Orion Technical College in Davenport has a long history in the Quad Cities. It’s adding to that history with more programs, more students and perhaps a name change in a few years.
That’s the word from Troy Harris, CEO of Orion, and chairman of the college’s board.
The latest chapter in that history came a few weeks ago when the college gained approval from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) for its new online certificate programs. Those programs include technical sales specialist, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, MySQL and React.
The new programs mark another milestone in Orion’s commitment to “educate for a rewarding career,” providing students with accessible, high-quality, and industry-relevant training designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s tech-driving workforces. Its programs prepare students for high quality and high paying jobs, according to information from Orion.
“These new certificate programs allow students to gain practical, career-focused skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace,” Mr. Harris said in a recent news release. “By offering these programs online, Orion continues to deliver flexible education pathways that fit the lifestyles of working professionals and aspiring technologists alike.”
He added that such programs are needed in the modern era because today’s students are changing. Students are “demanding more access” to information and perhaps have a shorter attention span.
“We have a much more educated consumer. … They also want to be entertained and keep the pace moving,” Mr. Harris told the QCBJ in an interview.
To help keep that pace moving, Orion is applying some academic agility by educating students in three platforms: in-class learning; online; and a hybrid of in-class and online.
That academic agility is needed to educate a new generation of students to fill a new generation of jobs. Mr. Harris said Orion is helping prepare students for success in technology and health care roles.
“The big boom is going to be the maintenance of robotics and computers,” he added.
Here is a closer look at the college:
- History: The school formerly was known as Hamilton Technical College. It has provided the Quad Cities area with technical training and medical assisting instruction for more than 50 years. The school began in 1969 as the Academy of Radio and Television (ART) in Bettendorf, and later became Hamilton Technical College on Davenport’s 53rd Street. It was rebranded as Orion Technical College when it relocated to Elmore Avenue in Davenport.
Academic offerings: Many of its academic offerings come in three areas:
- School of Allied Health, Nursing – Offering specialized programs designed to prepare students for essential healthcare careers. With hands-on training, modern facilities, and instruction from experienced professionals, students gain the skills needed to excel as medical assistants, massage therapists, medical billing and coding specialists, and health information technicians.
- School of Graduate Studies, designed for working professionals and career-driven individuals ready to advance in fields such as artificial intelligence, business analytics, computer science, and nursing. The graduate programs combine advanced theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world application, preparing students for high-demand roles like machine learning engineer, data scientist, business intelligence analyst.
- School of Technology, delivering innovative, career-focused programs that prepare students for success in high-demand technical fields. With programs in electronics engineering technology and mechatronics electronics technology, students gain hands-on experience working with modern equipment and industry-standard tools.
- Students: About 150 students a year.
- Staff: About 20 full-time faculty and staff members in Davenport; and 20 to 40 adjunct faculty.
- Location: 3940 Elmore Ave., Davenport, (former Gander Mountain retail store).
- Contact information: (563) 674-6633; [email protected]; and orion.edu
- The future: Mr. Harris said he wants to see Orion Technical College grow. In the next five years or so, his goal is to have the Davenport campus enroll 2,000 to 3,000 students. That growth could see the school getting a new name in four or five years. “We will become Orion University,” he added.
