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 Institute • Western Oklahoma State College, • Connors State College, Warner Hardware of Technology, Komatsu Comanche County Memorial Hospital • East Central University, City of Ada • Oklahoma State University- • Eastern Oklahoma State College, Oklahoma City, Amazon Health and Wellness Center • Redlands Community College, • Langston University, Love’s Travel Symbiotic Aquaponic Stops and Country Stores • Rogers State University, moreClaremore • Murray State College, BancFirst • Rose State College, Advantage Bank QUICK FACT • Northeastern Oklahoma A&M • Seminole State College, City of Seminole College, Architects in Partnership • Southeastern Oklahoma State Oklahoma’s public • Northeastern State University, Northeast University, Julian Construction Oklahoma Regional Alliance higher education system • Southwestern Oklahoma State • Northern Oklahoma College, University, Leadership Weatherford supported $8.2 billion Renfro Family Foundation • Tulsa Community College, Community in total economic • Northwestern Oklahoma State Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma University, LaDeeda output in FY16. • University of Central Oklahoma, City • Oklahoma City Community College, Dell Management Association of Oklahoma • Oklahoma Panhandle State University, • University of Oklahoma, Pat Goodwell Public Schools Tillman Foundation

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org @okhighered 3 Degrees of Progress | Spring 2019

Oklahoma’s Promise Champions

Eight Oklahoma high schools have been exceptional job encouraging and supporting • Class 5A, Santa Fe South (Oklahoma City), named “Oklahoma’s Promise 2018 State their students’ participation in Oklahoma’s with 72 Oklahoma’s Promise graduates. Champions,” leading the state in the number Promise. High schools named Oklahoma’s • Class 6A, Union (Tulsa), with 154 of graduates who met the requirements to Promise 2018 State Champions are: Oklahoma’s Promise graduates. receive an Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship. • Class B, Thackerville, with 11 Oklahoma’s Promise is a state program that Oklahoma’s Promise graduates. allows students from families whose annual income is $55,000 or less to earn a tuition • Class A, Co-Champions: Empire and Soper, SOCIAL MEDIA scholarship for college or certain programs at with 11 Oklahoma’s Promise graduates each. public career technology centers. SPOTLIGHT • Class 2A, Caddo, with 17 More than 85,000 Oklahoma students Oklahoma’s Promise graduates. have been afforded the opportunity to • Class 3A, Idabel, with 33 Oklahoma’s pursue their college education through the Promise graduates. Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program • Class 4A, Southeast (Oklahoma City), since its inception more than 25 years www.facebook.com/ with 71 Oklahoma’s Promise graduates. ago. Oklahoma high schools have done an okpromise

2019 Higher Education Day at the State Capitol

Tuesday, Feb. 12, students, faculty and representatives from Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities gathered at the Capitol to promote the value and importance of higher education in the state. Speakers included: Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell; Sen. Roger Thompson; Rep. Jadine Nollan; State Regents chair Jay Helm; Chancellor Glen D. Johnson; and President Tim Faltyn, Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Higher Education Day is designed to give students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of public colleges and universities the opportunity to meet with legislators to discuss campus needs and share their successes. Some of the issues addressed include the state system budget request; key higher education initiatives, such as Complete College America and Oklahoma’s Promise; weapons on campus; and the importance of higher education to our state’s workforce and economic development. Students also have the opportunity to see how state government works, speak to state legislators about the issues facing higher education, and engage as advocates for their institution and other students in Oklahoma.

2019 Oklahoma’s Promise Day at the State Capitol

Tuesday, April 9, students, faculty and representatives from Oklahoma colleges and universities and other supporters gathered at the Capitol to celebrate more than 25 years of state support of the Oklahoma’s Promise program and encourage elected officials to continue keeping the promise to our students. Featured speakers during the event were Oklahoma Deputy Attorney General Dara Derryberry; State Regent Michael C. Turpen; Chancellor Glen D. Johnson; Sen. Jason Smalley, Oklahoma State Senate; Rep. Jadine Nollan and Rep. Cyndi Munson, Oklahoma House of Representatives; State Chamber Executive Vice President of Government and Political Affairs Mike Jackson; and Oklahoma’s Promise recipient Sarah Kellogg. The purpose of the annual Oklahoma’s Promise rally is to show appreciation for the Governor and the Legislature’s ongoing support of the Oklahoma’s Promise program and encourage elected officials to continue to support the program’s dedicated funding source.

4 @okhighered 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org Degrees of Progress | Spring 2019

Oklahoma Native American Attainment Convening Focuses on Higher Education Best Practices for Serving Native Students

More than 100 participants representing 17 Featured speaker Dr. Courtney Brown The State Regents entered into a higher education institutions, tribal education from Lumina Foundation shared data Memorandum of Understanding with the offices and workforce development centers related to attainment, equity, and workforce Tribal Education Departments National registered to attend the Oklahoma Native gaps, and provided information about key Assembly (TEDNA) in May 2017 to formalize American Attainment Convening at Rose attainment benchmarks for the Native the state system’s commitment to serving State College on Feb. 27. The convening, student population. Panelists from tribal tribal members seeking higher education in sponsored by the Western Interstate higher education departments and colleges Oklahoma. The agreement with TEDNA has Commission for Higher Education, Oklahoma and universities focused on a variety strengthened public institutions’ relationships Works, and Reach Higher, the State Regents’ of topics with a specific emphasis on with tribal education offices to meet the higher adult degree completion initiative, was held serving Native students, including student education needs of tribal members across to allow recipients of the Native American support resources, financial assistance, the state. Additionally, Reach Higher works Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) grant and program funding opportunities. directly with tribal education offices across and Oklahoma’s non-NASNTI designated the state to increase the number of tribal institutions to share best practices with citizens seeking a degree in Oklahoma. colleagues from across the state.

2019 Research Day at the Capitol: Spotlighting the State’s Top Undergraduate Researchers

Twenty-two undergraduate student three regional university winners and three Second Place, Regional University researchers, representing 16 Oklahoma research-intensive institution winners. The and Community College Category colleges and universities, gathered at the students below received awards during a • Anna Paraskevopoulos State Capitol on March 26 for the 24th ceremony at the conclusion of the event. Cameron University annual Research Day at the Capitol. 2019 award winners: Second Place, Research- Students were hand-selected by their Intensive Institution Category institutions to present scientific research Overall Grand Prize • Marjorie Sheaff posters during the prestigious event, which is • Matthew Baier The University of Tulsa designed to showcase the outstanding research University of Oklahoma being conducted on Oklahoma’s campuses. Health Sciences Center Third Place, Regional University

Members of the State Legislature and Capitol First Place, Regional University and Community College Category guests viewed students’ poster displays and Community College Category • Tu Doan to learn more about the research projects, • Karissa Hodge University of Central Oklahoma which covered important topics such as Northeastern State University Third Place, Research-Intensive water quality, cancer and recidivism. First Place, Research-Intensive Institution Category Research posters and oral presentations Institution Category • Julia Tang were competitively judged by an independent • Sarah Gutierrez University of Oklahoma panel. The top seven researchers in three The University of Tulsa categories were selected—one overall winner,

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org @okhighered 5 Degrees of Progress | Spring 2019

OneNet Expands Partnerships to Boost Local and Regional Connectivity

OneNet is building on regional partnerships OneNet’s current partnerships with Great Plains Consortium members are provisioning fiber and to boost connectivity in the state of Oklahoma Network and Western Regional Network have wave services across state lines to deploy more and throughout the south central region. provided regional connectivity for the south direct connections for the research networks. OneNet’s geographic location as a crossroads central states and connections to the West These direct fiber connections improve uniquely positions the network to expand Coast. Through these partnerships, OneNet access to resources for member networks high-speed services across the region. is connected to Internet2 and the Pacific and the organizations they serve, such as Wave International Exchange, which support “Historically, some have classified Oklahoma higher education institutions and health advanced research and scientific discovery. as a ‘fly-over’ state,” said Vonley Royal, care providers. These connections generate OneNet’s executive director. “Now we are OneNet’s leadership identified the need to cost savings and enable organizations a participant in facilitating high-bandwidth build on these partnerships and establish on the network to communicate more connections for the entire region.” more direct connections within Oklahoma effectively across the region. and among surrounding states. These new OneNet, along with Oklahoma data centers “OneNet plans to build on these new connections support regional research and telecommunications providers, has partnerships to deliver world-class and education networks, content providers created a new partnership, the Oklahoma connectivity to Oklahoma and its neighboring and telecommunications partners. City Internet Exchange or OKCIX. This states,” said Royal. “These partnerships partnership formalizes OneNet’s content Multiple regional networks have formed the are a key strategy for fulfilling our delivery network (CDN) project and provides Dallas Consortium with the goals of increasing mission of advancing technology across a safe, collaborative place for Oklahoma- connectivity, lowering costs and bringing more Oklahoma and offering better services and based telecommunications and content content to member states. The consortium improved quality of life in Oklahoma and providers to connect with each other. includes OneNet in Oklahoma, ARE-ON in throughout the south central region.” Arkansas, KanRen in Kansas, LEARN in Texas, OneNet is facilitating the new fiber connections LONI in Louisiana and MOREnet in Missouri. into Oklahoma City area data centers, where participants connect with OneNet’s network. Through this connection, participants can access OneNet’s CDN services, which include KanREN content providers such as Netflix, Facebook, Alkami, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Valve. Internet2 OKCIX partners can reduce costs through CDN MOREnet services and by peering with other participants. A new technology, node slicing, will also reduce costs for both local and regional partners. Node slicing is the ability to virtualize Pacific Wave multiple router instances inside a single ARE-ON physical router. OneNet is deploying node slicing to enable multiple organizations to utilize equipment more efficiently. This new technology will reduce the cost of colocation LONI in participating data centers and provide LEARN virtual resources for public/private partners.

6 @okhighered 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org Degrees of Progress | Spring 2019

OKcollegestart.org Spring Workshops

OKcollegestart.org, the State Regents’ learned to track student progress and identify OKcollegestart.org provides free resources student portal for college planning, hosted how to use activity outcomes in advising. to help students and parents plan, apply four training workshops this spring to instruct and pay for education and training beyond “Educators across the state are preparing educators on ways to use OKcollegestart. high school. All user registrations come to implement Individual Career Academic org to implement Individual Career Academic with a free email address that can be Plans in their schools this fall, so it was Plans (ICAPs) in their schools. High school used to communicate with counselors important we help them prepare,” said counselors, whether new or experienced, and colleges. The dynamic Professional Theresa Shaklee, student portal coordinator were encouraged to attend. These Center, a website for Oklahoma schools to for the Oklahoma College Assistance workshops were held at the State Regents’ use in conjunction with OKcollegestart.org, Program. “We’re excited to be a part of office and on the campuses of Oklahoma allows counselors to send transcripts from the college and career readiness process State University-Tulsa, Eastern Oklahoma high school to high school and from high on which their students are embarking.” State College in McAlester and Northwestern school to college, follow student activities Oklahoma State University in Enid. Participants also learned about new on OKcollegestart.org and customize OKcollegestart.org features, including academic plans for individual students. Participants received hands-on support as a redesigned Professional Center they selected ICAP activities, customized and customizable surveys. and assigned an ICAP to their students, and

Inaugural Oklahoma College Access Conference Held

The Oklahoma College Assistance Program’s schools this coming fall, we felt this would be OCAP’s Outreach Team is excited to continue (OCAP) Outreach Team held the inaugural a great time to offer assistance and guidance hosting the conference annually. “We received College Access Conference on Feb. 6. Held to our schools,” said OCAP Assistant Director a lot of positive feedback from our attendees, at Oklahoma City Community College, the for Outreach Services Kelli Kelnar. “We had a a diverse group of professionals including K-12 free conference was designed to deliver vital full house with lots of interaction, participation counselors and administrators, Upward Bound/ information to the counselors, educators and and overall appreciation. Our first College TRiO personnel, financial literacy specialists community partners that OCAP Outreach Access Conference was a great success.” and other community partners,” said Kelnar. works with on a daily basis. “We plan to continue growing this conference to become the premier OCAP’s goal was to share best college access event in the state.” practices and updated information to professionals who have daily Increasing college access is the contact with students. Over 70 primary objective of UCanGo2, OCAP’s professionals attended. comprehensive college access outreach initiative. OCAP, an operating division Some of the topics covered at the of the State Regents, provides college conference included what college access, aid awareness, financial admissions specialists look for in literacy and student loan management potential students, finding and applying programs and services that benefit for scholarships, assisting underserved students, parents, schools and students and working with Individual community partners. To learn more, Career Academic Plans (ICAPs). visit OCAP.org and UCanGo2. “With the growing necessity for a college org, like UCanGo2 on Facebook education to match the future job market and join OCAP’s mailing lists at and the implementation of ICAPs in all ocap.org/News/subscribe.

655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org @okhighered 7 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Chairman Vice Chair Jay Helm Joseph L. Parker Jr. Tulsa Tulsa

Secretary Assistant Secretary Jeffrey W. Hickman John Massey Ann Holloway Andrew W. “Andy” Lester Fairview Durant Ardmore Edmond

General Toney Stricklin Michael C. Turpen Dr. Ronald H. White Chancellor Lawton Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Glen D. Johnson

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Phone: 800-858-1840 or 405-225-9100 www.okhighered.org twitter.com/okhighered

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other federal laws and regulations, do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. This publication, printed by OSRHE Central Services, is issued by the State Regents as authorized by 70 O.S. 2001, Section 3206. 25 copies have been printed at a cost of approximately $10. Copies have been deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. This publication was produced in April 2019.