By Tony Pennington
The Norman Transcript

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections recently approved a contract with the University of Oklahoma Outreach to relocate its training and development academy to Norman.

The move is the result of a more than seven month selection process and is expected to take place Oct. 1. OU was among five other state academic institutions that submitted bids for the academy. Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus, also one of the bidders, was the former home of DOC’s training and development program. After 17 years of service, DOC officials said it was time to explore their options.

“We wanted to compare and get the best deal for the state,” said DOC spokesperson Jerry Massie. “So we put it out for bid to see if we could get the best price.”

OU and DOC agreed on a five-year contract with annual renewable options. The university will absorb seven full-time instructors and provide housing, classrooms and meals for DOC employees. The contract is worth an estimated $700,000 a year.

Several hundred “mid-to-senior-level” DOC employees are expected annually to attend the professional development opportunities and training events in the Thurman J. White Forum building.

“We will have pre-service training for people who just signed on to the department and in-service for existing employees,” Massie said.

The arrival of the academy seems to be at the right time as OU’s College of Liberal Studies has sought approval from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to offer an undergraduate degree in criminal justice.

According to Cal Hobson, director of adult executive training programs for OU Outreach, OU provided the DOC with necessary facilities prior to its long association with OSU. He said the academy and the potential new degree program would become the anchor of OU’s effort to increase its criminal justice offerings.

“We are looking for a long relationship with the Department of Corrections,” Hobson said. “We want them to look to put down roots in Norman.”