News

ODS To Build New Hygiene School In La Grande

Portland, Ore. - The ODS Companies [ODS], Eastern Oregon University [EOU] and Oregon Institute of Technology [OIT] today announced a public/private partnership to create a new dental hygiene school located in downtown La Grande as part of the new ODS La Grande Center. ODS will manage the school, OIT will have responsibility for accreditation and curriculum and EOU will provide pre-requisite and general education courses along with other student services. Both universities will make use of their existing distance learning capabilities to enhance the program.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for late spring of 2004 with the first class of 24 students, who will have completed the pre-requisites, entering the program in the fall term of 2005. It will be an 18-month program leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene. Graduates will, if they wish, be able to complete a baccalaureate degree with OIT through a distance education format. Future classes of 24 students will enter the program each fall. The dental hygiene program will have an Advisory Board with representatives from the three participating organizations, organized dentistry and the community.

"This is an unusual opportunity for our company to work in close cooperation with two outstanding Oregon institutions of higher education and the City of La Grande to provide educational opportunities for students to enter the practice of dental hygiene," said Robert Gootee, President & CEO of ODS. "In addition, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Colleen Johnson and Wes Hare from the City of La Grande, Dixie Lund from EOU and Martha Anne Dow from OIT. Without these visionary leaders, this project would not be proceeding."

"OIT welcomes this opportunity to expand student access to one of its health professions program," said Martha Anne Dow, President of OIT. "The demand for dental hygienists is high and will remain high for the foreseeable future. We are grateful for ODS' leadership in this exciting new concept."

OIT has offered degree programs in dental hygiene for many years. It recently completed a $500,000 renovation of its dental clinic at its main campus in Klamath Falls.

EOU has been a leader in educational partnership development for over 25 years. The school has long-term relationships on its La Grande campus and throughout Oregon with Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University and many community colleges. EOU is nearing completion of its new $33 million Science Center and is focusing efforts on new programs.

"We are very pleased to help bring this new opportunity for education and workforce development to our region," said EOU President Dixie L. Lund. "Local dentists, the City of La Grande, EOU, ODS and OIT all brought together the vision and energy needed to implement this new venture, and we're excited to be a partner."

The ODS Companies (ODS) is a multi-faceted organization that provides dental, medical, and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including dental practice management software and benefits administration. ODS serves more than 600,000 Oregonians. Founded in 1955, ODS is Oregon's leading dental insurer and a member of the Delta Dental Plan Association, the nation's largest and most experienced dental benefits provider. They are headquartered in Portland, Oregon and have offices in Milwaukie and La Grande.