On Thursday, March 7, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) received recognition at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Business Partnership Excellence Awards Program for its collaboration with INTEGRIS Health.
The award recognizes successful partnerships between higher education institutions, businesses, and the community to further cultivate a conducive environment for higher learning through State Regents’ Economic Development Grants. Notable attendees at the ceremony included Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, State Regents’ Chair Jack Sherry, State Regent Ann Holloway, and Chancellor Allison D. Garrett. The event took place at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Participating institutions contribute in various ways, including providing $500 for tuition waivers to employees of partnering businesses, offering internships for students at these businesses, facilitating faculty externships, and enhancing partnerships with additional resources. The State Regents further support these efforts by matching the $500 waivers.
The partnership between INTEGRIS Health and SWOSU focuses on providing tuition support for first-semester enrollees in SWOSU’s nursing programs. This collaboration targets INTEGRIS Health caregivers pursuing degrees in SWOSU’s LPN-RN/ BSN program, RN-to-BSN program, traditional BSN program, and MSN program. Through this partnership, SWOSU reaffirms its commitment to addressing Oklahoma’s critical workforce needs. The tuition assistance offered by INTEGRIS Health will make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of SWOSU students.
SWOSU expresses its gratitude to INTEGRIS Health for their commitment to supporting higher education and workforce development. This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration between academia and industry in furthering innovation and addressing the needs of our communities.
