2016 Issue 1
Develop, Innovate, Prosper
Reach Higher Encourages Adult Students to Achieve Their Goals Reach Higher – Oklahoma’s degree completion program – offers arts or science associate degrees in enterprise development (general studies or business administration) or a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. The program is designed for working adults who have already earned at least 18 hours of college credit and want to complete an associate degree or for those who have already earned at least 72 hours of college credit and want to finish a bachelor’s degree Other requirements are that a student be at least 21 years old, have a minimum 2.0 GPA from previous college credits and have completed general education requirements as defined by the university the student plans to attend. The Reach Higher bachelor’s degree program provides on-campus and online class options, eight-week classes and five enrollment periods per year. Reach Higher graduate Val Seward said the Reach Higher program has allowed her to achieve more than she expected. “This experience for me has and will open so many doors for myself,” said Seward. “I will be a much better parent.
I will be much more able to support my son. And just to see him light up when I get my A’s, he told me last week I’m his hero…this is going to turn out to be the best thing I have ever done in my life.” Kay Byrd, Reach Higher graduate, says her degree has given her the confidence you can only receive from education. “It’s from knowledge. It’s from connections. It’s from the relationships. It’s from the steady stream of opportunities that the university provides through the testing, through class participation, through relationships with adults who are actually my age who are in those positions, “ said Byrd. “And they serve as a daily reminder of where I’m going and what I can achieve and who I can be.”
Reach Higher Quick Facts: • Free to apply. You will never be asked to provide a credit card number or other form of payment for an application fee. • Oklahoma’s flexible, affordable degree completion program. • For working adults who want to finish their college degree from a state university. • Your second chance to finish your degree - while you keep your normal routine, maintain your normal work hours and still have time for your family. As a Reach Higher student, you can choose your “home institution” from 23 participating Oklahoma public universities, community colleges, and technical branches. Find out more or enroll in Reach Higher at: reachhigheroklahoma.org
Q&A with Tony Hutchison, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education p. 3 Main Street Claremore’s Downtown Renaissance p. 5 Ferra Aerospace Holds Groundbreaking in Grove p. 6