A dedication and open house at the newly expanded Rogers State University campus in Pryor will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 6. The public is invited to attend.
The event will feature remarks by RSU President Dr. Larry Rice and other area dignitaries, recognition of contributors to the expansion project, tours of the building and refreshments. It will be held in the new commons area of the campus. Guests are encouraged to park and enter on the north side of the building.
“We are proud of the beautiful new addition to the RSU campus in Pryor and very grateful to everyone who helped make this major expansion project a reality,” said Rice. “Our mission all along has been to expand the availability of higher education in Mayes County and this new wing is a major stride toward that goal.”
The $1.3 million, 7,400-square-foot expansion project has resulted in several new classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices and a large commons area for students. The new wing is adjacent to the existing campus building located at 421 S. Elliott St. and was constructed to match the existing architecture.
Funding for the project was provided by a $750,000 state higher education bond issue and a $300,000 grant from The Oliver Dewey Mayor Foundation, in combination with $250,000 from the RSU Foundation.
An additional $100,000 from private contributions and corporate sponsorships has provided technology and furnishings for classrooms, the Student Commons area and faculty offices. Contributors include: GRDA, INTEGRIS Mayes County Medical Center, MidAmerica Industrial Park, Williams Construction Co., The Pfizer Foundation, Pryor Lions Club, Century Bank of Oklahoma, ConocoPhillips, Vargas Construction Co., RSU Foundation, Ron and Danette Boyle, John and Bobbie Cary, L. Jack and Belle S. Harris, Jim and Kay Harrison, John and Becki Hawkins of Integrated Insurance Inc., Blaine and Margaret Jones, Nash and Dana Lamb, Larry and Peggy Rice, Jack and Mary Lee Spinks, Jim and Ronnie Swank, Pryor Mayor Jimmy Tramel, Burl and Janice Trickett, Nick and Becky Vandervoort, Carlene Webber, and Merideth Yoakum.
Enrollment for the spring semester increased significantly at the Pryor campus and the expansion is largely responsible for that growth, said Sherry Alexander, director of the RSU Pryor campus. RSU is the only four-year university serving the Pryor and Mayes County area and on average more than 300 students attend the RSU campus in Pryor each semester.
Eighteen new classes were added this spring in a variety of disciplines including accounting, art, business, Cherokee language, music and theatre appreciation, Spanish and more. RSU also has extended part of its nursing program to the Pryor campus with a new course in dosage calculation.
In addition to the new building, the expansion includes additional surface parking on the east side of the building.
For more information about the RSU campus in Pryor, call (918) 825-6117.