Kiwanis Club of Alva hosted Dr. Janet Cunningham on Wednesday, April 17. Cunningham began by praising Northwestern's value in higher education. Namely, half of Northwestern Oklahoma State University's (NWOSU) students graduate with zero school debt, total cost of attendance is among the lowest in the region, and NWOSU has four nationally accredited programs (nursing, education, business and social work).
Enrollment for the freshman class was up 7.5 percent, although overall headcount was down in the fall; however, this decrease was traced most specifically to concurrent enrollment students. There has been a major decrease in international students, but this is not specific to NWOSU; international student enrollment is down statewide and nationwide. Overall, spring enrollment was only down a fraction of a percent.
Enrollment and Recruitment
In Oklahoma, there has been decreased higher education enrollment – maybe due to budget cuts over the years, though there are many other contributing factors. In the fall, all but two of the 25 public state higher education institutions were down in terms enrollment.
Recent recruitment events have been well attended. Ranger Preview was in November and Spring Showcase was in February. Much of today's recruiting occurs through digital venues (social media). It's all about reaching the students where they are, Cunningham said.
The President's Leadership Class (PLC) enrolled, and then last Wednesday was Freshman Connection. With those two freshman groups, NWOSU is up from last year's early enrollment. Also notably, the PLC students' ACT scores are, on average, 27.5 with a couple students possessing the perfect 32 score.
Academics
NWOSU signed an articulation agreement with Oklahoma State University (OSU) Health Sciences in Tulsa. This agreement is called a three plus one, wherein NWOSU students on the health science/medical path are guaranteed an interview with the OSU selection committee. If accepted, students complete three years at NWOSU then transfer to the OSU College of Medicine for the fourth year of study. Upon completion of that fourth year, it articulates back to give the student a baccalaureate degree from NWOSU and one year of medical school completed at OSU. Many current students are interested in this program, which is exciting for NWOSU and its potential students.
Additionally, the doctoral nursing program continues to draw attention to NWOSU. The second Doctor of Nurse Practitioners (DNP) entered last fall. With the flexibility of (some) online and the choice of full time or part time, NWOSU's DNP program is a great option for so many. These students are working adults and nurses, so the rate of completion can be tailored to their needs. Of course, NWOSU's program is more of preceptor program, so it has more classes and fewer clinicals. Full-time students can complete the program in three years.
There are currently 46 students enrolled in the two classes. NWOSU is currently in the process of selecting the third class, with no shortage of applicants. Ideally, NWOSU will accept 20-25 students per class. The first year class could graduate as many as ten students next May. To clarify, there are more students enrolled in the first year class, it just depends on which path (full- or part-time) the student chose.
This doctoral nursing program is a great addition to NWOSU and to rural Oklahoma. The program mission includes an emphasis in rural health care. Upon proposal of the program to the state regents (several years ago), the emphasis on rural medicine was part of the pitch, since the need of rural healthcare is so great.
Officially, the undergraduate nursing program is called the Charles Horton Share Trust Division of Nursing and for the doctoral program, the Wisdom Family Foundation Doctoral Program in Rural Practice. The recent naming of NWOSU's nursing programs honors the Share and Wisdom families' great contributions to northwest Oklahoma, rural healthcare and NWOSU.
Fine Arts
Dr. Cunningham bragged on NWOSU's recent musical production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (1968). The production was "phenomenal," and many enjoyed the addition of the younger students (non college) in the musical.
Cunningham highlighted the young talent NWOSU has. Many of the leads in the musical were college freshmen, which is encouraging for the program's future. The goal is to do one musical a year.
Because of recent generous private giving, it has been made possible to hire another theater position. This position will be half teaching, half Herod Hall management. This staffing addition will allow NWOSU Fine Arts to continue to
improve. Dr. Kimberly Weast does a great job, said Cunningham, but sometimes there are not enough hours in the day.
"Choral groups continue to be strong," praised Cunningham. Recent concerts included the singers performing with Alva High students. Coming up, “Soundscapes IV” is on April 25.
Cunningham is also encouraged with the band. In the fall, band numbers were up and have held constant. Seth Cudd, NWOSU's newest band director, has been helping the program grow, all while finishing up his doctorate.
Visual Arts just finished up their annual art show displayed in NWOSU's library. Professor Larson has continued the Visiting Artist Program, which Cunningham thinks is such a benefit to art students as it gives the students the chance to communicate back and forth with diverse artists from other countries.
Facilities
"You need good learning spaces to have creative teaching and learning happening," Cunningham stated. There is the Darrell and Grace Wessels Literacy Center and the Early Childhood Laboratory. The literacy center allows NWOSU students to work with area elementary students on improving literacy skills. This service helps the student teacher improve teaching skills and the child to work on literacy. Dr. Jenn Oswald is in charge of the tutoring, and has even expanded into the adult literacy area. Also, two lectureships have been established to help support operation of the literacy center. The Early Childhood Center allows prospective teachers to come in and design their own classroom.
Cunningham also spoke about NWOSU's new robotics lab, the Bill and Billie Buckles Computer Science Robotics Lab, and the Buckles' endowed STEM initiative, which is supported by the Dr. Charles and Jane Tucker Computer Science Lectureship and enhances STEM opportunities on campus.
The nursing labs have new simulation equipment, and a lot of the funds for that were donated by the Dean and Esther Weimer, and the Wessels helped out there, too.
Athletics
NWOSU is finding their way in the NCAA DII as relatively new members of that league. Cunningham bragged on the coaching staff with their well-rounded focus on competitiveness and academics. The basketball team qualified for the Great American Conference tournament. The volleyball team qualified for a post-season tournament. Baseball is still in season, so little news there. Women's track is exciting, with real potential, she said. The women's track program is expecting to have 35 in the program next year (ten more than this year). More sprinters are needed!
All in all, Cunningham said NWOSU has many exciting things going on.
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