Incident Report so that the BIT can effectively and proactively reach out to students in distress.  This online incident report form along with detailed information concerning recognizing, responding, referring and reporting students in distress can be accessed at students.otc.edu/bit/otc-cares. A member of the BIT can also be reached via phone (417) 447-6697 or via email at otccares@otc.edu.

Breaking Traditions

The State of Missouri’s Breaking Traditions program is operated under the umbrella of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Guidance and Counseling Department and is overseen by a regional College and Career Consultant (CCC).   This program works closely with students who are considering or pursuing careers that are non-traditional for their gender or are in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) pathway.  Students can receive assistance and information in the areas of career awareness, exploration, and the planning of Programs of Study.

The OTC Breaking Traditions program offers additional support for both secondary and post-secondary students including specialized workshops and financial assistance to students who are enrolled in one of OTC’s career/technical programs.  This program provides financial assistance through a supplementary grant to students who are enrolled as non-traditional by gender, displaced homemakers, and/or single parents.  The College and Career Consultant/Breaking Traditions office is located in Information Commons East (ICE) Suite 116J and can be reached at (417) 447-6970. 

Career Employment Services

Career Employment Services is a resource for all students and graduates as well as for the campus and business community.  Experienced staff members provide direct assistance and professional advice on:

  • Assessing and exploring career choices and college majors
  • Conducting employment and internship searches
  • Creating effective résumés and cover letters
  • Strengthening interview skills
  • Managing careers after graduation

Individual appointments and web-based self-directed technologies are in place to help students explore careers, build professional résumés, and practice and improve their interview skills. Current job openings and internship opportunities can be accessed through College Central Network at collegecentral.com/otc. Business and industry contacts are developed to maintain up-to-date employment listings. Career assessment and exploration can be accessed through FOCUS 2 at www.otc.edu/careerservices/18322.php. Interest, skills, personality, values and leisure assessments are aligned with academic and occupational options to give students the necessary tools to make effective career choice and college major decisions.

The Career Employment Services office, along with a computer resource room, is located in Student Services on the second floor of the Information Commons West. For more information on these and other resources, visit us on the web at otc.edu/careerservices, call (417) 447-6964 or e-mail careeremp@otc.edu.

Disability Support Services (DSS)

The offices of Disability Support Services, located near the northeast entrance to the Information Commons East on the OTC Springfield Campus (ICE 116) and in Room 206 on the OTC Richwood Valley Campus, provide academic support, accommodation and advocacy for OTC students with disabilities. Current documentation of the disability is required to register for disability support services. Students who are interested in receiving services are encouraged to request a meeting with the DSS office six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. Requesting services early is helpful in determining reasonable accommodations, but requests for support will be reviewed at any point during the semester.

Disability Resource Counselors, Vocational Resource Educators and other DSS staff work directly with students with disabilities to ensure equal access to college programs and services, and with instructors to arrange accommodations, as necessary, for students with disabilities. For further information regarding services on the Springfield and Table Rock campuses as well as the Lebanon and Waynesville centers, please contact Disability Support Services on the OTC Springfield Campus at (417) 447-8189 or online at otc.edu/disabilitysupport. For information regarding services at the Richwood Valley campus, contact (417) 447-7447.

Testing Services

Testing Services provides accommodations for proctored online exams, placement exams, exit exams, High School Equivalency testing, and select certification exams. For further information visit the Testing Services webpage at otc.edu/testing, or contact the office at testingservices@otc.edu.

Speckman Tutoring and Learning Center and Academic Support Center

Tutoring

The Speckman Tutoring & Learning Center (TLC), Academic Support Center (ASC), and the Writing and Learning Lab (WaLL) strive to empower students to achieve success by offering extensive tutoring services and courses.  Tutoring services are provided on a walk-in basis, require no appointment, and are available for:

Ø  Computers (CIS courses, MyOTC, Canvas, OTC Central)

Ø  Math (in-person and/or online via Canvas)

Ø  Science

Ø  World Languages

Ø  Reading

Ø  Study Skills Tutors for all other courses (appointments available)

Check the webpage for exact subjects tutored, schedules, and other services available at each OTC location.

The TLC also provides courses to improve academic skills necessary for success in college and the workforce. Specialists in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and college success work with students in both online and seated courses. For more information on courses available, search TLC, CAC, and RDG under the course listings in this catalog.

The WaLL in Table Rock also offers writing assistance for papers and speeches on all subjects, a dedicated work space for group projects and study sessions, as well as the contact point for Disability Support Services assistance.  

academics.otc.edu/tutoring/

TLC: Springfield Campus ICE 212

(417) 447-8164

ASC: Richwood Valley Campus LSC 206

(417) 447-7762

WaLL: Table Rock Campus RWP 401

(417) 447-7794

Lebanon RMC 111

(417) 447-8932

Waynesville WEC 120

(573) 774-5061

Libraries

OTC’s libraries are responsible for ensuring students have access to information resources that support the curriculum, and for facilitating their use. The collections include print, audio visual and electronic materials, such as journals, ebooks and streaming video. In addition, OTC students may make requests from a combined book collection of more than 27 million items owned by the 75 academic and public libraries that participate in the MOBIUS Consortium.

One-on-one research assistance is available to all students. Library staff will meet with students by appointment or on a drop-in basis to help them develop research strategies, navigate electronic databases and other information resources, and use sources and data appropriately. Research consultations can be conducted online using virtual meeting software. Research help is also available by email (libraryref@otc.edu) or IM.

The libraries provide comfortable, quiet study space and small group study rooms for collaborative learning. The OTC Springfield Campus Library is located on the first floor of the Information Commons in IC 100. The OTC Richwood Valley Campus Library is located on the second floor of the Life Science and Technology Center in LSC 203, adjacent to the Atrium. Electronic library services and research assistance are also available on the first floor of the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center at the OTC Table Rock Campus. For further information, contact the OTC Springfield Campus Library at (417) 447-8185 or the OTC Richwood Valley Campus Library at (417) 447-7750, or visit the Library webpage at academics.otc.edu/library.  

Carol Jones Writing Center

The Carol Jones Writing Center is a free, friendly service provided to all OTC students. Our staff of student peer tutors will assist you with any aspect of any writing assignment for any course. Whether you are selecting a topic, pre-writing, organizing, composing the draft, revising, editing or documenting your sources, the writing center can help.

The writing center is located on the second floor of Information Commons 200, directly above the OTC Library. Hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30-6:30 and Friday 8:30-2:30. Walk-ins are welcome, but call ahead for an appointment to insure someone will be available to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (417) 447-8235.

The Carol Jones Writing Center also offers synchronous one-on-one online tutoring to anyone with Internet access. Online tutorials are on an appointment only basis and are offered only during regular business hours.  Appointments must be made 24 hours in advance so the student can be coached on how to navigate the system. Call (417) 447-8235 for your appointment.

Speech Communication Center

The Speech Communication Center is dedicated to providing free student and community support through quality tutoring and mentoring in the areas of public speaking and the communication disciplines. Students from all disciplines may benefit from services provided by OTC’s Speech Communication Center. The following free services are provided:

  1. Help with speech anxiety and communication apprehension.
  2. Guidance regarding topic selection, organization, research, development, outlining and speech delivery for oral presentations in any course.
  3. Speech rehearsal and video recording for online or seated classes.
  4. Personal one-on-one tutoring for any communication course.

The Speech Communication Center is located in Information Commons 200 on the OTC Springfield Campus. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. For more information, operating hours, or to schedule an appointment call (417) 447-8982 or e-mail speechcenter@otc.edu.