You’ve probably driven past the sign on 3638 S. Memorial Drive a thousand times. Maybe you barely notice it anymore. To a lot of people in Tulsa, it's just another brick building in a city full of them. But honestly? Tulsa Tech Lemley Memorial Campus is basically the central nervous system of the local workforce. It’s the oldest and largest campus in the district, and if you think it’s just a place where people learn to fix cars, you're missing about 90% of the story.
It’s kind of wild how much happens behind those doors. You have high school juniors figuring out how to program robots while, three doors down, an adult learner is mastering the nuances of surgical technology. It’s a collision of generations and industries. People come here because they want a shortcut to a paycheck, sure, but they also stay because the equipment is often better than what they’ll find in the actual "real world" for several years.
The Massive Scale of the Lemley Memorial Campus
If you walk into the Client Service Center at the Tulsa Tech Lemley Memorial Campus, the first thing you notice is the energy. It’s not like a sleepy community college. It’s loud. It’s busy. Since opening in 1965, this place has ballooned. It’s the anchor of the Tulsa Tech district, which is actually an independent school district. That's a weird fact most people forget—they aren't just "part" of another school; they are their own entity.
The campus houses the Health Sciences Center, which is a beast of its own. We are talking about state-of-the-art simulation labs where nursing students practice on "patients" that can actually talk back and simulate real medical emergencies. It’s intense.
- Health Science: Everything from Vision Care to Practical Nursing.
- Construction Trades: Carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
- STEM: Advanced pre-engineering and biomedical sciences.
- The Arts: Video production and photography labs.
There’s a lot of talk about the "skills gap" in Oklahoma. Lemley is basically the city's answer to that. When local aerospace companies or hospitals can't find workers, they don't just post on LinkedIn; they call the instructors at Lemley.
Why the Health Sciences Center is a Big Deal
The nursing shortage isn't just a headline; it's a daily reality for Oklahoma hospitals. To fight this, the Tulsa Tech Lemley Memorial Campus recently expanded its Practical Nursing program. They are pumping out 140 nurses a year now. That’s nearly double what they were doing just a few years ago.
🔗 Read more: Natural Log of Natural Log x: Why This Weird Function Actually Matters
What really sets this campus apart is the simulation tech. Candace Shoopman, the Simulation and Clinical Coordinator, has talked about how these labs allow students to fail safely. You’d rather a student make a mistake on a $100,000 mannequin than a human being in an ICU, right? These sim labs count toward their clinical hours, which is huge because getting actual hospital placement time has become a nightmare since 2020.
It’s not just about the big machines, though. The second floor of the Health Sciences Center holds an Academic Center. If a student is a genius at welding but struggles with the math required for blueprints, they can literally just walk upstairs. It’s an open-door policy. No red tape. Just help.
The Secret "College" Track: Pre-Engineering and Biomed
There’s this lingering myth that tech school is only for kids who don't want to go to college. That is 100% false.
The Tulsa Tech Lemley Memorial Campus has some of the most rigorous pre-engineering and biomedical programs in the state. High school students in these tracks are often earning college credit while using 3D printers and CNC machines that most university sophomores haven't even touched yet. They’re building rockets. They’re mapping genomes.
If you’re a junior or senior in a Tulsa-area high school, tuition is free. Read that again. Free. For adults, it’s still remarkably cheap compared to a traditional four-year degree or a private trade school.
Training for the Workforce (Not Just Students)
Most people think of "tech" and think of students in backpacks. But Lemley is also where the "Workforce Training & Development" team lives. Basically, if a big company like American Airlines or a local manufacturing shop needs their current employees to learn a new safety protocol or a specific software, Tulsa Tech builds a custom class for them.
They have 51,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. It’s a hub for business networking. It’s where the city’s economic development actually happens over coffee and blueprints.
How to Actually Get In
It isn't a "walk-in and sign up" situation for the popular programs. Admission is based on a point system.
- Academic Preparedness: They look at your math and reading levels.
- Program Visit: You actually have to go see the lab. They want to make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
- Interest Questions: For some programs, you have to explain why you want to be there.
For the 2026-27 school year, the system is leaning even harder on the program visit. It’s worth 60 points out of 100. They value showing up. If you want a spot in a high-demand field like Welding or Nursing, you need to start the process early. The "One-Stop" center at Lemley is where you start, and honestly, the staff there are the most knowledgeable people in the building.
Actionable Steps for Success at Lemley
If you are considering a career change or looking at options for your teenager, don't just browse the website. It’s too big to understand through a screen.
- Schedule a Thursday Visit: Every Thursday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the campus holds program visits. No appointment needed. Just show up and walk into the lab you’re curious about.
- Check Financial Aid Early: If you’re an adult, the Pell Grant can often cover almost the entire cost. Talk to the financial aid officers at the Client Service Center.
- Get Your Transcripts: Whether you’re 18 or 45, they’ll need to see where you’re starting from academically.
- Connect with HireTulsaTechGrads.com: If you’re a local business owner looking for talent, this is the portal you need to be on. The graduates from Lemley are usually hired before they even walk across the stage.
The Tulsa Tech Lemley Memorial Campus is more than just a school. It’s a massive economic engine. Whether you're looking to build houses, save lives in an ER, or design the next generation of drones, the path probably starts on Memorial Drive.