The OCC Experience

   Students and student learning are at the heart of Oakland Community College. Therefore, the goal of providing quality instruction and a wide range of educational opportunities for students shapes decision-making and planning at the college. Administrators and staff work together with faculty to develop classes, services and experiences that create a supportive and stimulating learning environment

The College Community / Because the college serves students from such a large geographical area, five campus sites offer classes and support services for students. These sites are coordinated by an administration, staff and faculty who work together to provide excellence in all aspects of the educational process and to ensure the quality of the student experience by continually assessing and improving the college’s offerings. To make this possible, OCC encourages both diversity in thought and opinion as well as open honest communication where all staff and students are heard. Oakland Community College’s management philosophy and organizational structure encourage innovation, staff initiative, collegiality, responsibility and accountability.

A Diverse Environment / Oakland Community College welcomes all individuals; OCC does not discriminate against students on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual harassment), age, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, Vietnam-era veteran status or disability.

The Student Experience / All members of the college community are committed to serving students. From those who welcome students as they enroll and choose classes, to those who maintain the campuses, to those who teach – all are united by this single purpose. Classes at OCC offer a variety of instructional modes. Lectures, small group tasks, laboratories, classroom demonstrations, computer labs and simulations and clinics offer opportunities for a high level of student/faculty interaction. Courses are enhanced by use of web-based content and technology – including online classes – to augment and reinforce instruction. Throughout each term, faculty review course outcomes and analyze classroom activities to assess student learning in order to improve educational offerings. Outside the classroom, students are served by a supportive counseling staff and enrollment team, up-to-date libraries and a variety of social and cultural opportunities. Faculty and staff in these areas also work constantly to improve their services and make them more responsive to the needs of students. In this way, OCC maintains a collaborative, intellectual and social environment conducive to productive work and study for all students.

Faculty / The faculty of Oakland Community College is one of the most qualified community college faculties in Michigan. The typical preparation of the academic instructor consists of work at the graduate level. Instructors in occupational programs are highly trained specialists whose thorough knowledge comes from both formal study and job experience. Adjunct faculty are selected for their formal academic preparation as well as their professional expertise. Recognizing that the students of Oakland Community College come primarily from a diverse Oakland County, a special effort is made to ensure that the faculty of OCC mirror that diversity. The college conducts national searches to obtain a diverse selection of the finest faculty.
   Faculty members continually enhance their own professional development by augmenting their education and training, belonging to professional and/or scholarly organizations, taking positions on boards and commissions, and holding public office. In addition, the art and music faculty are well known throughout the metropolitan area for their professional accomplishments.

Curriculum / Oakland Community College maintains a curriculum responsive to the lifelong educational needs of individuals and organizations in the community. All five campus sites offer General Education and other basic courses to give the student academic success skills, a foundation for later studies and a broad academic framework. Courses are continually upgraded to reflect the latest research and instructional innovations and are assessed through a process called SAGE (Student Assessment of General Education). Individual campuses house areas of specialization. Programs of study, also assessed annually, are offered in academic, vocational and pre-professional areas with degrees available in Applied Science, Business Administration, General Studies, Liberal Arts and Science.

Accreditation and Articulation / Oakland Community College is committed to serving students by providing courses in all curricula that are up-to-date and well taught. Courses and programs are assessed regularly to maintain national standards. Accreditation affirms this commitment and also allows students to transfer courses to and from other colleges and universities, in other words, to articulate with these institutions.

College Accreditation / The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
   Oakland Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission,
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504

   A copy of the last accreditation study is housed in each campus president’s office and each campus library for review. OCC has been re-accredited through the 2007-2008 academic year. The current ten-year accreditation term represents the maximum length of time accreditation may be awarded.

Accreditation Commissions

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools:
     Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges:
     Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges:
     Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
• The Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities:
     Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools:
     Commission on Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges:
     Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges:
     Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
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Program Accreditations / Numerous programs have individual accreditation by state agencies and/or national associations or organizations.
Culinary Arts Program – American Culinary Federation; Accreditation Commission, National Restaurant Association
Dental Hygiene – American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation
Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Hospital Pharmacy Technology – Michigan Pharmacists’ Association
Medical Assisting – Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Nursing Associate Degree – National League for Nursing; Michigan Board of Nursing
Paralegal – American Bar Association; American Association for Paralegal Education
Practical Nurse Modified Career Ladder Option – Michigan Board of Nursing
Radiologic Technology – The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
Respiratory Therapy – American Medical Association Division of Allied Health Education and Accreditation
Surgical Technology – Accreditation Committee Review on Education in Surgical Technology

Articulation Agreements / Oakland Community College has numerous articulation agreements with colleges and universities that award baccalaureate degrees. Any student planning to continue education beyond OCC should work closely with a counselor to ensure the transferability of the course work.

Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (MACRAO) Articulation Agreement and Guidelines
   The intent of the agreement is to ensure that a student who completes an Associate in Liberal Arts, Associate in Science or an Associate in Business Administration Degree at Oakland Community College will have satisfied the basic two-year requirements of the participating Michigan four-year colleges.

1. Basic two-year requirements which must be included in the Associate in Liberal Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Business Administration degrees are as follows:
   1. English Composition (six semester hours ENG 1510 and 1520)
   2. * Natural Science (eight semester hours). At least one of the natural sciences will be a laboratory course. Mathematics would be included in the natural science category. Courses must be taken in more than one academic discipline.
   3. * Social Science (eight semester hours). Courses must be taken in more than one academic discipline.
   4. * Humanities (eight semester hours). Courses must be taken in more than one academic discipline.
2. The participating Michigan four-year colleges may not require additional basic two-year requirements regardless of their individual course evaluations if the transfer  student has received the Associate in Science, Associate in Liberal Arts, or Associate in Business Administration.
3. An Oakland Community College student must be admissible to a participating Michigan four-year college in order to benefit from this MACRAO Articulation Agreement. The MACRAO designation can be posted to a student’s record when all components have been met, even though the student may not have completed the Oakland Community College degree requirements.
4. The MACRAO Articulation Agreement applies to the basic two-year requirements only and does not excuse Oakland Community College students from meeting specific course requirements for an area of study (Business Administration, Liberal Arts, etc.) while enrolled at Oakland Community College.
5. Students who graduated before 1979 in the degrees listed (see # 1) without MACRAO endorsement need to request a MACRAO review if desired.
6. Students seeking MACRAO endorsement which includes the use of transfer credit must have completed at least 15 credit hours of OCC coursework.

* Refer to Graduation Requirements/General Education for specific courses

MCCVLC (Michigan Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative)
   Selected online courses are also offered through the MCCVLC. Students must be admitted to one of the Michigan community colleges to participate in these courses. Anyone residing within any of the twenty-eight public community college districts in Michigan will be charged the MCCVLC in-district tuition rate listed below. All other Michigan residents will qualify for the out-of-district tuition rate.

MCCVLC Tuition Rates: (Registration and Technology fees will NOT be assessed.)
In-District ............................ $125/credit hour
Out-of-District ..................... $185/credit hour
Out-of-State ........................ $245/credit hour
Course fees ....................... Varies by course

Visit the MCCVLC website at vcampus.mccvlc.org for more information.

OCC Foundation / The Oakland Community College Foundation was formed in 1979 to obtain private contributions from alumni, individuals in the community, corporations, private foundations and organizations to enhance the quality of education at OCC. Gift dollars support scholarships, libraries, fine arts, equipment purchases and program development. In addition to cash and stocks, the Foundation also accepts gifts of property, equipment, bequests and Charitable Gift Annuities. All gifts to the OCC Foundation are eligible for federal tax deductions and the Michigan State Tax Credit. A volunteer board of community leaders and representatives of the college board of trustees and faculty govern the Foundation. Offices are located in the Guest House at the District Office in Bloomfield Hills. Gifts may be directed to:

The Oakland Community College Foundation
2480 Opdyke Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-2266

For further information, call 248.341.2137.