New OSU agreement makes college financial aid more flexible
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Studies show that 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 they qualify for.
“This allows students greater flexibility in their educational options,” said Pat
Braithwaite, OSU-Okmulgee 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 OSU and CEO of the OSU System; Dr. Gary Trennepohl, president of OSU-Tulsa; and
Dr. Bob Klabenes, president of OSU-Okmulgee. The agreement applies to Title IV and
state funds awarded to degree-seeking OSU students 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
make the best financial arrangements for their education goals.
“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,” Braithwaite said. “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 seeks. Officials hope that college transcripts
will become standardized so financial aid office staffers can view all classes on
all campuses at which a student is enrolled.
Dr. Linda Avant, OSU-Okmulgee executive vice president for academic affairs, said
a recent statewide survey found that many college students were co-enrolled. Many
were studying on multiple campuses of the same university system; others were taking
classes from various colleges.
“Right now, this agreement would not extend to other state universities, but in a
year or two, it may become statewide,” Avant said. “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.”
OSU-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 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.