Rose State College Announces Partnership With Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Published April 14, 2021

Collaboration Enhances Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence 

Rose State College and Tulsa Community College are entering into a collaboration with Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) on behalf of the Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence to provide educational courses to Oklahomans. 

“This partnership between Rose State, Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology represents an enormous opportunity and benefit for the aerospace industry throughout Oklahoma,” Rose State Vice President of External Affairs Tamara Pratt said. “The Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence is meant to be a collaborative effort between educators and industry partners to advance this vital sector of the Oklahoma economy, and we are well-positioned to make an immediate impact as we launch our efforts.” 

The purpose of the partnership is for Rose State, Tulsa Community College and OSUIT to engage in a collaborative effort to develop and deliver a non-credit certification bridge program for individuals that desire to transition from non-aviation engineering fields to aerospace engineers. The bridge program will be conducted within the Center of Workforce Excellence located at Rose State College. Programs are expected to begin later this spring. 

“Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology believes there is a great opportunity for this collaboration with Rose State and Tulsa Community College to grow and advance the aerospace industry in Oklahoma,” OSUIT’s Associate Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development, Charles Harrison said. “We are ready to meet the aerospace industry’s workforce needs by providing expertise and educational development.” 

With a statewide focus on training individuals in the two industries, Rose State and Tulsa Community College received the designation of the first Aerospace and Cybersecurity Center of Workforce Excellence in Oklahoma. This designation represents higher education, career tech, industry partners and communities working together to answer the workforce needs with educational pathways, stackable credentials, collaborations and training. 

As part of the Center for Workforce Excellence, an advisory council consisting of aerospace and cybersecurity employers from the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas will advise on the workforce needs in the two sectors. Veteran aerospace industry leader Shana Mandley will lead all aerospace efforts at Rose State as the center’s aerospace director and project manager. The center operates as part of the Rose State College Workforce Development Division under the direction of Tamara Pratt.