July 25, 2023
SWOSU Press Release
Yukon Public Schools (YPS) and Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) have announced changes in their academic partnership that provides higher education opportunities in Canadian County.
YPS and SWOSU are partners in providing Oklahoma students with access to quality programs of higher education via concurrent coursework as well as courses offered to YPS employees. This partnership began in August 2020 and has grown substantially. The partnership has resulted in several YPS employees completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees, and hundreds of YPS students completing college courses while still in high school.
In 2021, YPS and SWOSU agreed to expand their partnership by reserving dedicated space for SWOSU in the YPS College & Career Center; the Center was approved by the YPS patrons in a Fall 2021 bond election. YPS and SWOSU leaders have worked closely towards this goal over the last year.
Unfortunately, economic volatility combined with inflation and supply chain disruptions have dramatically increased the construction costs associated with the YPS College & Career Center. In the interests of prioritizing students and instruction over facilities, YPS and SWOSU have now mutually agreed to forgo the inclusion of a dedicated SWOSU space within the YPS College & Career Center.
“The partnership between Yukon Public Schools and SWOSU is of tremendous value to our students, and we look forward to its continued expansion,” said YPS Superintendent Dr. Jason Simeroth. “The realities of the costs involved with the College & Career Center must be faced, and I thank our friends at SWOSU for working with us to provide our students with an accessible, comprehensive opportunity at higher education. This partnership has been and will be anchored in what is best for the students YPS and SWOSU are so privileged to mutually serve.”
SWOSU will continue to serve as YPS’s exclusive preferred provider of in-person instruction and coursework. SWOSU faculty and staff will continue to work with YPS faculty and staff in YPS facilities as has been done since the partnership began in 2020.
“SWOSU remains committed to providing Canadian County residents with access to a high-caliber, workforce-aligned program of higher education,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana R. Lovell. “It is our great honor to collaborate with YPS administrators, faculty, and staff to help ensure student success.”
For more information, please contact Ms. Desarae Whitmer, YPS, at desarae.witmer@yukonps.com, 405-354-6608, or Mr. Garret King, SWOSU, at garret.king@swosu.edu, 580-774-3766.
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