OSUIT officials reach out to students of defunct ITT

OKMULGEE — Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology will host an open house and information session this week for students who were pursuing degrees at ITT Technical Institute when it closed.

OSUIT offers a variety of accredited degree programs in fields like cybersecurity, information technology and electrical engineering that are a direct match to many ITT Tech programs, said Ina Agnew, OSUIT vice president of student services.

After 50 years of operation, ITT Tech abruptly shut down its 130 U.S. campuses earlier this month, leaving about 35,000 students to look for other options after the fall semester already was underway at most colleges.

The for-profit technical college chain had branches in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

“OSUIT is committed to helping displaced ITT Technical Institute students,” Agnew said. “We understand that for many, this was an unexpected and devastating blow to their educational goals.”

The open house will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at OSUIT, 1801 E Fourth St.

Students will meet oneon-one with a professional who will evaluate their transcript and discuss what courses are comparable in their degree field.

“It’s possible that the students get some college credit that way,” Agnew said.

Students also may have certifications or work experience that can translate into course credits, she said.

Staff will offer assistance with the admissions process, obtaining documents and exploring financial aid, Agnew said.

OSUIT’s veterans coordinator will be available to work directly with military servicemen and women on benefits and provide information on specific services for veterans.

Agnew said students who enroll at OSUIT may be able to begin classes the second half of the fall semester, while others will have to wait until spring, depending on their program of interest and where they are in their education.

It’s possible that a new class could open if enough students enroll in that course, she said.

To register for the open house or to learn more about options for ITT Tech students, contact Nate Todd at nate.todd@okstate.edu or (918) 2935296. Students can register online at osuit.edu/itt_tech.

On Aug. 25, the U.S. Department of Education prohibited ITT from enrolling new students who used federal financial aid, saying the company had become a risk to students and taxpayers.

The department also ordered ITT to pay $152 million within 30 days to help cover student refunds and other liabilities if the chain closed.

The Indiana-based parent company ITT Educational Services Inc. announced Sept. 6 it was closing all campuses.