by Allison Roberts
Contributing writer
Southeastern’s “Celebration of Student Success Through Partnerships” brought Oklahoma state regents, Native American tribal leaders and Chancellor Glen D. Johnson to Johnson’s namesake student union on Thursday, Jan. 24.
The afternoon’s activities began with a reception in the union loft at 3 p.m. The program’s speakers began presenting at 3:30 in the union’s atrium.
Johnson was but one of the program’s speakers. Also involved were Southeastern President Larry Minks, State Regent John Massey, Regional University System of Oklahoma Regent and Chair Terry Matlock, Chief Gregory Pyle of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Governor Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation.
The primary focus of the celebration was the “Complete College America” initiative and its statewide successes, with particular attention to the programs and partnerships that have been successful at Southeastern.
The CCA initiative, a national nonprofit organization established in 2009, makes efforts to increase the number of Americans with college degrees.
The organization’s primary focuses are making state policy changes as well as increasing cooperation between state leaders, higher education and the national education policy.
When the initiative began, Oklahoma colleges and universities awarded 30,500 degrees annually.
The goal is to see a 67 percent increase so Oklahoma schools will be awarding 50,900 degrees by 2023.
Oklahoma colleges and universities awarded 33,499 degrees during the 2011-12 academic year.
One thing Southeastern has done in efforts to increase these numbers is remodel Southeastern’s old campus bookstore and Magnolia Room, turning it into what is now the Center for Student Success.
A ribbon cutting for the center was held immediately following the speakers’ presentations in the atrium.
Housing the Academic Advising and Outreach Center, the Native American Center for Student Success, the Learning Center, the Writing Center and the Office of Freshman Programs, the center has been a work in progress since the spring of 2012.
The AAOC, NACSS and Office of Freshman Programs have been in their new locations since mid-fall of 2012.
The NACSS, which works closely with the AAOC and Office of Freshman Programs, exists to make enrolling in and finishing college be an easier and more enriching experience for Native American students at Southeastern.
When Anoatubby spoke at the program, he congratulated the university and inspired laughter by saying, “Thank you for opening your doors to Native Americans. It’s hard not to when you’re surrounded.”
The Learning Center and the Writing Center have not yet moved into the center but should be moving into the bottom floor of the building by the end of spring 2013.