Southeastern Occupational Safety Department surpasses 1,000 graduates

Press Release Date: 08-24-2010

DURANT, Okla. -- A milestone was reached with the conclusion of the 2010 summer semester as the Department of Occupational Safety & Health at Southeastern Oklahoma State University exceeded 1,000 graduates.

The program began as a traffic and general safety department in the 1960s, but was converted to its present focus of worker safety in the industrial, manufacturing, transportation, insurance and construction industries in 1989 with the addition of Dr. Robert Semonisck (now retired) as department chair.

Since that time, the program has seen steady growth and now averages more than 70 graduates each year at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. In addition, more than 500 students enrolled in at least one occupational safety course during the spring 2010 semester, making the program one of the largest in the United States.

Also, the American Society of Safety Engineers student chapter consistently places among the nation's best and accumulates thousands of dollars in scholarships each year for Southeastern occupational safety students.

In 2007, the program experienced two major milestones with the creation of the master’s program and an OSH building renovation which doubled the academic spaces and added significant lab spaces.

Additional grants by various companies, including the Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma, added much-needed lab equipment and training exercises.

The Master of Science program is a primarily online program which allows students to participate from as far away as oil platforms off the coast of Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and from states all over the country. The program has grown to more than 80 students, and more than 25 students have graduated from the program.

The program is up-to-date with the latest technology, industrial hygiene, construction, and noise and vibration labs, and confined space training. The program offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in occupational safety & health, and satisfies the needs of the profession in numerous ways.

Dozens of Fortune 500 companies recruit from the department every year and several companies come back year after year for Southeastern Occupational Safety graduates. More than a dozen program graduates are currently working on the gulf oil disaster on board ships at the well site as well as supervising the clean-up on shore.

According to Dr. Wayne D. Jones, department chair, the department has graduates in almost every state and numerous countries overseas.

"We have graduates working in all areas of industry, government, and education," Jones said. "The Southeastern name is everywhere in occupational safety."