Degrees of Progress Newsletter, Spring 2019
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DegreesDegrees ofof ProgressProgress News from the State Regents for Higher Education Volume 4, Issue 2 | Spring 2019 Oklahoma’s Promise: An Investment in Oklahoma’s Future Chancellor Glen D. Johnson, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education The Oklahoma’s Promise program was nation and an example of how a state can created by the Legislature in 1992 to invest valuable resources in its students and encourage more students to aspire for see a strong return on that investment. college, prepare themselves academically The Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship pays in high school and ultimately, earn college tuition at any Oklahoma public college degrees. Since its inception, more than or university until the student receives a 85,000 Oklahoma students have earned bachelor’s degree or for five years, whichever the scholarship, helping them attend comes first. It also covers a portion of tuition postsecondary education at a time when a at accredited Oklahoma private institutions or college degree has never been more valuable. career technology centers. The scholarship At the State Regents’ request, the Southern does not cover the cost of fees, books, or Regional Education Board (SREB) recently room and board. To be eligible for Oklahoma’s conducted a comprehensive review of the Promise, the student’s family income must not Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program. exceed $55,000 at the time of application and SREB’s findings show that Oklahoma’s must not exceed $100,000 while the student Promise is both effective and efficient attends college. To receive the scholarship, the past 26 years – even during severe state as a key driver to increase educational students must successfully complete a funding shortfalls – every earned Oklahoma’s attainment levels in our state. The report college preparatory curriculum in high Promise scholarship has been fully paid. describes Oklahoma’s Promise as one of school, meet a high school GPA requirement, the premier student support initiatives in the attend class regularly, and refrain from drug National data show that states with more and alcohol abuse and delinquent acts. college degree-holders have higher levels of per capita income. Oklahoma’s Promise Students completing the Oklahoma’s Promise Contents college graduates honor the state’s investment program continue to succeed academically, by becoming engineers, teachers, business Guest Commentary: Oklahoma’s Regional with high school GPAs, college-going rates Universities Create Chances to Succeed ......................2 leaders, legislators, nurses, information and freshman college GPAs that exceed technology specialists, law enforcement 2019 State Regents Business Partnership the state average and ACT scores that Excellence Awards ........................................................3 officers, and countless other valuable exceed those of comparable middle- and professionals. Oklahoma’s Promise has Oklahoma’s Promise Champions ..................................4 lower-income peers. Oklahoma’s Promise a significant impact on our workforce and 2019 Higher Education Day at the State Capitol ...........4 students also achieve above-average full- economy that will continue for generations. time college enrollment rates, retention rates 2019 Oklahoma’s Promise Day at the State Capitol .....4 This transformational scholarship represents and degree-completion rates. Additionally, Oklahoma Native American Attainment a “game-changing” investment that our Convening Focuses on Higher Education Oklahoma’s Promise college graduates are governor, our legislature and our State Board Best Practices for Serving Native Students ..................5 employed and stay in Oklahoma at a higher of Equalization have made in our students. 2019 Research Day at the Capitol ................................5 rate than the general student population. OneNet Expands Partnerships to Boost Approximately 17,000 students are expected to Local and Regional Connectivity ...................................6 receive the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship in OKcollegestart.org Spring Workshops ..........................7 college this year. By law, Oklahoma’s Promise Inaugural Oklahoma College Access Conference .........7 has a dedicated funding source to ensure that the program is fully funded each year. Over @okhighered 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org Degrees of Progress | Spring 2019 Oklahoma’s Regional Universities Create Chances to Succeed Mark Stansberry, Chair, RUSO Board of Regents University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. of RUSO graduates have accumulated debt; Combined, they enroll more than 40,000 their median annual salary for one year after students who come from diverse geographical graduation is $4,280 higher than the state’s and economic backgrounds. Many don’t fit graduate annual median; and 84 percent of the narrow definition of “traditional college graduates remain in Oklahoma, compared student.” In fact, a third of the population are with 76 percent for all Oklahoma institutions. nontraditional — transfer students, part-time Combined, these outcomes show that RUSO or returning students, or those who start or institutions are not only helping our students finish outside of the traditional time frame. achieve success, but also strengthening our state’s economy and workforce. There are many first-generation students who didn’t imagine a career or lifestyle outside of their own experiences until they attended college. Several prominent Oklahomans, such as Native American leader Lisa Johnson Billy and Paycom CEO Chad Richison, tell A recent article by The Oklahoman’s stories of not knowing if they could even go Kathryn McNutt is an excellent example of to college. Their college experiences helped the significant impact regional universities them see more possibilities, make choices have on our students and Oklahoma’s based on diverse experiences and be inspired We welcome Gov. Kevin Stitt, Lt. Gov. Matt workforce. McNutt wrote about two national to dream bigger than they had before. Pinnell and 57 new legislators to session this studies that show Regional University year. As our metrics show, it’s important to System of Oklahoma institutions are understand that regional university students outperforming the national average for have diverse challenges requiring grit and upward social mobility by 38 percent. That determination. Our students deserve equally means, financially, these graduates are far engaged support systems that are proven exceeding their families’ income compared Our students ladders to success. I encourage our incoming to when the students began college. deserve equally legislators to learn more about RUSO We know that getting a college degree institutions and their efforts to keep the doors significantly leads to higher income and better engaged support of opportunity open for all students. And, quality of life. The social mobility studies show I encourage regional university graduates that RUSO institutions offer much more than systems that are to share their stories and the importance that — new opportunities, broader and diverse of education with elected officials. experiences, connections — and they open proven ladders doors that would otherwise have been locked. As the largest four-year university system to success. in the state, RUSO governs six public universities: East Central University in Ada, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Northwestern Oklahoma State University Last year, RUSO created 27 benchmarks to in Alva, Southeastern Oklahoma State track the effectiveness of its universities. Social University in Durant, Southwestern Oklahoma mobility is just one area where our institutions State University in Weatherford and the excel. Metrics also show that fewer than half 2 @okhighered 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org Degrees of Progress | Spring 2019 2019 State Regents Business Partnership Excellence Awards Twenty-seven business and higher The State Regents’ Business Partnership internships that enable current students to education partnerships throughout the state Excellence Award is designed to highlight work at the partnering businesses; faculty were recently recognized for innovative successful partnerships between higher externships with the partnering businesses; collaboration that furthers the education of education institutions and businesses and/or enhancement of the partnerships Oklahoma’s workforce. The luncheon was and to further cultivate the higher learning with additional equipment, materials or held on the University of Central Oklahoma environment through State Regents’ supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 campus. Speaking at the presentation were Economic Development Grants. match to the waivers. To date, the State Chancellor Glen D. Johnson and Oklahoma Regents have awarded $157,000 to 314 Institutions involved in these partnerships Secretary of Commerce Sean Kouplen, who business and education partnerships. provide $500 for tuition waivers to highlighted the importance of higher education employees of the partnering businesses; in the state’s economic development. 2019 recognized partnerships: • Cameron University, McMahon Foundation • Oklahoma State University’s New • University of Science and Arts of Product Development Center, Oklahoma, Chickasha Festival • Carl Albert State College, Bullet Fence Systems LLC of Light Board of Directors First National Bank • Oklahoma State University