Seminole State College has decided to extend the online delivery of courses through the summer term in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are optimistic that our society and our campus may be able to return to some normalcy in the coming months but understand that it is not prudent to delay decisions and planning for the summer term,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said.
The summer term begins May 11. Enrollment is currently open for both summer and fall enrollment.
“While we are excited about the growth and development of our online delivery of courses, we know that one of our biggest strengths at Seminole State College is our ability to connect through face-to-face interaction. We believe this time has allowed us all to develop creative and innovative ways of doing things,” President Reynolds said.
If you are interested in summer enrollment at SSC, you may fill out an online enrollment application at sscok.edu. For any questions or concerns, please contact the College’s admissions team at 405-382-9797 or advising@sscok.edu.
At their meeting on April 9, the Seminole State College Board of Regents revised a policy regarding administrative leave and approved emeritus status for four former employees.
The meeting was conducted using the Go To Meeting video conferencing application.
To open the meeting, President Lana Reynolds informed the Board about the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on campus and reported on online instruction and availability of labs to students. She stated more than 75 percent of employees are working from home. She reported that business office operations have been uninterrupted and enrollment for future terms is underway.
With the first action item on the agenda, the Board ratified changes to Board Policy II-4-19 regarding administrative leave. The changes expand the College’s ability to extend such leave for absences beyond instances dealing with inclement weather.
The Board then granted emeritus status to four former SSC employees recommended by President Reynolds. The four former employees recognized were Maintenance Services Coordinator Kelly Chastain, Associate Professor of Life Sciences Dave Helseth, Enrollment Management Advisor Cynthia Yerby and the late Paula Rutledge, who served the College as the Math, Science and Engineering Division Chair and a Math Instructor.
Chastain began at SSC part-time, and was quickly hired into a full-time position in 1988. He held his role in the maintenance department until his retirement in 2011. In that time, he served as an HVAC tech, maintenance tech, maintenance coordinator, and eventually oversaw the maintenance department. For several years, he was the sole maintenance tech on campus.
Dave Helseth
Helseth began as an adjunct instructor at SSC in 2001 and became full-time in 2006. He taught microbiology and biology and also served as division chair for his department. Prior to SSC, he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Family of Faith College in College, where he also taught high school science. In 1990, he retired as a U.S. Army officer.
Paula Rutledge
Rutledge began at SSC in 2000 and passed away while actively employed in 2011. She worked at the college as a math instructor and also served as chair for the Math, Science and Engineering Division in 2006. She formerly taught at East Central University for 19 years.
Cynthia Yerby
Yerby began at SSC in 1978. During her 31 years, she served as a recruiter, a cheerleader sponsor, sponsor of the Native American Student Association and Student Services Coordinator. For 28 of those years, she served as the sponsor for the Student Government Association.
The final phase one project for a Guaranteed Performance Contract with Energy Solutions Professionals (ESP) was approved by the Board. A committee comprised of SSC Regents Curtis Morgan, Kim Hyden and Ray McQuiston, along with Vice President Tony Crouch and President Reynolds, have been working on this energy savings proposal with representatives of ESP over the past several months. Upon a full audit of the campus, ESP developed an energy savings and maintenance plan. When implemented, these recommendations will help SSC drastically reduce costs in the coming years as well as address long-needed maintenance and repair issues. One of the main expenses reported in the evaluation were costs associated with the campus pool – which currently needs many updates and repairs. One of primary issues is the need for a ventilation process to be installed in the natatorium at an estimated cost of $270,000. Necessary repairs to the building’s roof could not be done without addressing the ventilation problem, if the pool were to remain open. Roof repairs for the area with the most damage between the gym and natatorium were estimated to cost $220,00. Roof repairs for the entire building are estimated at $590,000. There are additional issues with the pool operation, including minor leaks in the 40-year-old underground piping and a crack in the bottom of the pool due to concrete deterioration.
“After much painful consideration, I am authorizing the closure of the SSC swimming pool,” President Reynolds said. “It is my hope that over time, the natatorium area maybe refitted and upgraded to provide alternate outlets for physical exercise.”
With the last item on the action agenda, the Board accepted the resignation of Vice President for Fiscal Affairs Tony Crouch. Crouch will be taking a position at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. His resignation will be effective April 30.
“Vice President Crouch has served this institution well and will be greatly missed. We are pleased to share in his excitement about his new position at a private four-year college in Kansas,” President Reynolds said.
Upon the recommendation of the President, the Board named Human Resources Director Courtney Jones as Interim Vice President for Fiscal Affairs.
“Ms. Jones is very capable of overseeing this area and has previously handled many of the VPFA duties on a temporary basis. She is a very intelligent and trusted member of our administrative team,” President Reynolds said.
Since 2009, Jones has served as SSC’s Human Resources Director. Prior to that role, she held the position of GEAR Up Advisor for one year.
Two items were then approved on the consent agenda from the Academic Affairs area. First, the Board approved a request to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to offer the current Business A.S. degree online. Secondly, the Board approved a request to replace two outdated courses in the Associate of Computer Science program.
Board members present at the meeting were: Chair Curtis Morgan, Bryan Cain, Marci Donaho, Kim Hyden, Ryan Franklin and Paige Sherry. The next meeting of the SSC Board of Regents is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2020.
Seminole State College has refined its concurrent enrollment process in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. High school juniors and seniors wishing to attend Seminole State College concurrently must submit a current enrollment form signed by the high school principal or counselor, parent/legal guardian, and the student each semester. SSC is accepting emails from principals and counselors as well as signatures for approvals.
SSC waives the tuition costs of up to 18 credit hours for concurrent high school seniors and up to 9 credit hours for juniors. The tuition waiver for juniors is subject to state funding. Concurrent waivers may be used for fall, spring and summer semesters – including the summer following high school graduation. Limited fees are assessed to concurrent students. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education do not permit the waiving of fees.
Students interested in concurrent enrollment must complete an online application for admission to SSC at www.sscok.edu.
“Concurrent enrollment gives students a head start on their higher education. Our admissions team is ready to help out any way we can,” Dr. Bill Knowles, Vice President for Academic Affairs, said.
Concurrent students must have a high school GPA of 3.0 OR have taken the ACT and scored a minimum composite of 19 or 900 on the SAT. Upon high school graduation, if a student wishes to continue at SSC, he or she must complete a new SSC admission application online. To continue enrollment at SSC as a high school student, a minimum of 2.0 college GPA must be maintained. A concurrent student must submit an official high school transcript, with high school GPA calculated by high school, and ACT or SAT scores.
Dr. Knowles suggested students should stay aware that collegiate level classes taken and grades received as a high school concurrent student are part of the calculation to determine a student’s financial aid status and eligibility. If a student receives a failing grade or withdraws from classes, he or she potentially becomes ineligible for financial aid when starting college.
“Should students have struggles arise while enrolled in classes, they should reach out to instructors immediately. Students will receive an email at the end of each semester detailing financial aid’s requirements and their financial aid status,” Dr. Knowles said. If you have any questions regarding concurrent enrollment, you may reach out to the SSC admissions team by phone at 405-382-9230 or by email at admissions@sscok.edu, the financial aid team by phone at 405-382-9247 or email at finaid@sscok.edu, the advisement team by phone at 405-382-9797 or email at advising@sscok.edu or Recruitment Specialist Britney Honsinger by phone at 405-382-9751 or email at b.honsinger@sscok.edu.
Seminole State College sophomore Jaxon Cooper, of Prague, was recently named the Outstanding Health Sciences student for the 2019-2020 academic year. The Seminole State Educational Foundation honors one student from each of the College’s five divisions at its annual Spring Recognition Banquet. Due to restrictions on large gatherings in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event has been postponed, but each student will be recognized at a later date. Continue reading “SSC Recognizes Outstanding Health Sciences Student”→
After Seminole State College shifted to online methods of instruction to ensure student and employee safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Emily Carpenter committed to helping her students make the transition. Continue reading “SSC Professor Helps Students Succeed During Quarantine”→
Some people mark time by the places they’ve lived, by the vehicles they’ve driven. Kimberly Cotter, a sophomore at Seminole State College, marks time by the horses she’s owned.
“When I was three, my parents went to a miniature horse sale for fun — just something to do as a family. Well, they ended up buying some,” Cotter said, “so I started showing miniature horses at the age of three.” Continue reading “Student Chases College Rodeo Dreams at SSC”→
Seminole State College will continue with the online delivery of instruction through the end of the spring semester in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have been constantly monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and are working to keep our students and employees safe, while continuing to provide quality service and instruction,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said.
In accordance with actions taken at other colleges and universities in the state, as well as other recommended health precautions, SSC will close campus to the public beginning March 30 until further notice. Buildings and offices will remain accessible to employees who need to be on campus to handle essential functions. The college will continue to restrict the number of personnel on campus, but employees will continue to handle student and public inquiries remotely by email and phone.
Computer labs in the David L. Boren Library will remain open to provide needed technology access for students who may not have it. The SSC Food Pantry, also located in the Boren Library, will remain open for students and employees.
SSC will not hold its traditional graduation ceremony this spring. Instead, the College is exploring virtual options to honor students for the completion of their degrees.
“We’re currently working on a digital solution so we can still recognize our graduates for their tremendous accomplishments,” President Reynolds said.
Once details for the virtual ceremony are finalized, the College will provide an update to its graduating class of 2020.
Campus housing has been closed since before Spring Break and will remain closed for the semester. Arrangements are being coordinated through Student Affairs and Housing to allow students to collect their belongings in a limited, structured method. The College is discussing several options regarding providing credits and pro-rated refunds for room and board. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be based on many factors, including financial aid status.
“I realize this will continue to be a transition for all of us, and there are still many questions to be answered. However, I know our campus will work together to tackle these challenges as they arise. I am so very proud to be a part of this college, and to work with its outstanding faculty, staff and students. We will get through this together,” President Reynolds said.
Students may check campus announcements regarding the College’s response to COVID-19 at www.sscok.edu/covid19/covid.html.
The Seminole State College Educational
Foundation Executive Committee has decided to cancel its Annual Spring
Recognition Banquet, which was originally scheduled to occur on April 30. Additionally,
the campus reception scheduled to honor former employees being recommended to
the SSC Board of Regents to receive Emeritus status has been postponed to a
later date.
In compliance with sanctions on large
gatherings and other recommended precautions in light of the coronavirus pandemic,
the College will not proceed with either event this spring.
“We hope to be able to reschedule the
Spring Recognition Banquet for a later date, possibly in the fall. This will
give us the opportunity to properly recognize those who we had planned to honor
next month,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said.
Seminole State
College has shifted to electronic delivery methods of instruction for all of
its courses to help safeguard student and employee health. Students may check
campus announcements regarding the College’s response to COVID-19 at
www.sscok.edu/covid19/covid.html.
Following its Spring Break, the Seminole State College campus will open to provide core services on Monday, March 23, 2020. At this time, offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no extended hours scheduled. In areas of campus operations where it is possible, employees will be allowed to tele-commute from home. Supervisors, in coordination with area Vice Presidents, will be asked to work with employees in their areas to fairly and efficiently plan necessary coverage, while trying to limit the number of people on campus.
“We realize this is a complicated endeavor,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said. “The assistance, cooperation and patience of all affected will be essential in making this plan work.”
Seminole State College will shift to electronic delivery methods of instruction for the foreseeable future. Students may check campus announcements regarding the College’s response to COVID-19 at www.sscok.edu/covid19/covid.html.
Two computer labs in the David L. Boren Library will be open specifically for SSC students without computer access. Each lab will have a ten-student limit. Extra efforts will be made to sanitize the labs frequently. Students who must bring children with them to a computer lab may do so by appointment only. Such arrangements may be made by emailing Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Linda Goeller (l.goeller@sscok.edu) or Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs Robin Crawford (r.crawford@sscok.edu).
“I want to thank the faculty of Seminole State College who are working diligently to develop course delivery methods to our students,” President Reynolds said. “I also want to thank our leadership team for thoughtfully and purposefully working through various scenarios and institutional challenges over the past week. Additionally, we greatly appreciate the support and encouragement demonstrated by our dedicated and caring Board of Regents.”
All events and meetings scheduled on campus involving 10 or more people will be cancelled immediately until further notice. Any outside group renting space on campus for an event may reschedule or receive a refund of their down payment.
Since the National Junior College Athletic Association has suspended all spring sports, athletes will be instructed to remain at home following Spring Break and not return to the residence halls. The possible need for the College to house and feed other students, including international students, is currently being evaluated.
The College’s food service provider, Great Western Dining, will continue to cover whatever student needs the campus has on a “takeout” basis.
In an effort to address the needs of our campus community, both students and employees, the SSC Food Pantry will be open during hours posted on the SSC website. Additionally, students needing access to pantry items at other times may contact SSC Vice President for Student Affairs by email at b.knowles@sscok.edu. Only non-perishable items are available through the pantry.
“This is a very fluid situation. We will continue to provide our students, employees and community supporters with updates. We will continue to work together to ensure the protection and well-being of our students and employees as we navigate through this unprecedented event,” President Reynolds said.
Any employee, or student, who is diagnosed with COVID-19, or is exposed to anyone who tests positive for the virus, should inform the SSC President’s office immediately. Calls may be made to 405-382-9200.
