2011 Public Agenda (continued)
Key Initiatives
Oklahoma's Promise
Oklahoma’s Promise is recognized by many as America’s best college access program and is considered a model that combines emphases on academic preparation and financial support for college. Since 2001, OK Promise has grown from just over 2,000 qualifying students to more than 20,000 students receiving scholarships in FY 2011.
Reach Higher
Nine of Oklahoma’s public regional universities and 14 public community colleges and technical branches offer on-campus and online class options and multiple enrollment periods. Depending on their career goals and the number of hours they have already earned, students can choose between an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science in enterprise development or a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership. With a Reach Higher degree, students receive the leadership training, communications skills and business knowledge they need to get ahead.
OKcollegestart.org
The state’s student information portal provides college planning and preparation information to students, parents and high school counselors. Through the portal, students can create individual portfolios, access campus information, apply for federal and state financial aid, and apply to many of the state’s colleges and universities. Approximately 145,000 student accounts have been created, and about 30,000 students have applied online for Oklahoma’s Promise.
Complete College America
Oklahoma, along with a select group of leading states, is part of Complete College America’s Alliance of States, which is working to dramatically increase the number of young adults with a college degree or credential by setting degree goals and developing and implementing aggressive state- and campus-level action plans to meet those goals. Established in 2009, Complete College America provides Oklahoma with tangible and practical support to help implement a range of strategies that will bring needed changes in the culture and practices of its public postsecondary institutions.
College Access Challenge Grant Program
The College Access Challenge Grant Program is a federal program focused on projects increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups who are enrolled and retained and complete degrees in higher education. Funds are used to expand existing projects, including scholarships, development of degree completion curriculum, promotion of the EPAS program and OKcollegestart.org to school counselors, and providing support for a new statewide college access network in Oklahoma.
OK EPAS
The Oklahoma Educational Planning and Assessment System provides assessments of college readiness and helps teachers, students and families identify the need for academic improvements. EPAS serves more than 450 public school districts, including 63 nonpublic schools. Approximately 80,000 students in the eighth and 10th grades took EPAS assessments during 2009-10.
Cooperative Alliances
Twenty-nine technology centers across the state have partnered with 18 higher education institutions and branch campuses in cooperative alliance agreements. These partnerships have helped Oklahoma students earn more than 70,000 credit hours annually toward their Associate in Applied Science degrees.
Concurrent Enrollment
Concurrent enrollment allows outstanding junior and senior high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. During 2009-10, more than 56,000 hours were earned through concurrent enrollment.
OneNet
OneNet is Oklahoma’s telecommunications network for education, government and research and provides high-speed communications to approximately 70 percent of public K-12 schools as well as career technology centers; public colleges and universities; public libraries; local, tribal, state and federal governments; rural health care delivery systems; and programs engaged in research.
Contact Information
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
PO Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850
405.225.9100
www.okhighered.org
Dr. Glen D. Johnson, Chancellor
chancellorjohnson@osrhe.edu
