¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ is the only public institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. It has successfully evolved through several stages since its beginning in 1947 – first, as a vocational rehabilitation school for World War II veterans known as Oregon Vocational School; then as a regionally-accredited institution, known as ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵnical Institute, offering associate degree programs; then as a four-year technical school known as ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.
For more than 70 years, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ (¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ) has focused on changing the lives of Oregonians by preparing them to meet the technical and management needs of business, industry and healthcare agencies, and is accredited by the . Individual programs also are accredited by the appropriate professional organizations. Today, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ offers Bachelor of Science programs in engineering, health technologies, management, communication and the applied sciences. These include bachelor degree-completion programs offered online and over 20 bachelor and master programs that can be entirely completed at the Portland-Metro Campus (in Wilsonville). ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ also offers a number of associate degree programs, both online and in Salem, Oregon.
Historical Highlights
July 14, 1947 - Under the direction of first president, Winston Purvine, the first classes at Oregon Vocational School were held in a deactivated World War II Marine Corps hospital three miles northeast of Klamath Falls.
1948 - In a vote by the State Board of Education, the University's name was changed to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵnical Institute – also known as OTI or ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.
1950 - went on the air.
1953 - Associate degree programs in the Surveying and Structural Engineering Technologies were first accredited by the Engineers' Council for Professional Development.
1956 - KOTI television opened on campus.
1957 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ was made a separate division of the State Board of Education and an engineering study was begun to determine whether to repair or rebuild the facilities.
1960 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ was transferred to the jurisdiction of the State Board of Higher Education.
1962 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ was accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools.
1964 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ moved to its newly constructed campus on a geothermal site overlooking .
1966 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ received authorization to grant bachelor's degrees.
1970 - Bachelor's degree programs first accredited by .
1973 - OTI name changed to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ or OIT; ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ continues in use as well.
1975 - Geo-Heat Center established.
1976 - Kenneth Light appointed 2nd President of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ upon Purvine's retirement.
1979 - John F. Moehl Stadium was constructed.
1983 - Larry Blake appointed 3rd President of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. Metro Center established in Portland, OR to offer in-demand degrees.
1984 - Small Business Development Center established.
1988 - Portland Metro Center moved to its first permanent facilities on Southeast Harmony Road in Clackamas, OR.
1989 - State Board authorized ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ to grant master's degrees.
1991 - Lawrence J. Wolf appointed 4th President of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.
1995 - First master's degree offered.
1998 - Martha Anne Dow appointed 5th President of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.
2001 - Oregon Renewable Energy Center established in law by the Oregon legislature.
2004 - Men's Basketball wins NAIA DII National Championship
2005 - Oregon Center for Health Professions established.
2008 - Christopher G. Maples appointed 6th President of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. Martha Anne Dow Center for Health Professions opens.
2008 - Men's Basketball wins NAIA DII National Championship
2011 - Women's Softball wins NAIA National Championship
2012 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ's Portland-Metro presence expands with the opening of the Portland-Metro Campus and broadening of degree options.
2012 - Men's Basketball wins NAIA DII National Championship
2015 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ became an independent public body governed by its own Board of Trustees.
2017 - Nagi G. Naganathan appointed 7th President of ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. The President’s Investiture was held on May 18, 2018.
2017 - Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research and Development (OMIC R&D) collaboration established.
2017 - .
2018 - Behavior Improvement Group Applied Behavior Analysis (BIG ABA) clinic in Klamath Falls established.
2018 - Oregon Governor Kate Brown served as keynote speaker at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s 70th commencement ceremony in Klamath Falls.
2018 - Women's Cross Country wins NAIA DII National Championship
2018 - Renovation of the softball field and stadium began. The John and Lois Stilwell Stadium was completed in fall 2018.
2018 - Southern Oregon's four Higher Education Institutions launched the Southern Oregon Higher Education Consortium. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Klamath Community College, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ, Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University.
2019 - Cornett Hall remodel completed.
2020 - Renovation of the Athletics facility and Rec Center completed.
2021 - Executive Think Tank established.
2021 - Renovation of Track and Field began.
2021 - ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ designated Oregon's Polytechnic University by the State of Oregon
2022 - Construction of the Center for Excellence in Engineering and Technology (CEET) completed and first classes held in Winter 2022.
2022 - Remodel of Boivin Hall began.