View source for Oregon Institute of Technology

{{Short description|Public college in Oregon, US}}
{{distinguish|text=its formerly synonymous first campus, the [[Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls]] or its urban campus [[Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland-Metro]]}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Oregon Institute of Technology
| image = Oregon Institute of Technology seal.svg
| image_upright = 0.8
| motto = ''Per cognitionem, lux'' ([[Latin]])
| motto_lang = 
| mottoeng = "Through knowledge, light"
| accreditation = [[Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities|NWCCU]]
| established = {{start date and age|July 14, 1947}}
| type = [[Public college]]
| academic_affiliations = {{hlist|[[Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission|HECC]]|[[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]}}
| endowment = $23.5 million (2015)
| president = [[Nagi Naganathan]]
| provost = Joanna Mott
| academic_staff = 
| administrative_staff = 
| students = 5,490 (2017)<ref name="About Oregon Tech">{{cite web|url=http://www.oit.edu/visitors-info/about|title=About Oregon Tech|website=Oregon Institute of Technology}}</ref>
| campus_size = {{cvt|305|acre|km2}}
| undergrad = 
| postgrad = 
| doctoral = 
| other_students = 
| city = [[Klamath Falls, Oregon|Klamath Falls]]
| state = [[Oregon]]
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|42.256|-121.785|region:US-OR_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| campus = Remote town<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Oregon&s=all&id=209506|title=IPEDS-Oregon Institute of Technology}}</ref>
| former_names = Oregon Vocational School (1947–1948)<br />Oregon Technical Institute (1948–1973)
| colors = Blue and gold<br />{{Color box|#003768}}&nbsp;{{Color box|#fdc030}}
| sports_nickname = {{hlist|Owls|Lady Owls|Hustlin' Owls}}
| mascot = Hootie the Owl
| sporting_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[Cascade Collegiate Conference|Cascade]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.oit.edu|www.oit.edu}}
| logo = Oregon Institute of Technology logo.svg
|free_label = Other campuses
|free = {{hlist|[[Salem, Oregon|Salem]]|[[Seattle]]|[[Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland-Metro|Wilsonville]]}}
|free_label2 = Newspaper
|free2 = ''The Edge''
}}

The '''Oregon Institute of Technology''' ('''Oregon Tech''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oit.edu/news/2012/09/12/oregon-tech-engineering-climbs-25-spots-in-a-year-to-no-35-in-nation|title=Oregon Tech Engineering Climbs 25 spots in a year to No. 35 in Nation|website=Oregon Institute of Technology}}</ref> is a [[public college]] in [[Oregon]] with a residential campus in [[Klamath Falls, Oregon]], an urban campus in [[Wilsonville, Oregon]], and additional locations in [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] and [[Seattle]]. Almost all students complete externships, co-ops, or other hands-on training inside and outside the classroom.<ref name="About Oregon Tech"/>

==History==
Oregon Tech was founded as the '''Oregon Vocational School''' on July 15, 1947, to train and re-educate returning [[World War II]] [[veteran]]s. Under the direction of [[Winston Purvine]], the first classes were held in a deactivated Marine Corps hospital three miles northeast of Klamath Falls. The following year, the school's title was changed to the '''Oregon Technical Institute'''. In the first school year, 1947–1948, veterans constituted 98 percent of student enrollment. By 1950, the figure was 75 percent. In that year, in response to the [[Korean War]], the school received a contract for training soldiers in welding and warehouse management.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_institute_of_technology/#.VkVShvmrTcs|title=Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech)|encyclopedia=[[The Oregon Encyclopedia]]|publisher=[[Portland State University]]|access-date=November 13, 2015}}</ref> In 1953, Associate degree programs in [[Surveying]] and Structural Engineering Technologies were first accredited by the [[American Engineers' Council for Professional Development|Engineers Council for Professional Development]].

In 1954, KTEC, the institution's first radio station went on air. By 1953, associate degree programs in the Surveying and Structural Engineering Technologies were first accredited by the Engineers Council for Professional Development. Not long after in 1956, [[KOTI (TV)|KOTI]] television opened on campus. However, KOTI is no longer operated on campus. In 1962, the institute was accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools. In 1970, the first bachelor's degree programs were accredited by ABET. It would be 25 years later when the first master's degrees were offered. In 1975, the first Geo-Heat Center was established.

The campus was transferred to its current location in 1964, followed by another name change to the '''Oregon Institute of Technology''' in 1973. In 2012, the Oregon Institute of Technology officially rebranded to its current name '''"Oregon Tech"'''. Oregon Tech's four locations in the [[Portland metropolitan area]] were consolidated into a single campus in [[Wilsonville, Oregon|Wilsonville]] in 2012 at [[InFocus]]' former headquarters.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/wilsonville/index.ssf/2012/07/oregon_institute_of_technology.html#incart_river_default|title=Oregon Institute of Technology expands opportunities for students, nearby companies with new Wilsonville campus|newspaper=[[The Oregonian]]|date=July 22, 2012|author=Rachel Stark|access-date=July 27, 2012}}</ref> By 2015, the Oregon Institute of Technology became an independent public body governed by Board of Trustees.

On April 26, 2021, the faculty [[2021 Oregon Tech strike|went on strike]] after more than 500 days of initial contract negotiations between the faculty union and administrators. This was the first strike conducted by a public college or university faculty union in Oregon's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/04/22/oregon-institute-technology-tentative-faculty-strike-dispute/|title=Oregon Institute of Technology asks state agency to declare tentative faculty strike unlawful|publisher=[[Oregon Public Broadcasting]] (OPB)|date=April 22, 2021|access-date=May 4, 2021}}</ref>

==Campuses==
*[[Oregon institute of Technology, Klamath Falls|Oregon Tech Klamath Falls]], the University Residential Campus
*[[Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland-Metro|Oregon Tech Wilsonville]], the University Urban Campus
[[File:Oregon Institute of Technology 2014.JPG|thumb|Klamath Falls campus in 2014]]

==Athletics==
The Oregon Tech (OIT) athletic teams are called the Owls and Lady Owls (sometimes known as the '''"Hustlin' Owls"'''). The institute of technology is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing in the [[Cascade Collegiate Conference]] (CCC) since the 1993–94 academic year.

Oregon Tech competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. 

The mascot for Oregon Tech Athletics is Hootie the Owl.

===Rivalries===
Oregon Tech's traditional athletic nemesis is [[Southern Oregon University]] in [[Ashland, Oregon]]. The close proximity of the schools and alternate academic foci (science and technology at Oregon Tech, liberal arts at SOU) result in a natural rivalry between the two.

===Men's basketball===
OIT has won multiple [[NAIA Men's Basketball Championships]]. Former men's basketball coach [[Danny Miles]] completed his 1,000th win February 1, 2014, in his 43rd year of coaching at OIT. This is the fourth most of any men's college basketball coach all-time (NCAA & NAIA).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/sports/ncaabasketball/for-41-years-town-cheers-oregon-tech-coach-danny-miles.html|title=For 41 Years, Town Cheers Oregon Tech Coach Danny Miles|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 22, 2012|author=Greg Bishop|access-date=November 28, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Softball ===
OIT's softball program won the [[NAIA Softball Championship]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2011/05/oregon_tech_captures_naia_soft.html|title=Oregon Tech captures NAIA softball national title in Gulf Shores|newspaper=[[The Birmingham News]]|date=May 26, 2011|author=Daniel Boyette|access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref>  OIT was the national runner up in the NAIA Softball Championship in 2021.  <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-02 |title=Lady Owls Fall Twice to No. 1 SOU, Settle for National Runner-up |url=https://oregontechowls.com/news/2021/6/2/womens-softball-lady-owls-fall-twice-to-no-1-sou-settle-for-national-runner-up.aspx |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Hootie the Hustlin' Owl.jpg|thumb|Oregon Tech mascot, "Hootie", waves the team flag during player intros at a home game at Danny Miles Court in Klamath Falls, OR.]]
===Mascot===

Oregon Tech's mascot, ''Hootie the Hustlin' Owl'', is a great horned owl and has been portrayed as a costumed character since 1980. He sports the jersey number 47 as an homage to the school's founding year. 

Known originally as "OIT OWL", he first hatched out of a giant papier mâché egg during a home football game. Hootie's other alias was "OWLY OOP" in the 1990s amidst the loss of the school's football team, in an attempt to further emphasize their basketball program.
The beloved owl mascot was created by executive secretary Nancy Cox, inspired by the San Diego Chicken after attending a Padres game in 1980 and proceeding previous attempts at an official school mascot such as a rally head in the 1960s named "OTIS" and a live owl.

Notable stunts include skydiving, ziplining, basketball trick shots, and various feats of acrobatics and professional dancing abilities. Performed by actress Brooke Eldridge (2021–2025), as featured on ABC Nightline News.

'''Accolades:''' 
• CCC Mascot of the Year 2014, 2018
• Mascot Training Camp Champion 2023
• Mascot Hall of Fame Awards Nominee 2023 (best video skit, most community impact)

==Notable alumni==

* [[Benny Agbayani]], professional baseball player
* [[Joe Cain (American football)|Joe Cain]], professional football player
* [[Tim Freeman]], [[Oregon House of Representatives]] 
* [[Ty Knott]], professional football coach
* [[Wayne Krieger]], [[Oregon House of Representatives]] and [[Oregon State Police]]
* [[Nate Lewis]], professional football player
* [[Doug Mikolas]], professional football player
* [[Justin Parnell]], college basketball coach
* [[Don Summers]], professional football player

== Photo gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Oregon Tech old campus.jpg|The old Oregon Tech campus
File:Oregon Tech in winter 3.jpg|Winter Jan. 2024
File:Oregon Institute of Technology.jpg|The OIT hillside monogram
File:Oregon Tech Wilsonville Outside.jpg|Oregon Tech Wilsonville
File:Oregon Tech Formula Car.JPG|Oregon Tech SAE Formula car
File:Oregon Tech Fall term.jpg|Oregon Tech in Fall season
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://oregontechowls.com/ Athletics website]

{{Colleges and universities in Oregon}}
{{Cascade Collegiate Conference navbox}}
{{Polytechnic Universities}}
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[[Category:Oregon Institute of Technology| ]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Oregon]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1947]]