Connection: Number 10, Volume 3

A Publication of Connors State College

V O L U M E

CSC POWERS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

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C ON NO R S S TATE C OL L EG E WARNER CAMPUS 700 College Road Warner, OK 74469 THREE RIVERS PORT CAMPUS 2501 N 41st St E Muskogee, OK 74403

ADMINI STRA TI ON PRESIDENT Dr. Ronald S. Ramming VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Dr. Janet Wansick VICE PRESIDENT FOR FISCAL SERVICES Mike Lewis

CONNEC TI ON Annie Jo Gilbert Stacy Pearce Janet Wansick OK Regents for Higher Education

S O C I A L M EDI A Follow @ConnorsState or @ConnorsStateCollege

Connors State College, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, crime statistics for both the Warner and Muskogee campuses may be reviewed at http://connorsstate.edu/asr. This publication was printed and issued by Connors State College as authorized by the Director of College and Community Relations. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination or endorsement is intended by Connors State College.

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VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3

COVID-19 Update from the President I hope this letter finds you and your family well and healthy. I know this has been used a lot but we are living in unprecedented times. I was in a Town Hall video conference the morning of April 8th, with Senator Lankford and he pointed out the term COVID-19 has only been around since the middle of February. Many things have changed since then.

The new numbers just released by the Oklahoma Department of New numbers are over 2,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 state wide and over 100 deaths. In Muskogee County, the numbers have remained mildly consistent standing at 26 and 3 respectively and it appears it will be a couple of more weeks before we see infection rates begin to slow. A couple of changes that have been implanted in the state and across campus are: The CDC is now recommending that you wear a non-surgical mask if you have to go out into public. As testing kits have become more available in the State, the Oklahoma Department of Health is now recommending testing for anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, cough, fever (100.4 or higher), and shortness of breath. For more information about testing and what the most current updates on the coronavirus, visit the Oklahoma Department of Health website.

Here on campus, we are gearing up for Summer and Fall enrollment which started on Monday, April 13th for students with 55 or more hours.

We are constantly on the look for new students, and potential students who are trying to navigate through this difficult time. I hope you are following the College’s social media sites, the Recruitment Office (Logan Nero and Chandler Young) have started a

Facebook Live series aimed at helping prospective students navigate the enrollment process and highlighting various programs. I understand the faculty have been sharing various methods of contacting and communicating with their students. I really appreciate the faculty, staff, and others efforts to make the best out of this situation and give our students the best opportunity we can for success. We are in an everchanging world, and with that, we are adjusting and adapting to our current “new normal” of zoom meetings. The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority at Connors, and we have taken the appropriate measures to do so. Majority of our buildings on campus are completely shut down, and we are having staff work from home if they can do so. Our spring events have been cancelled or moved online to help accommodate to the social distancing guidelines. We hope you and your families are staying safe and would like to remind you, we will get through this! Stay safe and Go Cowboys!

State Regents Recognize Partnership Between Connors State College and Cherokee Health Partners LLC Twenty-seven business and higher education partnerships throughout the state were recently recognized as innovative collaborations that further the education of Oklahoma’s workforce. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses and to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents’ Economic Development Grants.

Oklahoma State Regent Mike Turpen served as master of ceremonies for the event. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and State Regent Ann Holloway also participated.

Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for

tuition waivers to employees of the partnering businesses; internships that enable current students to work at the partnering businesses; faculty externships with the partnering businesses; and/or enhancement of the partnerships with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.

“Our colleges and universities collaborate with leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors to strengthen our workforce,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “These partnerships between businesses and our state system institutions advance Oklahoma’s efforts to build the skilled workforce required to compete in today’s global economy.”

Cherokee Health Partners LLC is a unique company formed as a

partnership between Northeastern Health System and the Cherokee Nation. This organization provides health services to more than 17,000 tribal members across 14 Oklahoma counties, and have also partnered with CSC and Northeastern State University to collectively expand the CSC nursing program into Cherokee County. There is a critical need for nurses throughout rural Oklahoma, and CSC has a role in preparing students to fill that need. This vital partnership allows the Cherokee Nation and Northeastern Health System to fund two full-time nursing faculty for the satellite campus. CSC is part of a partnership that fully reflects the benefits of collaboration among public, private and tribal institutions and continues the effort of addressing the workforce needs across communities.

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Unconventional Recruiting – Facebook Live Shows Programs The Connors State Recruitment Department has been hosting Facebook Live recruiting events. “Live! with Logan Nero and Chandler Young” has proven to have a great success.

Nero and Young decided to start this virtual recruitment Facebook Live events to help engage future students and encourage freshman students to return in the fall. Nero and Young host two events a week, once on Tuesday and once Thursday. They cover a multitude of topics, ranging from student life on campus to touring the CSC Simulation Lab for future nursing students.

“We love being able to virtually connect with our students,” said Young. “This has been a great opportunity for us to answer

questions in real time.”

Nero and Young bring their personalities into the broadcasts, and have an easy time connecting to the students, even in the distant learning atmosphere.

“The idea came to us while we were trying to figure out how to try and normalize the uncertainty we are in right now,” said Nero. “We wanted to

be able to connect with the students and give them a normal college recruitment experience.”

Nero and Young have covered moving into college, the adjustment from high school to college, showcasing our simulation lab at the Muskogee campus, scholarship applications, and different places on campus student visit.

Seeing a Need and Lending a Hand - Nursing Masks Connors State College Nursing Department received a pleasant surprise donation by one of our very own’s family member. Dr. Sandra Watson is the head of the CSC Nursing Department. Watson’s cousin, Shirley Dusek, saw a need and felt compelled to make and donate masks for the nursing students. Dusek made and donated 100 masks for the students to wear during clinicals and for testing.

CSC is very appreciative of those who go above and beyond to answer the call when there is a need for supplies that are critical in this unprecedented time. Thank you to the health care providers and those who are essential workers in order to keep our society functioning.

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VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3

NURSING STUDENTS DONATE TO ST. FRANCIS Connors State College third semester nursing students sold t-shirts for their nursing fundraiser. With the money they collected, they paid a local print shop to make 350 masks to donate to the health care providers at Saint Francis in Tulsa, Okla. Connors State College is adamant about protecting our health care providers in the State of Oklahoma, and around the country. CSC’s Nursing program was recently ranked one of the top in the state of Oklahoma, and ranked number 2 in two-year college nursing programs.

FOOD BANK Operations at the food bank are running different during this pandemic. Instead of being open our normal Tuesday/Thursday schedule, we have closed our doors to the public and are running solely through our online order form.

This allows us to package the orders for pick up at the Warner Campus, or to be able to deliver to the Muskogee Campus. Since returning after spring break, we have been able to serve 27 students, faculty, and staff. That is nearly half of our total numbers served, since we opened our doors in January 2020.

Our campus food pantry is stocked from donations and food drives. We also receive food donations from the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in Tulsa, Okla. Recently, a couple of our PLC students were able to visit the food bank and volunteer their time helping package carrots for families in need.

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CO N N O RS ST A T E CO LLE G E 700 College Road | Warner, OK 74469

#AGDOESNTSTOP Much like distance education, agriculture programming and care of the farm doesn’t stop at Connors State College.

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VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3