New OSU Agreement Makes College Financial Aid More Flexible

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

(Okmulgee) – Recently, university presidents from three Oklahoma State University campuses signed an agreement to let college students maintain full funding of their financial aid packages, even if they are co-enrolled at different sites.  Studies show 62% of college graduates at state schools enter their careers saddled with debt.  One of the ways to minimize that liability is to help students take full advantage of the financial aid for which they qualify.

“This allows students greater flexibility in their educational options,” said Pat Braithwaite, OSU-Okmulgee’s Vice President for Student Affairs.  “For example, an Information Technologies student at our school may need a class that’s offered evenings on the OSU-Tulsa campus.  Under the terms of this agreement, the student’s financial aid can be calculated on credit hours earned on both the Okmulgee and the Tulsa campuses.  That could save an undergraduate several hundred dollars each semester.”

Signing the “Financial Aid Consortium Agreement” were Dr. David J. Schmidly, President of Oklahoma State University and CEO of the OSU System; Dr. Gary Trennepohl, President of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa; and Dr. Bob Klabenes, President of Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee.  The agreement applies to Title IV and state funds awarded to degree-seeking OSU students who are co-enrolled at OSU-Okmulgee and OSU-Tulsa/Stillwater.

Braithwaite notes that obtaining a higher education degree can be a financial burden for many people and the recent Financial Aid Consortium Agreement helps students put together the best financial arrangement for their education goal.  “If a student can take a course on a different campus rather than waiting, that helps them graduate in a timely manner and that means they are in the workforce sooner and earning money.  Luckily, for most OSU-Okmulgee graduates, many have job offers even before they graduate!”

To participate in the program, qualified students should apply at the financial aid office of the campus they select as their home campus.  Usually, that is the campus that carries the degree the student is seeking.  Officials hope in the future college transcripts will become standardized so financial aid office staffers will be able to view all classes on all campuses at which a student is enrolled.

OSU-Okmulgee’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Linda Avant, says a recent statewide survey found a substantial number of college students were co-enrolled.  Many were studying on multiple campuses of the same university system; others were taking classes from a variety of colleges.  “Right now this agreement would not extend to other state universities, but in a year or two it may become statewide,” says Avant.  “In the long run, this means that college students can work on their degrees with greater efficiency and flexibility.  The benefit to Oklahoma is an increased flow of college graduates into the workforce and a reduced debt burden on these new employees.”

Oklahoma State University - Okmulgee is known for its hands-on technical education, world-class equipment and active partnerships with industry.  Degree programs are developed according to emerging educational and labor market needs.  Seventeen programs of study lead to Associate in Applied Science degrees, three programs of study lead to Associate in Science transfer degrees, and three programs lead to Bachelor of Technology degrees - Information Assurance and Forensics, Instrumentation Engineering Technology and Civil Engineering Technology.  Through frequent advisory board meetings, corporate partners make significant contributions to curriculum, faculty improvement, equipment acquisition, internship experiences for students and employment opportunities for graduates.  OSU-Okmulgee also promotes economic development among small Oklahoma firms by providing training and assistance with technology deployment, financing, bidding and purchasing procedures.

For more information call 918.293.4678 or 1.800.722.4471. Information also is available online at www.osu-okmulgee.edu.