NSU, CASC partner to help education majors graduate

Cherokee Nation to provide Scholarships for students

(Tahlequah, Okla.)-- The partnership between Northeastern State University and Carl Albert State College has taken another positive step. This fall, the first cohort of elementary education and special education majors will benefit from the Smart Choice transfer program between both institutions.

Adding to the partnerships success, the Cherokee Nation announced its plans to provide $60,000 in scholarship monies for up to 15 students, who are Cherokee Nation citizens, enrolled in the transfer program.

We are happy to provide scholarship assistance, Dr. Neil Morton, senior advisor for education services with the Cherokee Nation said.

According to Morton, the Nation will provide up to $4,000 per year for each successful student.

It is also providing a limited number of college housing assistance awards worth $1,000 per semester to students who meet eligibility requirements.

On Wednesday, July 29, leaders from the Cherokee Nation joined NSU and CACS administrators on the latters Sallisaw campus to announce their plans.

The transfer program begins this fall and its first two years are earned from CASC through an associate of arts degree, and then the junior and senior years leading to the bachelors degree are earned from NSU.

The unique feature of this partnership enables the Carl Albert teacher candidates to enroll in NSU classes that are available either online or at the Sallisaw campus.

This means students in the area do not have to relocate, and would only have to commute to NSU on a few occasions.

Partnerships between institutions such as Carl Albert and NSU benefit the students by providing access to quality instruction in a familiar setting. The CASC students can now get some of the best that NSU has to offer and they can stay near home, Dr. Mark Arant,vice president Academic Affairs at NSU said.

In November 2010, NSU and CASC entered a cooperative partnership agreement that encouraged students at CASC who were about to complete their associate degrees, to make the smart choice to enroll at NSU to complete requirements for their bachelors degrees.

Having a collaborator like CASC, that is passionate about its students and communities, makes these efforts successful and an honor to provide, Arant said.

Jay Falkner, vice president enrollment management at CASC, added the common need formorehigh quality teachers aided this collaborative effort.

We are proud and excited tofacilitate positive change in the greater educationallandscape for the future of the people we serve together, Falkner said.

Morton agreed and commended NSU and CASC for working together.

As college costs continue to rise, its a wonderful gesture on part of NSU and CASC to provide an opportunity for students to go to school at a reduced cost and to be focused on students. Its a win-win situation all the way around. Morton said.

Any member of the Cherokee Nation interested in more information regarding this opportunity should immediately contact the CASC Enrollment Center at 918-647-1393, or Krista Wheeler at NSU by calling 918-444-3572.

Published: 2015-08-17 14:40:54.020000