Mission Statement

Institutional Mission

We, the faculty and staff of Otero Junior College, are committed to creating and continually improving accessible and effective learning environments for the lifelong educational needs of the diverse communities we serve. We are committed to offering traditional and alternative approaches to learning, emphasizing teaching excellence, assessing student learning and building collaborative partnerships to promote education and enrich the lives of our students.

Value Statement

The special spirit of Otero Junior College celebrates learning as the process that changes and improves lives. By setting standards of excellence for ourselves, and by placing a high value on integrity, honesty, teamwork, communication and innovation, we assist students in realizing their greatest potential. We hold ourselves personally accountable for our stated values and the public trust placed in us.

Strategic Initiatives

1. Continually seek resources to supplement those provided by the State of Colorado to meet the needs and support the Strategic Initiatives of the College.

2. Develop new and enhance current programs.

3. Enhance and promote the relationship between the College and the communities we serve.

4. Enrich the quality of student life.

5. Provide professional development opportunities for all employees in order to optimize programs and services.

6. Continue to enhance OJC’s leadership position in technology-assisted learning and the development of new technological applications.

7. Maintain and upgrade physical facilities and equipment to meet the needs of students, staff, and programs.

 

Purpose Statements

In striving to meet its institutional responsibilities as a comprehensive community college, Otero Junior College sets forth the following purpose statements in definition of its educational programs and services. These statements also serve as criteria for the administration, faculty, staff, and students in assessing the college’s effectiveness in meeting its institutional mission.

1. Achieving Junior Level Transfer Status -
Students successfully completing either a prescribed Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree program at Otero Junior College will be able to transfer to a Colorado four-year college or university as a junior. The college maintains transfer agreements with Colorado colleges and universities to facilitate the transferability of its academic programs.

2. Acquiring Entry Level Occupational Skills -
Students successfully completing Career and Technical Education Certificates or Associate of Applied Science degree programs will have acquired the skills necessary to obtain entrance level employment in their field.

3. Promoting the Benefits & Recognizing the Achievement of Life-Long Learning -
The college provides individuals with the means to upgrade their job skills, improve the quality of their lives, and/or custom-tailor their own degree program. The college recognizes satisfactory student accomplishment of such activities via certificates of achievement, college transcripts, and the Associate of General Studies degree.

4. Achieving Functional Literacy -
Through basic skills instruction, academically deficient students and/or non-high school graduates receive the educational services to help them achieve the basic level of proficiency required for continuance in higher education, for entrance level employment, or for day-to-day communication and computation.

5. Participating in College and Community Sponsored Activities -
Students attending Otero Junior College are able to participate in a wide variety of activities aimed at broadening their social, political, physical, and cultural horizons. The college sponsors theatrical productions, art exhibits, literary publications, student government, various clubs and organizations, dance programs, intramural and intercollegiate sports, career awareness activities, dances, movies, and other activities to expand awareness beyond the classroom.