College guide october 2016

2016

Tulsa World Supplement, Sunday, October 16, 2016

Guide

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The UNIVERSITY of TULSA Tulsa, Oklahoma • (918) 631-2000 • utulsa.edu

The University of Tulsa is a top 100 doctoral degreegranting institution and Oklahoma’s top-ranked university, according to the 2017 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” publication.

TU attracts some of the brightest students from across the U.S. and around the world to its 200-acre residential campus.

This fall, TU welcomed 724 freshmen with an average ACT score of 30. TU’s diverse student population is attracted not only by the university’s highly regarded academic reputation, but also its 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

TU has been internationally recognized for its energy programs for more than 50 years. Today, that reputation extends to areas such as cyber security, finance, psychology and Native American law. In 2015, TU pened the Oxley

College of Health Sciences, which brings together nursing, kinesiology & rehabilitative sciences and communication sciences & disorders.

Global education is an important component of the TU experience, and all students are encouraged to study abroad at least one semester. The opportunity to embrace new cultures also can be found on campus where about 1,200 international students from more than 70 countries call TU home. TU’s dedicated community engagement program, True Blue Neighbors, allows students, faculty and staff to participate in civic service projects and maintain a steady presence in local schools and neighborhoods. Much more than a prestigious university, the TU family is deeply engrained in the Tulsa community.

Student Population: 4,671 Highest Degree: Doctorate Mascot: Golden Hurricane Follow TU on Facebook at @utulsa.edu and on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat at @utulsa

TU is a private university dedicated to knowledge, research and community.

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ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY

Student Population: 3,852

Tulsa, Oklahoma • (918) 495-6518 • oru.edu

Highest Degree: Doctorate Mascot: Golden Eagles

“Make No Little Plans Here” For 50 years, this powerful challenge has inspired more than 40,000 ORU alumni to take God’s healing power to 145 nations around the globe permeating every part of society — business, education, medicine, politics, media, science, engineering, ministry and much more.

Follow ORU on Instagram & Twitter at @OralRobertsU or like us on Facebook!

through an ORU education.

As a world-renowned Christian university, ORU focuses on building Spirit-empowered leaders through its unmatched Whole Person approach to education — transforming students academically, physically and spiritually to equip them for success in every area of life.

Not Just a Bible School Although ORU houses one of the world’s most well regarded colleges for theology and ministry, it’s a liberal arts university with programs spanning every interest and stage of learning: • Six unique colleges with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs • 135+ undergraduate majors and minors • 12 master’s programs • Two doctoral programs • 100% online bachelor’s, graduate, diploma and certificate programs • On-campus and online dual-enrollment programs for high school students

Value and Affordability For back-to-back years, ORU has remained a distinguished institution in the Tulsa area, the U.S. and around the world. It’s listed as a: • “2016 Best Regional University” by U.S. News and World Report • “2016 Best Colleges: Region by Region” by Princeton Review In addition, ORU’s Whole Person Education is more affordable than many think. With recently increased academic and legacy scholarships, as well as the premier Quest Whole Person Scholarship, ORU students are awarded the support they need to reach their dreams

According to research compiled with data from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems (IPEDS), 87% of ORU students benefited from financial assistance compared to 62% at the University of Oklahoma and 54% at the University of Texas. ORU students receive $6,391 more aid on average than OU and $8,061 more than UT per academic year.

Dynamic Student Experience One of the distinctions you can expect when studying at ORU is the vibrant student and community experience that exists in and out of the classroom. ORU’s positive culture is experienced through: • Individual attention and mentoring from Christ-centered professors • Personable 16:1 student-to-teacher class sizes • Bi-weekly chapel services fused with powerful student-led worship, life-changing messages and multi-media packed experiences • Student-led campus and “wing” events • Competitive intramural sports • Leadership development opportunities • 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams • 35+ academic and co-curricular clubs • A diverse student community from every U.S. state and 88 nations • International opportunities for mission and study abroad trips

Become an ORU V.I.P. Discover more about the university in your own backyard. Join ORU’s V.I.P. Communications list to get a free magnet and access to the latest information about scholarships, programs and visit opportunities.

Join today at oru.edu/freemagnet

ORU students come from all four corners of the United States and 88 nations around the world.

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Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma • (800) 234-6868 • ou.edu Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degreegranting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation.

The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa.

OU enrolls more that 30,000 students, has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members, has 21 colleges, offering 155 majors at the baccalaureate level, 128 majors at the master level, 65 majors at the doctoral level, 32 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 36 graduate certificates.

OU is a pacesetter in American public higher education. OU is the only public university in U.S. history to ever rank No. 1 among both public and private universities in the number of freshman National Merit Scholars enrolled.

Student Population: 30,000+ Highest Degree: Doctorate Mascot: Sooner Schooner

This year, OU has achieved an all-time record freshman-tosophomore retention rate of 90 percent, ranking OU among the top universities in the nation. OU is one of only 34 public institutions in the nation currently reporting retention rates of 90 percent or higher.

Follow OU on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube.

OU – The state’s largest university and home to its top scholars

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OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY Stillwater, Oklahoma • (405) 744-5358 • admissions.okstate.edu

Why OSU? Students visiting Oklahoma State University instantly feel at home the first time they step on campus. The OSU campus has a family-like environment with welcoming faculty, helpful staff and encouraging upperclassmen.

As a land-grant institution with an energetic atmosphere, OSU continues to grow in many ways.

From record undergraduate enrollment to historic levels of giving to help students succeed and new state-ofthe-art buildings on campus, OSU proves it is the place to be!

Student Population: 25,806 Highest Degree: Doctorate Mascot: Cowboys Follow OSU on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat. Find us at @BeAnOSUCowboy

College is an investment and students at OSU get a quality education for the best price. As the best value in the Big 12, OSU is committed to helping you make college affordable.

Academic Opportunities With six academic colleges and more than 200 degree programs, OSU will help you discover your area of interest. With aviation to zoology available — and everything in between — students will find a major that fuels their passions and leads to a rewarding career.

Great Value

At OSU, students can challenge themselves with a rigorous academic plan through The Honors College.

This program provides smaller, discussion-based classes with students who have similar academic interests.

A high-quality education at OSU is more affordable than many students think. OSU awards more than $333 million in scholarships, grants and financial aid each year. Our students know their financial future will always be a priority at OSU.

Students interested in hands-on research projects have a unique opportunity at OSU. With the Freshman Research Scholar program — a program offered at few campuses around the country — you can participate in undergraduate research alongside a faculty member in

any area of study as early as your freshman year.

Get Involved Your college education doesn’t just include academics.

OSU provides students with an opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves and to make a change in their community.

More than 500 different campus organizations offer opportunities for you to be involved, learn leadership skills and connect with other students who have similar hobbies and interests.

Come experience OSU for yourself!

Schedule your campus visit at admissions. okstate.edu to see all OSU has to offer you.

Looking for scholarships? Visit admissions.okstate.edu/apply to get started on the application.

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ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY Claremore, Bartlesville and Pryor, Oklahoma • (800) 256-7511 • rsu.edu A dynamic, progressive university with nearly 4,000 students, Rogers State is recognized for its high-quality academic programs, distance learning options and high-technology learning environment.

RSU operates physical campuses in Claremore, Bartlesville and Pryor, along with a nationally recognized online program. RSU also is the only public four-year university in the Tulsa area with on-campus student housing. RSU offers bachelor’s and associate degree programs in Oklahoma’s top 10 fastest growing industries. This includes traditional programs such as communications, humanities, business administration, criminal administration, and nursing, as well as emerging fields such as game development and environmental conservation.

The university has introduced its first graduate degree program, a master of business administration that benefits from the university’s signature strengths in the accounting, entrepreneurship, management and sport management disciplines.

Locations: Claremore, Bartlesville and Pryor Many students from northeast Oklahoma who plan to attend Student Population: medical school complete their 3,925 undergraduate studies through Highest Degree: RSU’s program in medical/ Master’s molecular biology. RSU’s nursing Mascot: Hillcats program produces students who Follow RSU on Facebook, consistently score better than the Twitter, Instagram. state and national averages on the @RogersStateU RN licensure exam.

Students work closely with faculty members, many of whom hold doctoral degrees or the highest degrees available in their fields from esteemed institutions across the nation. RSU attracts high-achieving students through its rigorous Honors Program and the President’s Leadership Class (PLC) is a four-year scholarship program for students who have demonstrated leadership abilities.

RSU offers international study-at-large programs to provide students with opportunities to see the world, learn about other cultures and enrich their educational experience.

RSU competes as a member of NCAA Division II in the Heartland Conference in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, and track and field, as well as competitive cheer and dance.

For five consecutive years, U.S. News and World Report’s Best College survey has recognized RSU among the region’s top schools for lowest student debt upon graduation. The report noted that almost half of RSU’s 2015 graduating class earned their diplomas without student debt thanks to RSU’s affordable tuition combined with public and private student aid packages.

RSU is the Tulsa metro area’s only public university with on-campus housing.

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OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • (405) 208-5050 • okcu.edu

environment of personalized instruction and Oklahoma City University is a private liberal arts and collaboration. sciences university with top-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs, Outstanding Programs – From the accomplished and engaged faculty, successful sciences to the stage, academic graduates and strong connections to the programs garner national acclaim. business, healthcare and arts communities.

In the Petree College of Arts Student Population: 2,860 The OCU Difference – Oklahoma City and Sciences, more than University is affiliated with the United 85% of science students who Highest Degree: Methodist Church and embraces a Doctorate apply are accepted to medical, tradition of scholarship and service. dental, pharmacy, and Mascot: Founded in 1904 and located in the biomedical research schools.

Stars heart of one of the fastest-growing U.S. Twitter: cities, OCU offers a creative, rigorous Accredited by AACSB, the @OKCU environment in a lively urban setting where Meinders School of Business is students from across the globe pursue their recognized in the top 4.5 percent of passions in the performing arts, sciences, business schools worldwide. The business, nursing, law, religion and athletics. Professors, school provides problem-solving and not graduate assistants, teach all classes at OCU. engaging learning experiences for students focused A student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 fosters an on leadership, business and effective management practices with students participating in internships and research projects with faculty.

Courses are taught in an interactive environment

by Ph.D. faculty along with CEOs and business professionals to provide real-world experience for students.

The Kramer School of Nursing features no-waiting-list programs for beginning undergraduates, a second bachelor’s degree in nursing, bachelor’s completion for RNs, master’s in leadership and

education, and Ph.D. degrees. The school also features a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) completion program and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, one of only two BSN-to-DNP programs in the state. The Physician Assistant program at OCU is designed to deliver a high-caliber basic and clinical science curriculum and provide a wealth of hands-on experience through clinical rotations. The PA program will also focus on training within the community primary care practices, providing charitable care through central Oklahoma City fostering a holistic approach to healing. The program is completed in just 28 months.

OCU’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment is ranked among the top 10 in the country, and pioneered tap, jazz and music theater dance in higher education. Alumni can be found on Broadway and around the world.

The Wanda L. Bass School of Music is an all-Steinway piano school boasting star-studded alumni performing around the globe, including Tony Award winners Kristin Chenoweth and Kelli O’Hara. OCU also has one of the fastest-growing theatre schools in the country, putting on more productions than any other undergraduate program in the United States.

The OCU Stars compete in 21 varsity sports in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and have won 62 national championships.

OCU is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and embraces a tradition of scholarship and service.

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NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Tahlequah-Muskogee-Broken Arrow, Oklahoma • (800) 722-9614 • Go2NSU.com

At Northeastern State University, your success is our mission. NSU is one institution with three campuses and a robust online presence. The common thread is a tireless dedication to serving each student individually, meeting their needs and exceeding their expectations from first contact to graduation, career placement and beyond.

We are determined that our students will be successful, no matter their background, offering strong academics focused on career readiness, hands-on learning experiences ranging from robotics to reading labs and third-lowest tuition of any university in Oklahoma. In 2015, NSU awarded almost $73 million of financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, part-time work, tuition waivers and education loans.

Our highly credentialed professors and our team of advisors and counselors are Locations: focused on and Tahlequah, Muskogee, committed to Broken Arrow and Online student success.

NSU offers a Student Population: 8,251 wide variety of options Highest Degree: Doctorate for students, Mascot: RiverHawks where they can select from Follow NSU on Facebook, 58 exceptional Twitter and Instagram. Find undergraduate us at @NSURiverHawks. and 25 graduate degree programs, along with the professional doctor of optometry degree.

Classes are offered on the home campus of Tahlequah, as well as Broken Arrow and Muskogee. We are a comprehensive regional university and the fourthlargest public four-year institution of higher learning in Oklahoma.

NSU is one of only 22 colleges of optometry in the United States. It is the top university for American Indian baccalaureate graduates and prepares more American Indian educators than any other school in the world. NSU

is a regional leader in healthcare education and prepares more educators than anyone in Oklahoma. Northeastern is the frontrunner in campus public safety offering an opt-in free GPS savvy security smart phone app and offers seamless transition from two-year to four-year degree through Smart Choice.

Your Success Starts Here.

The Tahlequah campus, nestled at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, is a blend of old and new, where rich history meets modern technology. Here, classes are small, people are friendly and supportive, and new students feel at home. There are more than 100 student organizations, 10 NCAA athletic teams and plenty of on-campus and nearby activities.

Focusing on Healthcare Degrees.

Muskogee’s modern campus serves upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, offering programs in nursing, occupational therapy and physician’s assistant (expected to begin in 2017), as well as education, business, general studies, industrial management and other disciplines. Classes in Muskogee are geared toward working adults pursuing their degrees on a part-time basis, with evening and online class schedules.

Finishing Your Degree is Closer Than You Think.

Broken Arrow’s state-of-the-art campus serves mostly upper division and graduate students with 36 undergraduate and 17 graduate programs. Class schedules are designed to maximize a student’s time on campus by offering the chance to attend one or two nights a week. Seminar and workshop courses are offered on weekends, and students can take courses online and via ITV technology.

NSU was founded in 1845 as the Cherokee National Female Seminary, and on March 6, 1909, the Oklahoma legislature purchased the seminary from the Cherokee Nation. In September that same year, classes began at the Northeastern State Normal School. Seminary Hall still stands as the historical centerpiece of campus where classes are held daily. For decades, NSU has played a key role in the area’s history and development.

Enroll today at Go2NSU. com and picture yourself as an NSU graduate.

NSU was founded in 1845 as the Cherokee National Female Seminary and is now the state’s fourth-largest university.

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OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY Shawnee, Oklahoma • (800) 654-3285 • okbu.edu

At Oklahoma Baptist University, we want to help you find your place, both on our campus and in your life, calling, and career. We will prepare you to think critically about worldviews, values and truth to discover God’s plan for your life and your place in the world.

Engage a diverse world

As you find your place at OBU, you will find abundant opportunities to serve others, whether on campus, around the community or on the other side of the world. You will find community at OBU through service projects and worship experiences. You will be encouraged by a network of mentors among our Pursue academic faculty, staff and upperclassmen. This focus on excellence service and personal growth has led OBU to OBU has a reputation be a national leader among Baptist colleges Student Population: for strong academic and universities in the number of graduates 2,073 programs, with a working in international service or missions Highest Degree: liberal arts curriculum vocations.

Master’s connecting different fields of study for Mascot: Bison Live worthy a well-rounded On our campus, known as Bison Hill, you will Twitter: @obunews education. At OBU, our not be alone as you find your place. Most OBU faculty members are more students live on campus, and connecting your God than professors. They are given talents with classroom training occurs best in the visionaries helping you imagine context of family and friends. Our students participate who and what you might become. With a studentin a wide range of activities throughout the year, to-faculty ratio of 15:1, OBU offers a climate where students can ask questions and find answers.

including a strong intramural sports program, club sports, student talent shows, concerts and Bible studies.

OBU also competes nationally in 21 NCAA Division II varsity sports.

Find Your Place You are unique, and God is calling you to a unique future. Join us on Bison Hill, and find your place at OBU.

Such a personal approach has produced outstanding results, and that success has led to national recognition.

For 25 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked OBU as one of the top 10 best regional colleges in the western United States. The Princeton Review named OBU as a “Best in the West” college for 2017, and Forbes.com has repeatedly listed OBU as one of Oklahoma’s highest ranked universities.

Integrate faith OBU academics integrate faith into all fields. You’ll experience a Christian worldview in business classes just as you will in religion classes. Faculty and students actively discuss their faith on a college campus that is truly Christ-centered. OBU is committed to providing students with an interdisciplinary approach to education. All OBU degree programs feature a common core of classes designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge.

Three members of OBU’s inaugural class in 1911 later became U.S. senators, including Robert S. Kerr.

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OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Bartlesville and Tulsa, Oklahoma • (918) 335-6219 • okwu.edu

The Career Path You Can Afford

The OKWU Mission

Christian

university of The As an evangelical Wesleyan Church, Oklahoma Wesleyan University models a way of thought, a way of life, and a way of faith.

At OKWU we boldly pursue ideas that are tested by time, defended by reason, validated by experience and confirmed

by Scripture. All truth is God’s truth – immutable, permanent and enduring. It is our job to help you find this truth and embrace it as a guide for faith, for relationships, for careers, for marriage and for all of life. okwu.edu/about

OKWU offers many scholarships and grants, including merit scholarships, talent awards, athletic scholarships and need-based grants.

In addition, Oklahoma Wesleyan decided to be proactive in finding ways to help its students gain a top quality education and graduate without feeling overburdened by college

Undergraduate and Graduate programs

okwu.edu/pursue

OKWU offers over 60 different degree programs and 26 different minors, along with a variety of pre-professional programs, including pre-med, pre-law and graduate programs in business, nursing, education and theology okwu.edu/residential. The University also offers Online degree programs okwu.edu/online and Adult evening classes in concentrated, once-a-week formats. okwu. edu/adult Student Population: 1,702 Highest Degree: Master Mascot: Eagles

Nationally Top Ranked Faculty OKWU provides its students with

top tier

professors. They have been listed on Twitter: @OKWUniv CBS Money Watch’s Best Professors list, with the OKWU faculty being ranked No. 1 in the nation for four of the past five years. Oklahoma Wesleyan’s faculty are standouts in both their teaching and genuine care for their students.

PURSUE

loans. is offered to incoming Ministry and Education majors as a loan repayment assistance program that few universities are able to offer.

Excellence in Education Oklahoma Wesleyan is recognized as a Best Regional College by U.S. News & World Report and has received multiple accolades from Colleges of Distinction, CBN News and PBS TV. OKWU is fully accredited

by NCATE, CCNE, IACBE, and NCA. Home to the Chesapeake Energy School of Business, The Keating Center for Capitalism, Free Enterprise and Constitutional Liberty, along with the Josh McDowell Institute for Christian Apologetics, students find themselves

Campus Life OKWU understands that supplying opportunities outside of the classroom is key to the full college experience. Students can participate on one of our NAIA sports teams, academic leadership clubs, ministry team opportunities, and more as part of a diverse student body. Students are also encouraged to participate in internships and study-abroad programs when possible.

challenged by some of the top thinkers in their areas of study.

Oklahoma Wesleyan has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Top Tier Regional Best for 14 years.

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ST. GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY Tulsa & Shawnee, Oklahoma • 844-BE EXTRA • stgregorys.edu Strengthened by tradition.

Committed to your future.

A university that cares about the education you receive, as well as the type of person you become — this is St. Gregory’s University.

At St. Gregory’s, we believe what you do can make you successful, but how you do it can make you

extraordinary

. We are Oklahoma’s only Catholic university, and for more than a century, we have offered a well-rounded, liberal arts curriculum based in the Benedictine tradition of educating the whole person — mind, body and spirit.

on both our Tulsa campus and Shawnee campus, are designed for the adult who wants to further his or her education while maintaining the responsibilities of work and/or family. We offer associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees with classes offered in a flexible format that allows you to choose the Student Population: 702 schedule that works for you.

Highest Degree: Master’s Our Tulsa Campus was Mascot: recently honored by the Tulsa Cavaliers World as one of the “Best in Twitter: the World” for Adult Education. @StGregorysUniv

At St. Gregory’s, every student matters and we welcome students of all faiths. We are proud of our 12:1 student to teacher ratio, which allows our

personal

attention to each faculty to give student. Your professors will know your name and help guide you through your college journey, whether you are a first-time student or returning to complete your degree.

Our Adult Degree Programs, which are available

best

St. Gregory’s has also partnered with Oklahoma’s four Oklahoma Catholic health systems to

Nursing

program launch a Catholic and RN to BSN Degree Completion program. The curriculum has an ethical focus and is based in Catholic theology and social teaching.

Graduates are well prepared to provide holistic care by treating the whole person — spiritually, emotionally and mentally — as well as physically. RN to BSN classes

are offered now in the Tulsa, Shawnee and Oklahoma City area.

For over a century, we have been helping students

purpose

. Let prepare for lives of meaning and us stand with you as you discover the person you are meant to be.

For more information about our Traditional and Accelerated degree programs, visit www.stgregorys. edu, call us at 1-844-BE EXTRA or send an email to admissions@stgregorys.edu.We look forward to helping you take the next step to extraordinary.

St. Gregory’s is the only Catholic university in Oklahoma.

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BACONE COLLEGE Muskogee, Oklahoma • (888) 682-5514 • bacone.edu

Founded in 1880, Bacone College is the oldest institution of higher education in Oklahoma. It is also quite possibly the state’s best-kept secret. On a hillside near the banks of the Arkansas River in Muskogee, Bacone College has been providing quality education for over 135 years.

What began as a small liberal arts college long before statehood has grown into a thriving private institution of higher learning with , our online education program, is lexible enough to excellence in programs such as health science, business and media communications. We are proud to be the most affordable private college in the state of Oklahoma.

Student Population: 954 Highest Degree: Bachelor’s Mascot: Warriors Twitter: @baconecollege

iBacone, our online education program, is lexible enough to accommodate anyone’s busy schedule. iBacone gives all students, We know that today’s students need lexibility and support to forward regardless of their obligations to work, family and home, the opportunity to take their education and ultimately their career to the , our online education program, is lexible enough to next level.

We know that today’s students need lexibility and support to forward their education as quickly and comprehensively as possible to compete in a global economy.

We know that today’s students need lexibility and support to Enrolling is easy.

Go to bacone.edu to learn more about our degrees, schedule a tour or enroll. We have what you are looking for, and it’s just a click away.

Bacone began in 1880 as a missionary outreach by the American Baptist Church to American Indians.

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UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & ARTS OF OKLAHOMA Chickasha, Oklahoma • 800-933-8726 • usao.edu The world is complex, and the challenges National Distinctions facing this generation reflect that complexity.

USAO’s unusual status and performance Isn’t it time for an educational approach that does as a public institution has attracted extensive as well? The University of Science and Arts of independent and unsolicited recognition from Oklahoma’s interdisciplinary core curriculum is not multiple national observers of higher education. just a bundle of general education requirements Together, they praise the value of the school’s with a fancy name. USAO’s Interdisciplinary Studies combination of academic quality, accessibility and affordability, and its record of especially enhancing (IDS) program is a carefully designed sequence the social, economic and financial prospects of its of courses that incorporates many academic graduates. traditions while building connections between them. These classes are generally teamUSAO is the only university in taught by two or more professors Oklahoma to receive an “A” grade from different disciplines. The IDS Student Population: from the national What Will They program is the spine that has 850 Learn? initiative for superior held USAO’s liberal arts mission Highest Degree: curriculum. The Washington, upright for 50 years.

Bachelor’s D.C., education think tank Mascot: USAO’s Mission: USAO is American Council of Trustees Drovers the state’s only public liberal and Alumni (ACTA) surveyed arts college. Its mission is more than 1,000 colleges Find us on Facebook at UniversityofScienceandArts to provide the public with and universities nationwide and on Twitter a distinctive and accessible to see if they require graduates @usaodrovers science and arts education. In to complete seven course curriculum courses. USAO received combining an interdisciplinary core its “A” grade for requiring at least six curriculum with superior instruction in of the seven subjects deemed essential to major fields of study, USAO aims to provide a liberal arts education: composition, literature, a thorough education that prepares students for intermediate level foreign language, American meaningful, purposeful lives. government/history, economics, math USAO graduates are living proof that the liberal and science. arts model will enable students to learn, exercise Other recent accolades received include: critical thinking and communicate. Within one year • Washington Monthly ranked USAO 11th, the of graduation, a higher percentage of graduates highest ranked school in Oklahoma, on its 2017 from USAO are employed than from any other list of the 100 Best Bang for the Buck colleges and university in Oklahoma. Regardless of a student’s path, the skills gained at USAO are time-tested and universities among southern states and in the top 25 percent of all schools nationally. designed to last. This is why USAO is recognized by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni • Washington Monthly also ranked USAO in the as one of only 23 universities nationwide meeting top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges nationwide; one of the highest standards in requiring every student to only four public institutions included. have a solid foundation in math, science, literature, • Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine listed history and other core subjects.

USAO on its 2015-16 national list of the “25 Best College Values Under $30,000 a Year.”

School Location • A web-based national resource, Chickasha, Oklahoma — within 35 minutes thebestschools.org, ranks USAO eighth in the of urban shopping and entertainment in three nation for quality and affordability. directions.

USAO ‘s mascot is the Drovers, named after the rich heritage of cattle driving in the Chickasha area.

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Survival Tips for Visiting Prospective Colleges It’s best to go when school is in session. We’d already decided to visit the North Carolina shore last summer with our 17-year-old daughter, so we tacked on a detour of four or so hours to visit several schools. Nearly side by side are ierce collegiate rivals the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with undergraduate numbers running above 18,000 students, and Duke University, a smaller place boasting under 7,000 undergrads. We went on excellent tours stafed by peppy students, but we realized this out of the gate: There’s something intangible, a vibe, that you miss when the kids are not in attendance. Still, the girl visited two beautiful campuses and igured out her comfort zone in terms of school size.

Tip No. 1:

You can now schedule campus tours with the click of a mouse. A lot of schools encourage this, ofering this service on their websites. Some even provide helpful information regarding where to park and where to stay. Even if you opt to just wander around campus without help, stop by the Admissions Oice. Introduce yourself and sign in. (Admissions folks have told me that visiting their campus constitutes showing interest in the school, so signing in creates a record of that interest. That’s a positive in their book.) Ask questions. If nothing else, the folks in the oice can give you a handy campus map. Eat in a dining hall if you can. And for Pete’s sake, take notes, or at least jot trip info soon after your visit. After a while, you’ll ind that the tour spiels run together.

Tip No. 2:

Plan at least one fun outing that appeals to those folks who are along for the ride. When visiting Atlanta this summer to check out a school, we made certain to catch a Braves game (for the husband), the home of Martin Luther King Jr. (for me), and World of Coca-Cola (for the prospective college student’s little brother).

We accomplished this all in one weekend. This also helps you get better acquainted with the sort of neighborhood the school is in — urban, suburban, cow pasture, and so on. If your selected school is in a small town with few things to do, this may make the trip boring for the family — but potentially telling if the student inds herself uninspired by said locale. Academia is a place for learning, it’s true. But no college is an island.

Tip No. 3:

Trying to decide where to go to college? That calls for a family road trip!

Some schools ofer overnight visits for prospective students. This is a great way to obtain irst-hand knowledge of the campus by attending classes, eating in dining halls and experiencing the ambiance of the place. We let our daughter hop on Amtrak solo and visit a friend who attends the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Do I know this friend? No. Was I certain my kid would have someone meeting her at the train once she arrived in Virginia? Not entirely. Was I certain someone would help her get to the train station on time to catch the train home? Negative. I do know my daughter, though. She has learned how to travel over the years. More to the point, she has turned into an incredibly responsible person and an excellent judge of character.

Tip No. 4:

Your years of planning travel with your prospective student are waning. By this time, you’ve hopefully given her a lot of important navigational tools already. She’s growing up and starting her adult life. My daughter survived her independent trek to Virginia and adored her time at William and Mary, free of parents and little brother. She had no problems negotiating her own travel. Now, she wants to stay with a friend at Tufts University — in Massachusetts. She wants to visit a friend at Tulane University — in New Orleans. Et cetera, et cetera. I guess I’d better start getting used to this.

Tip No. 5:

– Compiled by Sheryl Stein, Special to The Washington Post

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 27

Advice for Mom and Dad from a college president:

It’s time to ground your ‘helicopter’; Let your child ly on his or her own The moment is here, long awaited with both dread and excitement — your baby is heading of to college. Your child is going out into the world without you, and there’s so much you’ve done to ensure that they’ve made it this far. It’s natural to want to hover and stick close by to continue to make sure they’re okay, but I urge you to take a step back and allow them to experience college on their own terms.

As a college president, I’ve had one too many phone calls from “helicopter” parents trying to solve a problem on behalf of their student. And while these parents may have their children’s best interest in mind, calling the president of your child’s college does not help to resolve roommate conlicts or address classroom issues that would best be handled directly between your student and the professor. If anything, your involvement blows situations out of proportion and leaves your child seemingly helpless.

We start helicoptering out of a necessity to ensure the safety of our children. Babies and toddlers need close supervision to ensure their physical safety from choking hazards, skinned knees and busy roads. Even as they continue to grow, we want to keep them from harm like bullies and negative peer pressure.

As parents, we should slowly ease up on our hovering to allow our growing children to become more sure-footed and conident. Then we must gradually push them to become independent and to take on more responsibility, trusting them to navigate more deftly on their own.

But sometimes, we don’t.

We hover and problem-solve, which is stunting for our students. In fact, studies have increasingly shown correlations

between our helicoptering and a decline in the mental well-being of our children and an increase in their neediness. Our kids become too reliant on us, fearful of trying new things or trying to overcome challenges. And we can damage their self-esteem by suggesting they can’t do it without our help.

By the time college rolls around, your child needs to take charge of his or her own opportunities and challenges. Whether you’ve built in gradual release of responsibility or you’ll be setting down the chopper cold turkey, think of college as an opportunity to step back and get a better view of the big picture for both you and your child.

Many students arrive on our campuses with stellar GPAs and rankings at the top of their graduating class, but collegiate coursework requires a diferent level of engagement and is often more rigorous. Parents must allow their children to adjust their studying habits to meet the increased rigor, work for grades they deserve and ind their own voices should self-advocacy be necessary. This means parents should not call the professor if their child receives less than an A on an assignment, not petition a inal grade with the dean or president, and not supersede their child’s choice of courses or professors. As an ultimate example, I know of a mother who wanted to complete her daughter’s internship for her because she felt her daughter was too stressed out. That mother should have instead talked to her daughter about time management and reviewed if she, herself, was adding to her child’s pressure.

Certainly, there are still some potential risks and obstacles that your child will encounter beyond academic challenges — new living arrangements, choices about inances, sexual health and selfcare — but hopefully, at this point, they have had enough experience with your guidance and not interference to make safe and responsible decisions on their own.

And perhaps we need to reframe how we think of failure — especially in an environment that allows for second chances. Failure is not always a danger, but in fact an opportunity to relect and grow. If your child does something unsuccessfully or perhaps makes a poor judgment, let them experience the consequences and the self-relection.

Take, for instance, the student who, after failing to make the inal cut on the baseball team, called his father and asked him to drive up and speak to the

coach. The father wouldn’t do it, and instead urged his son to speak to the coach and also suggested that his son work with the coach on a itness program that might better prepare him for the next tryouts. The young man did just that. He showed up and observed every game and worked out with the team. And the following year, he did make the team.

Certainly, you can — and should — still be in touch with your child regularly.

But respect their new freedom and any boundaries they may want to set. Try not to step in for little things and build toward not stepping in for big things.

The transition to college is your chance to encourage safe risk-taking and selfadvocacy. Instead of being a helicopter, be a sounding board and allow them to have an authentic college experience.

They’ve earned it.

– Jonathan Gibraltar, president of Wells College (This irst appeared in The Washington Post)

28 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016

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