OSU partners with Pawnee Nation Academy

Thursday, March 9, 2006

STILLWATER, OKLA. –Oklahoma State University and the Pawnee Nation Academy have announced a formal partnership that creates a direct path for academy students to earn a bachelor's degree from OSU.

On Tuesday, OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly, Ronald Rice, Pawnee business council president, and Todd Fuller, president of the academy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two academic institutions.

“Everyone who has a desire to further their education should be granted the opportunity,” Schmidly said. “We are delighted to join with the Pawnee Nation in this meaningful program that will make a real difference in the lives of many students.”

Academy students who have completed Northern Oklahoma College and academy associate degree requirements can take advantage of this 2-plus-2 program, which is a transfer agreement that allows students to enroll in an appropriate OSU bachelor's degree programs.

Students earning their associate degree from NOC in the areas of business administration and construction management and technology can continue studies at OSU. The memorandum also allows students with an Associate of Science in Business Administration to transfer into OSU's Hotel and Restaurant Administration program.

“What’s especially exciting for the Academy is that our American Indian Studies curriculum will be available to OSU students, so that both Indian and non-Indian students pursuing an OSU degree will have access to our program and will receive OSU credit.” Fuller said.

The Pawnee Nation Academy was founded in 2004 to create an academic institution that would foster meaningful educational opportunities for tribal members, and also contribute to the cultural, community and economic revitalization of the Pawnee Nation.

"Education is a very important component of our local endeavors to enhance academic and training opportunities for all residents in the Pawnee area and beyond," Rice said.