Rogers State University President Dr. Larry Rice and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College President Jeff Hale today signed an agreement between the two institutions that allows students to transfer RSU credits towards the completion of an NEO associate degree.
The reverse transfer agreement allows students who have transferred from NEO to RSU before completing their associate’s degree to transfer hours they earned later at RSU back to NEO so they can earn their associate degree.
“A community college education is an important step toward a fulfilling life and career. At NEO, we have always encouraged our students to complete their associate’s degree while working toward a bachelor’s degree, and this reverse transfer agreement will allow them to do just that,” Hale said. “Gov. Fallin, Chancellor Johnson and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have challenged Oklahoma’s colleges and universities to produce more college graduates. Through the cooperation of President Rice and Rogers State University, NEO A&M College will be able to award more college degrees as a result of the reverse transfer agreement signed today by both schools.”
NEO A&M College has similar agreements with other colleges in Oklahoma and Kansas.
“Both NEO and RSU share a commitment to increase the number of Oklahomans who hold college degrees,” Rice said. “Through this reverse transfer agreement, we will help students get the maximum value for the college credit they have earned and, most importantly, assist them in the successful completion of their degree programs.”
Thursday’s signing at the NEO campus in Miami is an extension of the partnerships that already exist between the two schools.
“In 2010, NEO and RSU entered into the UConnect partnership to establish a seamless transition to a bachelor’s degree at RSU. The reverse transfer agreement we are signing today strengthens our efforts to help students complete an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree through NEO and RSU,” Hale said.
RSU officials attending the event were Dr. Richard Beck, vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Frank Elwell, dean of the School of Liberal Arts; Dr. Bruce Garrison, dean of the School of Business and Technology; and Dr. Keith Martin, dean of the School of Mathematics, Science and Health Sciences.