Economic Development Council to meet at NSU

Northeastern State University will host the Oct. 25 retreat of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education's Economic Development Council at the Webb Center.

The retreat is scheduled the day before the Oct. 26-27 regional summit at NSU, "Regionalism: a United Voice For a Shared Vision."

"This is the first time the EDC has ever held its annual planning retreat in Tahlequah," said Jerry Cook, NSU director of community relations and an EDC member. "We're bringing people from around the state of Oklahoma who are representatives for different campuses. Many of the people on the council will stay to attend the regional summit."

The EDC serves as an advisory council to the chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education (SSHE), the OSRHE Presidents Council, regents staff and other state officials. Each institution within the SSHE is represented on the council by economic development professionals.

The council works to identify and prioritize actions to create an economic environment in Oklahoma which will retain college graduates and attract, develop and grow business in the state.

Cook said the EDC's goals are always evolving with the rapid pace of technological development.

"We traditionally thought the role of higher education in economic development was educating the workforce or preparing people for job creation," he said. "That's still correct. But now there is also an additional emphasis on planning and programs. We must also bring to the public's attention that campuses of higher education are centers for lifelong learning and critical thinking."

With an economy that is becoming increasingly knowledge-based and job duties that change quickly, Cook said modern workers must continually learn and adjust.

"There was a time when our parents went to work and maybe worked one job for their entire careers," said Cook. "The new normal is learning to reposition oneself as the work environment changes. People must be lifelong learners to retrain and perhaps change fields to remain competitive and be effective in a radically changing workplace. Higher education now has this very important role to play."

The retreat's agenda includes an address by Dr. Stephen E. Smith, president of Eastern Oklahoma State College and chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee of Presidents. He will discuss higher education's role in economic development.

Other speakers include Dan Luton, director or programs for the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, and Jim Fram, vice president of economic development for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce.