Consortium Members

Consortium Diversity and Strength

The Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) is a consortium of 11 universities from USDOT Region 6: The University of Oklahoma (consortium lead, OU), Oklahoma State University (OSU), University of Arkansas (UARK), the University of New Mexico (UNM), Louisiana Tech University (LTU), Louisiana State University (LSU), The University of Texas at El Pasto (UTEP), Navajo Technical University (NTU), El Paso Community College (EPCC), Texas Southern University (TSU), and Texas A&M University (TAMU)/Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). OSU and OU rank consistently as the nation’s top Native American Indian bachelor degree producers in engineering. EPCC is one of the nation’s largest community colleges and a major pathway for Hispanic talents seeking engineering degrees at UTEP, TAMU, and other Region 6 universities. TSU is one of the nation’s top HBCUs, with a strong transportation research program. NTU is the nation’s only Native American Institution offering accredited baccalaureate degrees in engineering. Both OU and OSU consistently rank among the nation’s top universities graduating engineers who are Native Americans.

In partnership with two tribal nations and two other Region 6 universities, OU, OSU, and UNM host the USGS South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, which focuses on climate adaptation strategies and working with all tribes across the region. TAMU is the largest engineering school in Region 6 in terms of student enrollment and degrees conferred. With over $65M/year of research expenditures, TTI boasts the nation’s largest transportation research institute.