Reach Higher degree completion program available at NSU

Northeastern State University offers a degree completion program which assists those who finished more than two years of college work but have not received a degree.

Reach Higher is designed to help working adults already holding a significant amount of college credit to complete a bachelor's degree. Participants must be at least 21 years old, have a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average or better in a minimum of 72 hours of credited college work, including completed general education requirements.

"People with college degrees average $1 million more earnings over a lifetime," said Dr. Kathleen Reese, NSU's Reach Higher director. "Quality of life is also enhanced. The collaborative aspect of this program makes it very effective and last year we were recognized with an award."

In 2009, the Association for Continuing Higher Education presented its Distinguished Program Award to Reach Higher, saying the program helps to make college accessible to an even larger number of adult learners and provide them with a mechanism to finish their degrees.

The program offers on-campus and online class options, flexible eight-week class schedules and five enrollments per year. Using existing college credits, the program coordinator helps the student develop a degree completion plan that considers the student's schedule. A bachelor of science in organizational leadership is awarded upon graduation.

While NSU is the lead institution in coordination of Reach Higher, the program is also offered collaboratively statewide at Cameron, East Central, Langston, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Rogers State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southwestern Oklahoma State and the University of Central Oklahoma.

For more information about Reach Higher at Northeastern State University, contact Dr. Kathleen Reese at 918-444-3085. To enroll online, visit www.reachhigheroklahoma.org or call 1-800-951-0768.