NOC Partners With Professionals to Assist With Academic Programs

Criminal Justice professionals took part in the NOC Advisory Board meetings last Tuesday at NOC Tonkawa. Each year, professional from difference fields visit with NOC instructors concerning skills that students need for the workplace. (photo by Shiloh Martin/Northern Oklahoma College).

Northern Oklahoma College welcomed business professionals in nine specific areas on Tuesday, Oct. 28, to a meeting with NOC instructors in specific academic fields.

The advisory boards meet annually with NOC instructors to discuss the changing workplace and how instructors can better prepare students for the future.

The partnership between the business community and NOC has been going on for many years, some as many as 30 years.  This was the fourth year that all nine advisory committees met simultaneously with some meeting in person and some remotely.

The advisory committees met for lunch in the Renfro Center and then broke out into individual groups.

The nine areas include Behavioral Science, Alumni, Business, Concurrent High School, Criminal Justice, Health, Physical Education & Recreation (HPER), Mass Communications, Nursing, and Pre-Engineering/Process Technology.

NOC President Diana Morris Watkins said these meetings are critical for NOC to better prepare students for the work place.

“Staying connected with those working in the fields for which we are preparing graduates ensures that we are matching theory to practice,” she said.  “NOC is so appreciative of the time those serving on our advisory boards give to ensuring we are preparing learners and leaders, as described in our mission statement, to enter the work force in a connected, ever-changing world.”

Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.

NOC serves nearly 4,000 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater.  Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.

The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.

For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.