Southeastern Offers Opportunities to Return to College Through Unique Programs

Press Release Date: 02-13-2007

A new statewide program will start this spring that could assist thousands of Oklahomans’ return to college to finish their bachelor’s degrees.

“ReachHigher: Oklahoma’s Degree Completion Program,” was approved recently by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to launch in March at nine of Oklahoma’s public universities across the state.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant is among the participating institutions.

“This program is exactly what many Oklahomans have been waiting for,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “Now they can finish their degree at their own pace, for an affordable cost, and it will be from one of Oklahoma’s public universities.”

ReachHigher is designed for adults who attended at least two years of college but didn’t complete a bachelor’s degree. Participants will take college courses in a flexible, adult-friendly format and, when finished, will have a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership.

With a degree in organizational leadership, graduates will be prepared for job promotions, pay raises or new careers that require a bachelor’s degree. They will be equipped with communication skills, leadership concepts and other knowledge and skills that are relevant in the workforce.

State Regents’ Chairman John Massey praised the program for being responsive to the needs of Oklahomans and to the demands of today’s workforce.

“Businesses want to hire college graduates who are good communicators,” Massey said. “We heard this repeatedly in meetings and surveys with Oklahoma employers. This program was designed with that in mind, so graduates will have the skills that employers want.”

At Southeastern Oklahoma State University, this new opportunity begins this spring and will assist many working adults in completing their college degrees. “ReachHigher” will allow students to take core courses from any of the participating institutions without re-applying for admission as would have been necessary in the past. Because each institution will offer one or more of the ten core courses each semester throughout the year, students will be able to move through the program more quickly. A primary goal of this program is to remove as many barriers as possible between the adult student and his or her successful quest for a four-year degree.

For unconditional admission into ReachHigher, working adult students must have accumulated 72 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Enrollees must be 21 years of age or older and not enrolled as a full-time student during the past year. Classes will begin this March and will cost about $138 per credit hour.

Other degree options at Southeastern that are suited to working adult students include the Bachelor General Studies (BGS) and the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degrees options. Most courses in both programs are available online so that students can complete classes successfully regardless of the individual’s work schedule.

The Bachelor General Studies (BGS) degree option serves students who have accumulated a considerable amount of credit hours but who have not decided on a particular major field of study.

Individual students, working with academic advisors, design programs of study to fit their respective educational goals. The broad-based curriculum allows each student to exercise creativity, innovation, and a practical approach in preparing for the future.

The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree offers students who have an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree or an Associate of Applied Arts (AAA) degree from an accredited junior or community college in the United States the opportunity to obtain a baccalaureate degree. BAAS candidates take general education courses and electives to complete degree requirements, depending on the individual’s prior degree and college credits.

Interested persons may visit the Southeastern website: www.se.edu and click on “finish your degree.” For more information, contact Betty Andrews, Academic Advisor, (bandrews@se.edu) at (580) 745-2370 or 1(800) 435-1327 ext. 2370.