Students will be able to pursue a technical education at Northeast Technology Centers and receive credit toward a new two-year associate’s degree at Rogers State University through a cooperative agreement between the two institutions.
The cooperative agreement was approved by the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, RSU’s governing body, at its meeting on Wednesday, March 29. It had received previous approval by NETC’s Board on March 16.
The agreement will allow students to earn credit toward an Associate of Applied Science in Technology degree at RSU for technical courses taken at Northeast Technology Centers (NETC). Then students would complete additional technical courses and general education courses to earn the associate’s degree from RSU.
“This agreement will expand the educational and career advancement opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing a technical education,” said RSU President Dr. Joe Wiley.
The agreement is part of a joint initiative of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational and Technical Education.
“Both institutions are committed to providing high-quality general and technical education, sharing learning resources, and offering students an uninterrupted sequence of study to seamlessly earn a college degree,” Wiley added.
Students enrolled in the program may choose from options in Construction Management, Manufacturing Management, and Transportation Management. Students enrolled in NETC’s Electrical Technology program may choose the Construction Management option. Students enrolled in NETC’s Precision Machine Technology or Welding Technology programs may choose the Manufacturing Management option. And students enrolled in NETC’s programs in Automotive Collision Repair Technology, Automotive Service Technology, and Diesel Mechanics Technology may choose the Transportation Management option.
Pending RSU’s accreditation as a four-year institution, students who complete the Associate of Applied Science in Technology through the joint agreement may seamlessly continue their studies and pursue RSU’s proposed new Bachelor of Science in Applied Technology.
RSU offers a variety of two-year associate’s degrees on its campuses in Claremore, Bartlesville and Pryor. This summer, RSU is expected to receive accreditation as a four-year bachelor’s degree-granting university.
NETC offers 17 full-time programs for traditional and adult students, as well as short-term and industry training classes at its three campuses, located between Claremore and Pryor; in Kansas, Okla.; and near Afton, Okla. In addition, the district has training sites at the Don Crutchfield Learning Center in Claremore and at the Mid-America Industrial Park in Pryor, to provide training for business and industry.
“NETC’s mission is to provide technical education, training and support to individuals, businesses and industries in Northeast Oklahoma to enable success in the global marketplace. This agreement will allow many people to complete their goals for technical education without leaving this part of the state while at the same time providing a more highly skilled workforce for business and industry,” said Gerald “Buck” Gay, NETC superintendent.
Both the two-year and four-year applied technology degrees will be offered by RSU’s Department of Applied Technology in its School of Business and Technology.
“Students will have a truly seamless educational opportunity to pursue technical training and then complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in applied technology,” said Dr. Ray Brown, RSU Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“The curriculum of the program is designed to provide students with a quality education in technology by emphasizing a solid background and a variety of technical courses,” said Dr. Johnny Carroll, Head of RSU’s Department of Applied Technology. “Our emphasis will be on developing a generalist perspective of science and technology rather than a highly specialized short-term perspective.”
Students will gain an understanding of general business and economics, business applications of technology, and the cultural, behavioral and political aspects of business technology, Carroll said.
A total of 60 hours will be required to earn the associate’s degree, including 18 hours of general education in communications, history, government, math and the behavioral sciences; 30 hours of a technical specialty; and 12 hours of core courses including business, accounting and economics. The degree offers a variety of opportunities for students to earn college credit for approved technical training in the U.S. Navy, vocational-technical schools, or other institutions.
For more information, contact RSU at (918) 343-7777 or 1-800-256-7511, or call Northeast Technology Centers at (918) 825-5555