Approximately 150 Reach Higher students and their families, faculty and representatives from participating Reach Higher institutions recently gathered at the Oklahoma History Center to honor current Reach Higher participants, 2019 graduates, faculty and other educational partners.
Speakers included State Regent Ann Holloway, who shared her personal pathway toward a college degree and inspired students to persist in completing their degrees to meet their personal goals and build Oklahoma’s workforce, and three current Reach Higher students and graduates, who each talked about their experiences returning to college as adult students.
“We commend the commitment demonstrated by our Reach Higher students and graduates in completing their degrees,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “Oklahoma is a national leader in engaging adult students to earn the degrees they started, and we are so pleased to recognize their accomplishments as they begin the next chapter in their personal and professional lives.”
Reach Higher, Oklahoma’s adult degree completion initiative, offers two distinct programs to empower adult students who have earned some college credit to complete their degrees.
Reach Higher: FlexFinish offers a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership at seven regional universities as well as an Associate in Arts and Associate in Science in enterprise development (general studies or business administration) at 12 community colleges and two technical branches of Oklahoma State University.
Regional universities offering the FlexFinish bachelor’s degree program are Cameron University, Langston University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Rogers State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Community college and technical branch campuses offering the FlexFinish associate program are Carl Albert State College, Connors State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Murray State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, Redlands Community College, Rose State College, Seminole State College, Tulsa Community College and Western Oklahoma State College.
Reach Higher: DirectComplete is designed to provide opportunities for adults to complete degree programs with funding and support from partnerships developed to ensure student success. The program targets individuals identified by state partners who are within 15 credit hours (75%) of completing an associate degree or within 60 credit hours (50%) of completing a bachelor’s degree on the list of degrees connected with workforce development needs that align with Oklahoma’s 100 Critical Occupations List. Participants must have a 2.0 GPA in all previous college credits and must have completed all remedial coursework.
The DirectComplete program features a designated navigator at each campus to support returning adult students from enrollment to graduation as they pursue degree programs that support Oklahoma’s workforce needs. Community partners including businesses, tribes and private organizations provide scholarships, financial assistance and other supportive services. Participating colleges and universities are the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, Cameron University, Langston University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Rogers State University, Connors State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Oklahoma City Community College, Tulsa Community College, Western Oklahoma State College, and College of the Muscogee Nation.
For more information about the Reach Higher programs, visit reachhigherok.org.