Who are We ?

SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE'S MISSION

Seminole State College is maintained as a two-year public college authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to offer courses, provide programs, and confer associate degrees. Seminole State has the primary responsibility of providing post-secondary educational programs to residents of Hughes, Lincoln, Okfuskee, Seminole, and Pottawatomie counties in east central Oklahoma. The College exists to enhance the capabilities of individuals to achieve their goals for personal development by providing quality learning experiences and services that respond to diverse individual and community needs in a changing global society. Seminole State College prepares students to continue their education beyond the two-year level, trains students for careers and other educational opportunities, and makes available resources and services designed to benefit students and the community at large.

FUNCTION

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have authorized SSC to provide the following types of learning experiences and services to meet its mission:

1. General education and other university-parallel coursework.
2. One and two-year programs of collegiate-level technical-occupational education to pre- pare individuals to enter the workforce.
3. Programs of remedial and developmental education.
4. Formal and informal programs of study especially designed to serve community needs for continuing education.
5. Programs of institutional research to improve the college's efficiency and effectiveness.
6. Special support and activity programs which assist and enrich students' educational experience.
7. Programs of economic development, in conjunction with area colleges and universities which serve the needs of our service area

INSTITUTIONAL BELIEFS AND COMMITMENTS

A. Student Success

SSC is committed to helping students reach their educational goals. To this end, the impact on students will be the first and foremost consideration in the establishment of institutional policies, procedures, programs and services. Most importantly, the college will foster a learning environment that values and nurtures the process of students working toward self-chosen personal and academic goals.

B. Universal Access

SSC will make its programs and services broadly accessible to students of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

C. Extensive and Effective Collaboration

SSC will encourage and implement working partnerships with other agencies or firms to enhance the quantity and quality of services provided.

D. Instructional Innovation.

SSC will use technology and diverse teaching methodologies to affect greater quality and efficiency in the delivery of educational programs and services.

E. Quality over Quantity

SSC will dedicate its limited resources only to high quality programs and services.

VISION: A CONTINUING QUEST FOR UNPARALLELED EXCELLENCE

Seminole State College seeks to be an institution of unparalleled excellence, regarded by both internal and external constituents as a college whose quality is second-to-none, where employees and regents make a continual effort to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our community and our clients.

Seminole State College, established in 1931 as Seminole Junior College, is located in the east central portion of the state in Seminole, Oklahoma, a designated All-American City with a population of approximately 7,500.

Originally organized as an extension of the local high school, classes were held at Seminole High School and taught by high school faculty until 1969. In that year, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recommended the development of a state-supported junior college which would be separate from the local high school.

Responding to the challenge, Seminole citizens worked with state and local leaders to develop Seminole Junior College. Dr. Elmer Tanner was employed as the college's first president, and classes were offered at the First Presbyterian Church in Seminole.

The community continued its support for the new college by approving a $250,000 bond issue, by an 8 to 1 margin, for construction of a college administration and classroom building and by donating forty acres for a new campus. In March 1971, the citizens of Seminole approved a one-cent sales tax to help support the college until 1975, when SJC became a fully state-supported institution. At the time, Seminole was the only community in the state of Oklahoma to ever impose a sales tax on itself for the support of a college.

The first college facility, the Administration Building, now named Tanner Hall, in honor of president emeritus Dr. Elmer Tanner, was completed in the summer of 1971. Until recently, this building housed seven classrooms, two science laboratories, a developmental reading center, an interactive television course room, faculty offices, the student service offices, the college business office and administrative offices.

In the spring of 1995, the college dedicated a new addition to the building which included a renovation of many offices and service areas and added new classrooms and labs equipped with the latest instructional equipment.

In 1973, the E.T. Dunlap Student Union was completed which contains a cafeteria, snack bar, bookstore, student recreational area, meeting room and faculty lounge.

The third facility to be constructed was the Center for Cultural and Physical Learning, completed in May 1974 and renamed the Raymond Harber Field House in 1984. With a 1982 addition, this center contains a basketball arena with seating for 1,500, an indoor swimming pool, racquetball court, steam room, sauna, weight room, two classrooms, concession room and faculty offices.

The Milt Phillips Music Building was opened in the fall of 1975. After renovation work during the past few years, the building has become home to the college's Social Science Division.

In the summer of 1976, the David L. Boren Library was completed. This building serves as the campus learning resource center and features a 28,000 volume book collection in addition to periodicals, microfiche and microfilm holdings, films, maps, and audio and video tapes. The library also contains a multi-media center, an auditorium and two seminar rooms.

A renovation to the library added space for the college's talkback-television room, Computer-Assisted Learning Center, Instructional Design Center and two interactive television studios.

The James Colclazier Technical Education Building, finished in the fall of 1978, provides faculty offices and classroom and laboratory space for Art, Secretarial Science, Photojournalism, Business Education, and Computer Science programs.

In the fall of 1979, the Gladys Scott Nursing Building was constructed. It houses the college's nursing program, Head Start Day Care Center and faculty offices.

In January of 1982, SJC President Dr. Elmer Tanner retired, and Gregory Fitch was appointed as the college's new president.

The S. J. Sarkeys Dormitory, a 44 bed co-ed dorm, was completed and opened for student residents in January 1983.

The Jeff Johnston Fine Arts Center, completed in 1984, features two classrooms, a large stage, and audience seating area.

In 1987, President Greg Fitch resigned his position at SJC to accept a presidential post in Moses Lake, Wash. The search for a new leader of the college culminated in the selection of Dr. James J. Cook, then SJC vice president for curriculum and instruction, as the new SJC chief executive officer.

Dr. Cook served as president from August 1987 through June 1996 and is credited with taking major steps toward developing the college's use of multi-media instructional technology and developing the college's use of interactive educational television instruction.

During Dr. Cook's tenure, SJC also developed an institutional assessment plan that received national recognition from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Dr. Cook also made more than $3 million in physical improvements to the campus.

City and civic leaders also credit him with working to keep the college interwoven with the fabric of the community as a respected leader not only on campus and in Oklahoma Higher Education, but also as a great community leader and citizen.

In the spring of 1996, the Seminole Junior College Board of Regents passed a resolution requesting that the Oklahoma legislature and the Governor change the name of the institution to better reflect its institutional mission. The Oklahoma legislature and Governor Frank Keating approved the change of name to Seminole State College in May, 1996.

In January of 1997, Dr. James W. Utterback became the fourth president of Seminole State College. Since his arrival, the college has revitalized efforts to serve the educational needs of area business and industries. Under his direction the college has expanded its college athletics program and has reintroduced college courses in area communities and local vocational centers.

In the summer of 1997, SSC became involved with a nationwide program to help educate Department of Human Services welfare recipients and place them in productive jobs. The Employment Readiness Program is designed to provide the DHS recipients an opportunity to improve their academic and economic development by taking classes to help them find employment.

Under Dr. Utterback’s leadership, SSC opened the Roesler Residential Learning Center during fall 2000. The $2.4 million facility provides a state-of-the-art computer lab and classroom as well as additional residence hall space on campus.

In 2002, Seminole State College opended the doors of the Enoch Kelly Haney Center -a new facility to house the SSC business and industry training program and the College’s outstanding nursing division. The 43,000 square foot facility is designed to meet the instructional needs of specific businesses and industries in the areas of management, sales, computer operations, technical service, industrial skills development, and other specialized training as requested.

Seminole State College, with the support of the Seminole citizenry, administrative leadership and with the aid of its college personnel, offers students excellent facilities and a fine community in which to live and learn.

Seminole State College is fully accredited by:

• The Higher Learning Commission; Member – North Central Association.
  30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504. (312)263-0456 -  ncahigherlearningcommission.org

• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
• The National League for Nursing
• The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
• The Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Seminole State College has affiliations with or memberships in:

• American Association of Community Colleges
• American Association of Personnel and Guidance
• American Association of Veterans Program Administrators
• American Council on Education
• American Library Association
• AMIGOS Bibliographic Service
• Associated Collegiate Press
• Association of College and University Telecommunications Administrators
• Association of Physical Plant Administrators
• Bi-State Athletic Conference
• Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Central Association of College and University Business Officers
• Council for North Central Community Colleges
• Head Start Supplemental Training/Child Development Associates Consortium
• Higher Education Telecommunication Association
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• National Association of College Auxiliary Services
• National Association of College Stores
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• National Association of College and University Business Officers
• National Association of College and University Food Services
• National Council for Resource Development
• National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development
• National Junior College Athletic Association
• National League for Nursing
• The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
• Oklahoma Academic and Research Library Association
• Oklahoma Association of College and University Business Officers
• Oklahoma Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges
• Oklahoma Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• Oklahoma Association of Veterans Coordinators and Counselors
• Oklahoma Board of Nursing
• Oklahoma College Personnel Association
• Oklahoma College Public Relations Association
• Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association
• Oklahoma Library Association
• Online Computer Library Center Inc
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
• Psi Beta Honor Society
• Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
• Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers
• Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators