Rogers State University was among 21 institutions throughout the state recently recognized for their innovative partnerships with community businesses through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Economic Development Grant for the Partnership Recognition Program.
The program 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.
Institutions involved in these partnerships provide $500 for tuition waivers to employees of the partnering businesses, internships for current students of the institutions to work at the partnering businesses, faculty externships with the partnering businesses, and/or enhancement of the partnership with additional equipment, materials or supplies. The State Regents provide a $500 match to the waivers.
“These partnerships are important for higher education in allowing colleges and universities to work hand-in-hand with businesses to provide highly qualified graduates to meet the needs of the workforce,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “For businesses, the partnerships are equally important in providing the ability to stay on the leading edge of education and training for their employees.”
The RSU – GRDA partnership has promoted economic development through its support of educational opportunities that have enhanced skills of graduates from RSU. GRDA has been a frequent contributor to the scholarship fund, enabling many first-generation college students to attend RSU. These donations also provided competitive academic scholarships to attract high-quality students to campus.
In addition, GRDA offers internships to RSU students in business and environmental conservation degree programs, providing them with unique learning experiences in a real-world corporate environment. GRDA also supports the latest technology through donations to academic and athletic programs, purchasing smart boards for classrooms at RSU-Pryor and providing funding for a baseball scoreboard and athletic sponsorships.
More details about the partnerships will be available soon on the State Regents’ web site.