Category Academics

In this photo, Seminole State College and the University of Oklahoma Polytechnic Institute representatives pose for a group photo. Seated, from left, are SSC President Lana Reynolds and Dr. Teri Reed, Director of the OU Polytechnic Institute. Standing, from left, are SSC Health Sciences Division Chair Emily Carpenter; Dr. Randa Shehab, OU Senior Associate Dean of Engineering; SSC IT Director/CISO Marc Hunter; SSC Dean of Instruction Jessica Isaacs; SSC Vice President for Finance, Grants and Enrollment Melanie Rinehart; SSC Faculty Senate President Lynette Atchley; Dr. John Hassell, OU Associate Professor; Dr. Chenggang Wang, OU Assistant Professor; SSC Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Bill Knowles; SSC STEM Division Chair Wendy Slusher-Rich; SSC Assistant Professor of Computer Science Alicia Bailey; Dr. Johnnie-Margaret McConnell, OU Director of Transfer Student Success; and Danielle Dunn, OU Associate Vice President of Marketing.

SSC, OU Polytechnic Institute Sign Cybersecurity Transfer Agreement

Josh Hutton

Seminole State College and the University of Oklahoma Polytechnic Institute have established a new articulation agreement designed to provide SSC computer science students with a seamless pathway to a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.

Representatives from the two institutions signed the agreement Sept. 28. Under the partnership, students completing SSC’s Associate in Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity Emphasis can transfer their SSC coursework into the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program at the OU Polytechnic Institute.

The transfer map outlines a 123-credit-hour path to the bachelor’s degree, consisting of 63 credit hours at SSC followed by 60 credit hours through the OU Polytechnic Institute. The bachelor’s completion portion of the cybersecurity program is currently offered at the OU-Tulsa campus.

“This agreement gives our students a clear destination from the moment they begin the program at SSC,” SSC STEM Division Chair Wendy Rich said. “They can build a strong foundation in computer science and cybersecurity here while knowing the work they complete will continue to move them toward a bachelor’s degree. That kind of clarity is extremely valuable for students planning their education and their careers.”

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This photo shows the front of the North Rock creek Highschool building.

College Starts Early for More Than 100 North Rock Creek Students

Josh Hutton

Nearly one in every five students at North Rock Creek High School is also a Seminole State College student.

This fall, 106 of North Rock Creek High School’s approximately 500 students are taking SSC courses through concurrent enrollment, the largest group from any single high school at the College. Those students represent nearly 47% of the school’s 227 juniors and seniors.

The milestone is particularly notable for a young high school. North Rock Creek began offering high school courses in 2018 and moved students into its new high school building in 2019. Its first senior class graduated in 2022.

Behind the enrollment figure is a coordinated system that begins months before students enter an online college classroom. North Rock Creek High School Counselors Jennifer Barnett and Ashley Moody meet with students and families each spring to introduce concurrent enrollment and identify those who are interested.

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In this photo, From left, SSC students Fredricka Finnikin of Montego Bay, Jamaica; Losaline Makahununiu of Norman; and Malerie Hawk of Choctaw show off custom street signs they created Aug. 17. The activity was one of several events hosted by SSC Student Activities and Events during Welcome Week.

Welcome Week Kicks Off Fall Semester at SSC

Josh Hutton
In this photo, SSC students Imani Cudjoe of Edmond, left, and Nylia Reid of Sapulpa walk to class on Aug. 17 as Seminole State College welcomed students back to campus for the start of the fall semester.

SSC students Imani Cudjoe of Edmond, left, and Nylia Reid of Sapulpa walk to class on Aug. 17 as Seminole State College welcomed students back to campus for the start of the fall semester.

In this photo, Assistant Professor of Life Sciences Truitt Eubank, center, assists SSC students Alivia Wapskineh of McCloud, left, and Christian Herlehy of Shawnee during an Introduction to Environmental Science lab.

Assistant Professor of Life Sciences Truitt Eubank, center, assists SSC students Alivia Wapskineh of McCloud, left, and Christian Herlehy of Shawnee during an Introduction to Environmental Science lab.

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SSC Delivers More than 700 Textbooks to Concurrent Students

Josh Hutton
In this photo, SSC GEAR UP Lead Coordinator Leah Martin (left) delivers textbooks to Wetumka High School Counselor Randi Bellinger.

SSC GEAR UP Lead Coordinator Leah Martin (left) delivers textbooks to Wetumka High School Counselor Randi Bellinger. As the fall semester began this week, Seminole State College delivered more than 700 textbooks to 420 concurrent students at 38 area high schools. The books were funded through the Scott Empowerment Fund, established following philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s $17 million unrestricted gift to the SSC Educational Foundation.

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SSC to Offer Math Refresher Course for Parents

Josh Hutton
This photo is a portrait of Dr. Linda Goeller.
Dr. Linda Goeller

Seminole State College will offer “Math 4 Parents,” a community course designed to help parents and grandparents build confidence when assisting children with math homework, on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Room 102 of the Enoch Kelly Haney Center.

The course will be led by SSC Vice President Emeritus Dr. Linda Goeller, a former mathematics professor at the College. The practical refresher will focus on math skills commonly encountered by students in fourth through sixth grades.

Topics will include addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, basic algebra and basic geometry. Participants will also have an opportunity to bring questions about concepts they may have encountered while helping children with homework.

The goal of the course is to give parents and grandparents a stronger understanding of foundational math concepts and greater confidence when working through assignments with students.

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SSC Extends Office Hours for Fall Semester Start

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Academic Advisor Davis Kappele (right) helps SSC student Deanna Pack of Shawnee finalize her class schedule for the fall.
Seminole State College will offer extended office hours Aug. 15-21 to help students prepare for the fall semester. Admissions, Advising, Financial Assistance, the Testing Center and the SSC Bookstore will be available during extended hours. Fall classes begin Aug. 17. Pictured: Academic Advisor Davis Kappele (right) helps SSC student Deanna Pack of Shawnee finalize her class schedule for the fall.

With fall classes beginning Aug. 17 and regular enrollment open through Aug. 21, Seminole State College will offer extended office hours to provide students and prospective students additional opportunities to complete enrollment and prepare for the semester.

To accommodate busy schedules, SSC will keep Admissions, Advising, Financial Assistance, the Testing Center and the SSC Bookstore open beyond regular business hours during the first week of classes.

Extended hours will be offered Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From Monday, Aug. 17, through Thursday, Aug. 20, offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 21, offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students enrolling for the fall semester can meet with an advisor to explore academic options, review degree plans, assess testing needs, select courses and complete their class schedules. SSC offers a range of in-person and online courses designed for students pursuing transfer degrees, career-focused programs or individual courses.

Many SSC degree programs are also available entirely online, providing additional flexibility for students balancing college with work and family responsibilities.

Students who need assistance with enrollment can contact the Advising Office at 405-382-9797 or advising@sscok.edu, or visit the Walkingstick Student Services Enrollment Center on the SSC campus.

For additional information about Seminole State College, available programs and fall course offerings, visit sscok.edu.

SSC Nursing Students Prepare for Fall Semester

Josh Hutton
In this photo, Jennifer Hull, Elsevier digital sales representative, speaks to students during the Elsevier informational portion of the Seminole State College nursing orientation.

Seminole State College nursing students attend orientation Aug. 11 in the Enoch Kelly Haney Center lecture hall. Jennifer Hull, Elsevier digital sales representative, speaks to students during the Elsevier informational portion of the program. The day also included a nursing student handbook review, student ID preparation, a question-and-answer session, SSM Health overview and an LPN skills checkoff. SSC’s fall semester begins Aug. 17, and enrollment remains open for students preparing to start classes.

Students gather around an information table inside Seminole State College.

High School Students Can Still Enroll in Free SSC Courses

Josh Hutton

As high school students across the area return to the classroom, Seminole State College is reminding eligible juniors and seniors that there is still time to speak with their school counselors about enrolling in college courses for the fall semester.

Classes at SSC begin Aug. 17. Eligible concurrent students within the college’s five-county service area can qualify for a state tuition waiver and an automatic SSC scholarship covering the cost of fees and textbooks.

The program is available to students attending high schools in Seminole, Pottawatomie, Hughes, Okfuskee and Lincoln counties, as well as homeschooled students who reside within those counties. Juniors may receive tuition, fees and textbooks for up to 9 credit hours, while seniors may receive coverage for up to 18 credit hours.

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In this photo, SSC student-athletes meet at the beginning of the fall 2025 semester.

76 SSC Student-Athletes Earn NJCAA All-Academic Honors

Josh Hutton

Seventy-six Seminole State College student-athletes were named to the 2025-26 NJCAA All-Academic Teams, while seven SSC athletic programs earned NJCAA Academic Team Awards.

The number of individual honorees increased by 24 from the previous academic year, when 52 SSC student-athletes received recognition. The number of qualifying athletic teams also increased from five to seven.

The NJCAA recognizes student-athletes in three categories based on grade point average: First Team for a 4.0 GPA, Second Team for a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99, and Third Team for a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79.

“Earning this recognition requires discipline, consistency and a strong commitment to both academics and athletics,” SSC Athletic Director Leslie Sewell said. “We are proud of these student-athletes and grateful to the coaches, faculty and staff who support their success in the classroom.”

NJCAA Academic Team Awards are presented to programs that maintain a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Women’s Golf led SSC with a 3.75 GPA, followed by Softball with a 3.63, Women’s Soccer with a 3.60, Baseball with a 3.40, Volleyball with a 3.26, Men’s Golf with a 3.14 and Men’s Basketball with a 3.11.

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