Designed for Impact Teaching and Social Innovation
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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During a year that presented
unique challenges
to the local, national and global communities, the University of Central Oklahoma persevered in adaptability. As an active partner to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, Central is committed to providing transformative teaching and learning experiences to its students, while also advancing the quality of life for all and extending the impactful contributions of its research and professional services expertise to the greater metropolitan area.
Acting as stewards of this partnership, UCO faculty continue to build and maintain vital connections throughprojectsandinitiativeswith university’s colleges, as well as its Forensic Science Institute. By facilitating student programs, ongoing research and recurring community outreach across campus, as well as fostering innovations in learning and workforce development, Central faculty members continuously showcase their dedication to serving their students and the greater metropolitan community.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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R A N K E D
I N
Top 10
%
OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
for social mobility
119 MAJORS 80 MAJORS UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATE
M A S T E R
O F
Public Administration RECEIVED ELITE
NASPAA accreditation
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ONLY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
in Oklahoma to win
ADDY Awards AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
C E R T I F I E D
HEALTHY CAMPUS FOR THE
ninth consecutive year
TOP Public Regional
University IN THE STATE
Ranked as a Top Institution
IN OKLAHOMA FOR
Quality Education DURING COVID-19 N A M E D
A
Top 30 College FOR EXPERT RESPONSE
to the crises of 2020 R A N K E D
A S
A
Top Institution
Sources: U.S. News and World Report; Zippia; CollegeNET; Educate to Career; Great Value Colleges; Oklahoma State Department of Health; Study.com; Forensic Colleges; Great Business Schools; and, AddictionCounselor.org
NAMED ONE OF THE
25 Best Master’s in Training and Development for 2021 Forensic Science bachelor’s degree
Ranked #1 IN THE NATION
and its Forensic Biology program
Ranked #6 IN THE NATION
in the Nation
TOP PUBLIC INSTITUTION
Addictions Counseling
for getting a job post-graduation
FOR MASTER OF ARTS IN
in Oklahoma UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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College of Business
The UCO College of Business offers seven of the 10 degrees most in demand by employers, spanning accounting, economics, nance,informationsystemsandoperationsmanag management and marketing.
REAL-WORLD REAL ESTATE As the only real estate minor in the state, Central’s College of Business real estate program prepares students to sit for the state real estate exam through courses in property management, real estate investment and real estate law.
project, voting on features of the house, including paint,colors,xturesanddoors.
Broncho House project impacts Oklahoma as a whole because our minor is the only one of its kind in the state and will impact future real estate professionals “This is a great example of local industry partnering working withhighereducationtobenetthestate ofright here in Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma,” Chapman said. “The Two Structures DavidChapman,Ph.D.professor , ofnance,serves as the adviser for the UCO real estate minor. As a practiced real estate agent and a commissioner with the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission, Chapman teaches every aspect of real estate – from foundational principlesandpracticestonanceandinvestmentand leadership and property management. Chapman’s experience within the industry has fostered invaluable connections, including those that led to the program’s latest project, the Broncho House. The Broncho House is a collaboration with local homebuilder Two Structures Homes, founded by UCO alumnus Jay Evans. The house, constructed just northeast of downtown Oklahoma City, sold in January 2021, with the proceeds of the sale contributing more than $47,000 to an endowment for UCO real estate student scholarships. During the project, a Central real estate student worked as an intern for Two Structures Homes, becoming involved in every step of the process, including construction, promotion and selling the home. The community also was invited to participate in the 4
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David Chapman with real estate program students
THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS LEADERS TheCollegeofBusinessisfulllingitsmissionto prepare students to become productive, creative, ethical and engaged business leaders through its Broncho Business Leaders program, also known as 2BLeaders. The 2BLeaders program, helmed by co-Directors Holly Osburn, Ph.D., associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Management, and Jason Eliot, J.D., assistant professor of management, matches each student with a mentor to work with throughout the program. Students are selected based on their academic achievements and a drive to further their personal leadership development.
Jason Eliot and Holly Osburn with 2BLeaders students
“2BLeaders is an experiential learning program designed for students to learn as they work on real-life projects. It’s exciting to see such growth from our students. It’s truly transformational,” Osburn said.
Osburn received the Southwestern Business Deans Association’s Bobby G. Bizzell Innovative Achievement Award.
Students accepted into the class receive a $3,000 After many successful years of the program, the College tuition waiver each year, a mentor relationship of Business is expanding the program. Students now with a local business leader within the community, will commit to two years of membership. In addition personalized executive coaching, access to multiple to mentorships with local business leaders during self-assessment tests to help develop strengths, their time in the program, students now also will have opportunities to meet with local corporate executives, faculty mentors, a study abroad tour, internships and atourofacorporateofceandanenvironment to additional real-world learning projects. practice leadership through project learning. While the program is focused on further student For her work developing the 2BLeaders program,
growth, it also fosters connections for business
community leaders to experience a transformation of their own. “I always look forward to spending time with the UCO students that participate in the 2BLeaders program,” said Jim Denton, a 2BLeaders mentor and partner and wealth management adviser at Arledge and Associates, P.C., in Edmond, Oklahoma. “It enriches my life to become a resource for each of these individuals who are embarking on their careers and their journey to a successful career. My job is to help them connect with the world that lies ahead.”
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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College of Education and Professional Studies
CONNECTING GENERATIONS The UCO Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies is dedicated to promoting health and wellness in Central students, as well as within the larger community, and its Center for Active Living and Learning (CALL) connects multiple generations in the pursuitoftness.
The program offers UCO students targeted, The center is dedicated to those who are 60 years transformative learning experiences and allows of age and older, with students and faculty from them to put their research and lessons learned in thedepartmentworkingtogethertolead the classroom tness into practice within a professional classes and health education workshops. CALL aims environment. In turn, older adults within the to highlight healthy living and lifelong learning metropolitancommunityreceivetnessprogra throughoutthelifespan,specicallyfocusing and instruction. onUCOCALL also partners with community students and older adults. agencies that focus on providing services that promote aging and facilitate research on aging, activity MelissaPowers,Ph.D.oversaw , therstgrant-healthy funded and learning. iteration of the program, in which kinesiology students
Central’s College of Education and Professional Studies offers 21 undergraduate and 29 graduate programs. In addition to being home visited community centers and held classes for older toOklahomajsrstteacher preparation academy, the college boasts a variety of research opportunities, as well as various lab and clinic environments.
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adults. With the addition of co-Directors and Associate Professors Jacilyn Olson, Ph.D., and Larissa Boyd, Ph.D., the program expanded to year-round classes on Central’s campus, as well as at various locations in Cleveland, Canadian, Logan and Oklahoma counties.
Kerry Morgan, Moriah Contino, Michelle Romero, Sunshine Cowan, Avery Geist
MAKING A CASE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
Sunshine Cowan, Ph.D.’s, professor and co-coordinator provided information directly applicable to managing resources. The projects are judged by a panel of of the public health program, creativity in the vulnerablepopulations,specicallythose national experiencing health experts using criteria based on the classroom is enhanced by the connection to her homelessness, along with general daily COVID-19 competenciesrequiredofacertiedhealthedu profession and community. Practical experiences in the updates. specialist. eldmakethecoursematerialcomealiveThanks forstudents, to innovative, hands-on learning opportunities “The most rewarding part of our students winning is while also transforming the classroom and students. like this, health promotion students at Central are knowing that they received no outside assistance,”
Cowan actively seeks opportunities to promote social making their case for public health in a national setting. Cowan said. justice and health equity, which are core principles Under the guidance and mentorship of Cowan “They win on their plan and merit, and that means a ofthehealthpromotioneld,inherclasses while and Kerry Morgan, Ph.D., assistant professor and great deal to our program. We are reminded of how embracing the tenets of transformative learning at co-coordinator of the public health program, three incredible our students are and that they are being UCO. She incorporates her passions into her courses, undergraduate students majoring in public health at well-preparedfortheeld.Astheirfaculty,weare allowing students to gain practical and personal UCOtookrstplaceinthe201NationalCaseStudy proud of their work and excited about the future of experience working in diverse populations. This type Competition in Health Education regional competition public health.” of classroom setting embraces critical thinking as (NCSCHE) and will go on to compete at the national Due to the dedicated public health faculty, like Cowan, students take ownership of the process. competitioninUCO 20. studentshaveplaced rst in are well-versed and prepared to serve UCO students During the onset of the pandemic, Cowan incorporated two national competitions in 2018 and 2021. the community, conduct research, create innovative a class project to assist the metro with COVID-19 During the competition, students used research and interventions, advocate for and work with vulnerable response efforts. Collaborating with the Oklahoma public health theory to solve a community-based populations, and utilize best practices and evidenceCity Metro Shelter Directors Response Team, Central’s public health case without assistance from outside based solutions to improve the quality of life of others. publichealthstudentscreateddailybriengsthat UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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College of Fine Arts and Design
The College of Fine Arts and Design, which houses six academic departments and schools, is aimed at preparing creative individuals to become leaders, professionals and educators through transformative experiences that highlight innovation, diversity and collaboration. The college serves as a bridge connecting the university’s cultural life and the surrounding community through performances, exhibitions, working studios and outreach programs.
THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC In addition to its mission to offer a unique opportunity for students to experience a hyper-focused curriculum, the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) is equally focused on providing real-world music experience, as well as preparing its students for careers in the music industry. A key part of this experience and preparation is the presence of the ACM@UCO Business Development Center. The center is students’ connection to the music industry, in the Oklahoma City metro, within the state and across the world. Derek Brown leads the development center as its manager, using his experience as a record label professional, independent concert promoter and touring and studio musician to guide students as they begin their unique journeys within the music industry. Working alongside ACM@UCO CEO and industry veteran Scott Booker, Brown utilizes industry contacts to connect students and alumni to seasoned music professionals. Through the Business Development Center, students have received internships and entry-level positions at local performance venues, like the Criterion and the 8
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Derek Brown, Scott Booker
Tower Theater. The center’s connections reach beyond city limits, as students also have earned internships in Los Angeles, New York and London. With their invaluable industry experience, Brown and Booker work with students directly, advising and
guiding their next steps and providing foundational support for emerging student artists. By fostering the development of student artists and utilizing key partnerships, the Business Development Center is helping to shape the growing music industry within the metropolitan area.
A VOICE FOR THE UNHEARD In a project, made possible through a sponsoredregulargrantbytheUCOOfce of Research and Sponsored Programs, that reaches into the heart of Oklahoma City, Tess Remy, D.M.A., UCO professor of music, and Bryan Mitschell, sound recording engineer and director of production services at Central’s School of Music, hope to give a voice to the metro’s homeless community through “Quiet Kismet: Songs and Stories of Surviving Homelessness.” With Remy at the helm, Mitschell interviewed various members of the Oklahoma City homeless community, in partnership with local homeless advocacy programs, including The Homeless Alliance and Pivot, about their perspectives, experiences, life stories and struggles experiencing homelessness. The interviews were recorded, but not videoed, and focus on the humanity and relatable experiences of these individuals, forgoing any emphasis on their differences to society at large. Mitschell has written six pieces of music inspired by these interviews, striving to capture and tell their stories in a way that engages a broader audience. The songs follow more closely with that of modern
Katelyn McKinney, Madeline Young, Bryan Mitschell, Jaylon Crump, Tess Remy
commercial music, and the songs tell the life experiences of the interviewees.
music students serving as performers and research assistants, will study and learn both the interviews and the composed music, eventually resulting in their performance and recording of all six compositions. The recordings will be released via CD in 2022.
“Having a ‘voice’ is an inherent luxury of an artist. Everything they do is centered on expression. It should be no wonder that artists are frequently on the frontlines of social change,” Mitschell said. “[This project] intends “This process will put research assistants in a position to create music to serve as a surrogate for the expression to gain a very intimate insight into homelessness, ofthedisenfranchised,andspecically,theand focus their will missionbe to accurately communicate the on the epidemic of homelessness in the Oklahoma City complexities of emotion and apply their artist ‘voice’ metropolitan area.” to channel the perspective of the interviewees and convey it to others will constitute an act of service Following the composition process, Remy, along with learning,” Remy said. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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College of Liberal Arts Each student that begins their higher education career at UCO passes through the College of Liberal Arts. Offering more than two dozen undergraduate degrees, as well as a variety of minors and graduate degrees, the college is home to awardwinning mass communication students, a top addictions counseling program, a highly accredited Master of Public Administration and the School of Criminal Justice.
TEACHING TOLERANCE As part of their non-emergency, anti-terrorism efforts, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Administration has invested in a UCO-led project that teaches the next generation about the importance of tolerance. The program, “Preducation,” is a series of learning modules, designed for elementary students in Oklahoma schools, that feature a team of “friendly monsters” who help guide children through experiences and lessons that focus on the message that although we are all different, we are still the same. The content is designed to help children accept and proactively deal with people whose background and experiences differ from their own. UCO faculty members Sandra Martin, retired strategic communications lecturer, and Tyler Weldon, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Education and Professional Studies, authored the $657,281 grant and advised the group of Central students who initially developed the concept. “We know that with understanding and acceptance, prejudice, bullying and hostile reactions diminish and lessen further development of the cycle of prejudice and violence,” Martin said. “This program offers children an early introduction to understanding the similarities and differences that all children share.” BothMartinandWeldonidentiedaneedfortheprograminthestate. “Oklahoma is recognized as a high-risk state with Oklahoma children ranked among the most likely in the nation to experience violence during childhood,” Weldon said. Program modules include information, videos, worksheets, games and interactive learning designed for use in 1st-4th grade classrooms. Materials in each module allow participating teachers to choose which combination of resources are most appropriate for their students and community. With available training and publicity resources to introduce local community members to the program, as well as an interactive website for teachers, mentors, parents and students, “Preducation” brings the lessons on tolerance full circle.
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NEW PERSPECTIVES ON HOMELESSNESS For the School of Criminal Justice, up-to-date training Oklahoma City and Tulsa Police and Fire Departments, and education are key to equipping its students with the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance, both the Kiowa thepracticalworkskillsnecessaryinany County eld.As andJacksonCountysheriffsjofces,aswellas part of this mission, Matt Jones, Ph.D., and Elizabeth various other social agencies across Oklahoma that Maier, Ph.D., both professors within the school, are directly interact with the homeless community. looking to evaluate the relationships between the The results of the study could offer a better law enforcement and the local homeless population understanding of the current relationship between the through their project “Policing and Homelessness in community and various law enforcement agencies Oklahoma: A Multiple Community Cross Case Study.” and how, in the future, these relationships could The project proposes to examine interactions between be improved to better address the complex law enforcement and individuals experiencing issues that are present surrounding policing homelessness, through studying multiple the unhoused, as well as other marginalized communities in both rural and urban areas. While groups. homelessness is often viewed as exclusively the fault of the individual, this study aims to gather and understand multiple perspectives from those closest to the homeless epidemic – individuals experiencing homelessness,lawenforcementofcialsandsocial service providers. Because the study aims to explore multiple areas and regions within the state of Oklahoma, Jones and Maier plan to partner with multiple agencies to help gather information and provide context, including the
Matt Jones, Elizabeth Maier
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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College of Mathematics and Science
Through a focus on transformative learning experiences, collaboration across disciplines and close interactions between students and faculty, the College of Mathematics and Science prepares students for success in graduate school and within their chosen professions. The college’s goal is to develop productive members of the STEM workforce, while also instilling leadership skills in those entering the health care, science and math education,researchandotherSTEM-focusedprofes VACCINATING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY On paper, Pamela Rollins, D.N.P., is a professor and assistant chairperson for the UCO Department of Nursing. However, Rollins’ impact at Central is much more far-reaching. In addition to preparing the next generation of nurses, with a reputation as some of the best nurses in the state of Oklahoma and around the nation, Rollins has taken the mission of on-campus vaccination by storm.
Pamela Rollins
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Leading a team of nursing faculty and student nurses, Rollins became an early champion of vaccination for Central’s students, faculty and staff. Partnering with Passport Health Oklahoma, Rollins helped coordinate several vaccination clinics, beginning in February 2021, for the most at-risk of the population. As more groups became eligible for vaccination, Rollins and her team began hosting vaccine clinics weekly, encouraging all who could to receive the vaccine. During the peak, each clinic served approximately 300500 individuals from the UCO community, as well as
the broader Edmond and Oklahoma City community. As the global pandemic surpassed the one-year mark, and COVID-19 cases in the state resurged, Rollins and her team continued their important work, remaining dedicated to administering as many vaccinations as their student-run clinics would allow.
Outside of COVID-19, Rollins has always been an advocate for the health and wellness of the campus community. Each year, Rollins, alongside her team ofnursingfacultyandstudents,hostsanintue vaccination clinic for UCO students, faculty and staff. In addition to providing an invaluable service to the campus community, the clinics offer Central’s nursing students the opportunity for hands-on experience interacting with patients. BothintuenzaandCOVID-19vaccineclinicsoffer vaccinations free-of-charge to clients, ensuring that no person is turned away for the inability to pay.
THE SEARCH FOR A NATURAL CURE According to the American Cancer Society Journal, more than 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to occur in 2022 within the United States, with another 609,360 cancer deaths expected. Christina Hendrickson, Ph.D., the human physiology laboratory coordinator at Central, Mel Vaughan, Ph.D., UCO professor of biology, and their students are exploring a way to slow the spread of cancer – all through a simple dandelion. The project began in 2019, when Hendrickson and Vaughan started their research on the effects of dandelion extract on cervical cancer cells, or HeLa cells, versus its effects on normal cells. “I will never forget the day we observed the antiproliferative effect of dandelion extract on HeLa cells,” Hendrickson said. “It was exciting to see that dandelion stopped cancer cells proliferation and promoted programmed cell death but didn’t have such effects on normal cell lines.” The implications of this research study suggest that there is a possibility to use certain compounds found in dandelions as a natural anticancer treatment, used to prevent cervical cancer from metastasizing into other parts of the body. Perhaps the most exciting development from the study points to the dandelion extract’s ability to kill cancer cells while simultaneously being nontoxic to normal, healthy cells. Hendrickson and Vaughan have included biomedical
Mel Vaughan, Christina Hendrickson
students in this important research, allowing them More than 60% of Food and Drug Administrationto collaborate within the lab, as well as present the approved cancer therapies use a natural product, research at Oklahoma Research Day, where it placed derivative of a natural product or a product that mimics rstintheRegional,CommunityandTribalthat College of a natural product. By developing research about category. the dandelion, which grows throughout the world, the contributions of Hendrickson, Vaughan and their This important research continues to expand, students could lead to a change in the trajectory of receiving funding from an Oklahoma IDeA Network of cancer treatment. Biomedical Research Excellence grant, grants through Central’s Research, Creative and Scholarly Activities and Student Transformative Learning Record programs, as well as through private donations.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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Forensic Science Institute UCO’s W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute is a comprehensive training and research organization in all aspects of evidence collection, preservation, analysis, reporting and testimony. With a faculty of forensic experts, the institute is dedicated to academic excellence through its unique multidisciplinary program and outstanding educational, research and professional training opportunities.
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Cait Porterfield
A CAPSTONE FOR JUSTICE As a requirement for all undergraduate forensic science majors, the forensic science capstone offers several professional options for students to punctuate their undergraduate career. One option with direct community connections and real-world implications is the Oklahoma Innocence Project. The capstone is geared toward forensic science students also majoring in criminal justice, psychology, sociology and/or molecular biology and is a direct partnership with the Oklahoma Innocence Project (OKIP) at the Oklahoma City University School of Law. OKIP is dedicated to identifying and remedying wrongful conviction cases in Oklahoma, pursuing cases where there is credible evidence of factual innocence. In addition to working directly with OKIP and the OCU School of Law, students also interact through interviews with those that have applied for innocence project
assistance, as well as witnesses.
Astheinstructorforthecapstone,CaitPorter active member of the UCO Forensic Science Institute faculty, advises students on how to make the most out of their time with the project. Students start at the beginning of each case and work through cases, sometimes attending hearings and providing assistance for more active cases. As part of the project, students alsohelpidentifycasesthatmeetthespeciccr inclusion in OKIP, as well as identifying cases with DNA evidence and reviewing transcripts from trials for any discrepancies. Since its inception in 2011, OKIP has received more than 1,700 requests for help with cases. Involvement with OKIP presents students with the opportunity to directly contribute to changing real lives, a learning experience that is nothing short of transformative.
Campuswide Initiatives
Ed Cunliff, Marianna Bennett
ADVANCING WORKFORCE SKILLS Reaching into the community to extend learning beyond the traditional university student, Central now offers students, faculty, staff and community members the opportunity to advance their professional skills by earning a micro-credential.
development, process improvement for nursing, change management tools for nursing leaders and modular synthesis, through ACM@UCO.
developed skills empower each learner to develop an authentic process of coaching and mentoring.
The university’s micro-credential programs are Each micro-credential program offers unique content facilitated through LX Studio, Central’s team of and assessments that participants must complete in learning design experts who help the university Micro-credentials provide their recipients an order to earn their credential. Micro-credentials aim community and its departments, along with external opportunitytodemonstratespecicknowledge, to provide a competitive edge for participants while professional organizations, to create industry-leading skills and abilities to better market their unique offeringlesstimeandnancialcommitment continuing thaneducation. a skill sets. UCO currently offers micro-credentials for formal degree. Upon completion of each micro-credential program, the following categories: coaching and mentoring, Through the adult education master’s degree program, participants receive a digital micro-credential badge diversity and inclusion, applied servant leadership, Ed Cunliff, Ph.D., professor of education and safety that they own, meaning they can share their digital effective communication, leading effective teams, sciences, provides course participants with the skills badge any way they want – social media platforms, professional networking, digital evidence, cloud web and theories of coaching and mentoring adults in LinkedIn, professional resumes, portfolios, websites application development, Flutter mobile application corporate,nonprotandeducationalsettings. and more. These UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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Our Mission We empower students to become ethical, creative, and engaged citizens and leaders through our commitment to transformative learning experiences.
Our Vision As a leading metropolitan university, the University of Central Oklahoma prepares future leaders to positively impact local, state, and global communities.
Our Values Accessibility Inclusivity Community Integrity Growth Leadership 16
DESIGNED FOR IMPACT In compliance with Title VI and Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, The Civil Rights Act of 1991, and other Federal Laws and Regulations, the University of Central Oklahoma does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap, disability, status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures; this includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Students with disabilities who wish special accommodations should make their requests to the Coordinator of Disability Support Services at 974-2549. This publication, printed by Southwestern Stationery & Bank Supply, Inc, Oklahoma City, OK, is issued by the University of Central Oklahoma as authorized by Title 70 OS 1981, Section 3903. 1,000 copies have been prepared or distributed at a cost of $2,798. 3/2022
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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