Rose State College News

Rose State College Faculty Honored for Academic Excellence

Several Rose State College faculty were awarded medals for academic excellence during a recent national meet.
The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, or NISOD, presented the medals at a conference in Austin, TX, May 24-27, during which some of the faculty made a presentation about the “Ticket to Rose” program, in which high school students in participating schools attend Rose State College for free.

CUTLINE:  Medal Recipients Stacie Mayes, Business Division Representative; Sally Boyster, Health Sciences Division Representative; Dr. John Wood, Social Sciences Division Representative; Dr. Adjoa Richardson Ahedor, Life Science Professor and Suzanne Thomas, Humanities Division Representative, pose at the Rose State College booth during the conference.

Ramp-up with Rose State College’s “Jumpstart”

Rose State College is enrolling now for the Summer Bridge Program, called Jumpstart.  This exciting free program is being offered this summer from June 22nd – July 30th.  The Jumpstart Program is an intensive 6 week program that will focus on Math, English and/or Reading.  Last year over 50 students tested out of 50 developmental classes. 

Classes will meet twice a week for 2 hours each day.  Extensive use of computers and academic-based software will enhance academic abilities, increase skill levels and help gain confidence in rhetoric and mathematics.  In addition to using the latest in computer assisted learning, students will also have traditional classroom experience led by full time professors and mentors.  During class, students will be given opportunities to increase their placement scores and learn necessary skills for a successful college experience.  Tutoring assistance will be available for extended hours each day, and peer tutors will be available in the classrooms. Night classes are also available.

This program is an excellent opportunity to jumpstart the college experience by increasing the student’s placement scores and thus be able to jump ahead quicker through the developmental courses.  Students can graduate earlier, thus saving time and money.

The transition to college from high school or a full-time job is challenging.  It is a totally different experience that requires commitment and a high degree of responsibility.  By taking a small part of summer to make this transition, Students will gain an edge in making the most of opportunities for lifelong success.

For more information, contact Jumpstart Summer Bridge Program Coordinator
Linda Tucker at (405)733-7450 or Nick Bastani at (405) 736-0280

Rose State Recognized as Community Partner

Mid-Del Schools recently recognized Rose State College for its community service on behalf of students and faculty in the school system.
Mid-Del Superintendent Bill Scroggan lauded Rose State College for its “Ticket to Rose” program, in which Rose State student service personnel help Mid-Del High School students and their parents apply for college financial aid, and which also allows the students to attend the college free of cost.
“Next year, we will have 321 Mid-Del kids going to Rose State College on the “Ticket to Rose” program because Rose State has worked it out to pick up all the gaps in funding so that basically, the kids can get up to 60 hours, if they are a Mid-Del graduate, for free,” Scoggan said. “Rose State College is a partner in every sense of the word.”
Receiving the “Mid-Del Community Partner Award” on behalf of the college was Rose State President Dr. Terry Britton.

Students Take Advantage of Student Success Center

     Rose State College began “Achieving the Dream,” a national initiative two years ago. The program continues to makes changes and impact students’ lives here on campus. It is the goal of “Achieving the Dream” for all students to complete their courses and earn a degree. Thus improving their lives, and ultimately benefiting the state and the nation. Rose State is focusing on four primary areas: Institutional change, policy change, public engagement and knowledge development. “This has truly been a team effort and an institutional wide effort,” said Dr. Jeanie Webb, core team leader and RSC V.P. of Student Affairs.
The Student Success Center addresses all four of those components in that many students have difficulty transitioning to a college environment and encounter difficulty balancing college studies, work and family commitments. By having students with proven academic successes serve as mentors to their peers, this helps the struggling students connect with all services the college provides. The Student Success Center serves to connect students with academic and personal support services throughout campus. These same services are offered to any Mid-Del community member.
“Students who take advantage of the Student Success Center have reported a greater sense of belonging and increased confidence in their ability to succeed,” commented Lisa Marie Kerr, director for Student Success and Retention Initiatives.
The goal of the Student Success Center is to provide students with that “extra” help they might need to be successful in college. Tammy Watts, a freshman at Rose State and one of many students that have taken advantage of the Student Success Center says, “I was feeling overwhelmed and knew I needed help. So I went to the Student Success Center and Sally Cohea and Carla Robison helped me prioritize my needs and get focused back on my studies.”
For more information, on the Student Success Center please call (405) 733-7334.

Rose State Child Care Professionals Honored

For the first time, the Rose State College’s “Scholars for Excellence in Child Care” program awarded pins to scholars for completing the program, emphasizing their professional status, said Rose State scholars coordinator Sherrill Pallotta.
Thirty-three full-time child care professionals will received the first-ever pins this year Pallotta said.
  The pinning ceremony will took place Friday, May 1, at the Rose State College Student Center, during a banquet honoring the students.
The Scholars for Excellence in Child Care program is geared toward educating child care professionals in child development or early childhood education. Among requirements for scholarships in the program are that the professional must work in a one-star-plus or above OKDHS or tribal-licensed child care facility as a teacher, family child care provider or director for at least 30 hours a week, Pallotta said.
“It’s really an accomplishment receiving their certificates of mastery, while working full-time and going to school at night,” Pallotta said. “And most of them have their own families as well.”

Rose State College Workshop: Small Business vs. Crime

Discuss with highly experienced law enforcement professionals ways to protect your small business from criminal activities.  Get tips on how to prevent business burglary and embezzlement by employees and learn problem solving techniques that can be used to defuse critical situations. 
The workshop will be offered June 18, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Rose State College Small Business Development Center located in the Training Center, 1720 Hudiburg Drive, Midwest City, OK.   Please call 405.733.7488 for more information or to register.  Cost: $30.00 per attendee.

Amelia Earhart Grant Gives Wings to Rose State Scholarships

The Amelia Earhart Society awarded money recently to the Rose State College Foundation on behalf of scholarships at the college.
Howard P. Hopwood, historian for the Oklahoma Chapter of the society, said the $ 2,000 check was for a good cause that the society—founded by employees of Boeing—believe in.
“I think it’s a worthwhile cause to provide scholarships for people who need it,” Hopwood said.
The money will be used to provide scholarships to students who carry a 3.0 or better grade point average and demonstrate need.
The Amelia Earhart Society was founded by Boeing employees to honor legendary aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, who became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. She flew into history when her plane disappeared while crossing the Pacific in the 1930s, never to be found.
 
                                                           
Cutline: Lisa Pitsiri, Executive Director Rose State College Foundation, and Rose State President Dr. Terry Britton receive a check from Howard Hopwood, historian for the Amelia Earhart Society, founded by Boeing employees to provide scholarships to college students.

Rose State Graduates Record Number of Nurses

Rose State College graduated this spring the greatest number of nurses since the program began, according to figures just released.
            A total of 73 graduates received their pins in a recent ceremony, according to program director Rebekah Ray.
            Ray said the high number of graduates is the result of a program created for Rose State College with funding from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The special funding was created three years ago in order to meet a strong need for more nurses in the state, she said.
            “The funding was there to increase the number of registered nurses in the workforce in order to meet the increased demand. The demand is still high and the need has not yet been met,” Ray said.