State Regents’ Partnership Recognition Program Links Business, Higher Education
(Press Release 06-18-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Eastern Oklahoma State College and Narconon Arrowhead along with twenty other businesses and higher education institutions throughout the state were recently recognized for their innovative partnerships through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Economic Development Grant for the Partnership Recognition Program.

The collaboration between Eastern and Narconon Arrowhead began in 2007 after the college was interested in sharing Narconon’s successful drug rehab program with other drug abuse prevention professionals and counselors. Cooperative efforts between the two led to course material being submitted and approved by several Oklahoma certifying agencies. These courses have been successfully offered at two- to three-month intervals since approved. Narconon’s non-traditional program has been accredited by the prestigious Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for more than a decade and has recently been granted another three-year accreditation.

“We appreciate the cooperative partnership between Narconon and Eastern in developing educational curriculum and programs that benefit both Narconon employees and the general public,” Eastern President Dr. Steve Smith said.

“The fight against substance abuse and addiction begins through education and we commend the efforts of Narconon with their drug education programs.”

This 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 other partnerships recognized for 2009 included:

Cameron University and Wilco Machine & Fab Inc; Connors State College and Oklahoma Natural Gas Company; East Central University and the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training –Located near Ada; Murray State College and New Products Development Center at Oklahoma State University; Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Ottawa County Health;Northeastern State University and Cherokee Nation Industries; Northern Oklahoma College and The Charles Machine Works Inc.; Northwestern Oklahoma State University and the Woodward Industrial Foundation; Oklahoma City Community College and Western Oklahoma Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee; Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Panhandle Share-Ed Video Network and Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc; Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City and Minick; Redlands Community College and Pro-Fab Inc.; Rogers State University and Grand River Dam; Rose State College and Tinker Federal Credit Union; Seminole State College and Wewoka Industrial Authority; Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Granna’s; Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Technology and Western Oklahoma State College, Jackson County Memorial Hospital and JCMH Health Care Corp.