Historical Background
Western Oklahoma State College, established as Altus Junior College in
1926, is the oldest original municipal two-year college still in
existence in Oklahoma. Its operation since 1967 has been under the
provision of State Bill No. 2 of the 1967 Oklahoma Legislature and
the Community Junior College Act.
The college assumed status as a state junior college on July 28,
1970, pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 1003 and Senate
Bill No. 104 of the 1969 Oklahoma Legislature and Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) Resolutions No. 624 and No.
657.
These resolutions authorized and directed the State Regents "To
establish a two-year college in Altus to serve Jackson, Tillman,
Kiowa, Greer, and Harmon counties and surrounding areas, and it
shall be known as Altus Junior College and shall be an integral part
of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education."
The conversion of Altus Junior College from a community to a state
junior college included a redefinition of functions, education
programs and standards, fiscal policies, and enrollment projections.
Guidelines for development of a new campus, to be located on a
142-acre site donated by area citizens, were completed. The governor
of Oklahoma appointed a board of regents for Altus Junior College on
April 27, 1971. This board assumed the responsibility for
institutional governance as provided by law.
On August 16, 1974, the college became Western Oklahoma State
College by an act of the state legislature, signed by the Governor
on April 3, 1974. Section 1 of Senate Bill No. 492, passed by both
the Senate and the House of Representatives, designated that the
"state educational institution located at Altus shall continue at
the same location and its official name shall be WESTERN OKLAHOMA
STATE COLLEGE."
The college has completed over 70 years of serving the greater
Southwestern Oklahoma community and continues its pledge to provide
a comprehensive two-year post-secondary educational program for its
residents.
Location
Western Oklahoma State College is geographically located in
Southwestern Oklahoma. As a state-supported institution, it is open
to all residents of Oklahoma but functions primarily to serve the
counties of Jackson, Greer, Harmon, Kiowa, and Tillman.
Altus is a city of approximately 30,000 residents and is the county
seat of Jackson County. It is in an agricultural area with high
productivity of cotton, wheat, and cattle. Altus Air Force Base,
located in the city, is a training center for the Air Education and
Training Command (AETC).
Two major highways serve the city - Federal Highway 62 and Federal
Highway 283. Quartz Mountain State Park and Lake Altus, located 17
miles north of the city, provide a variety of recreational
activities for residents, students, and visitors.
