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GeneralI nform ati on 2General InformationHISTORICAL PERSPECTIVECommunity and LocationThe University is linked by tradition to the geographicregion of southeastern Oklahoma and north centralTexas. Although new programs have produced manychanges in the geographic origins and ethnicbackgrounds of the student body, they are still primarilyproducts of small towns and rural communities inOklahoma and Texas. The present student body numbersapproximately 4,100, representing 35 states and 32foreign countries.Located in the southeastern part of Oklahoma in thecity of Durant, the University is 15 miles from theOklahoma/Texas border; 90 miles north of Dallas, Texas;148 miles southeast of Oklahoma City; and 12 miles eastof Lake Texoma (one of the largest manmade lakes in theworld with approximately 580 miles of shoreline). Durantis a city with a population in excess of 15,800. It issurrounded by productive farm land, excellent grazingland, three rivers, and a state park and recreational area.The economy of Durant is changing from one that hasbeen primarily agricultural to one that is more diverse.This change has been influenced by the recreationalopportunities at nearby Lake Texoma, which serves morethan 5,000,000 visitors annually and by the presence ofmore than 300 business and industrial firms.History of DevelopmentOn March 6, 1909, the Second Oklahoma StateLegislature approved an act designating Durant as thelocation for a normal school to serve the following 12county region: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Latimer,LeFlore, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Pittsburg,and Pushmataha. Southeastern Oklahoma StateUniversity first opened its doors to students on June 14,1909, as Southeastern State Normal School. The earlyprogram of instruction consisted of four years of highschool and the freshman and sophomore college years.The first sessions of the school were held in temporaryquarters pending completion of Morrison Hall in January,1911, long known as the Administration Building.The original purpose of Southeastern was theeducation of teachers for the public schools of Oklahoma.The two-year graduates were awarded life teachingcertificates. In 1921, the institution became a four-yearcollege and was renamed Southeastern State TeachersCollege. The primary function remained that of teachereducation, and the degrees of Bachelor of Arts inEducation and Bachelor of Science in Education wereauthorized.In 1939, the purpose of the college was expanded.Courses leading to two newly authorized non-educationdegrees—Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science—were added. At this time, the college was renamedSoutheastern State College. In 1954, the curriculum wasenlarged by the addition of a graduate program leading tothe Master of Teaching degree. In 1969, the name of thedegree was changed to Master of Education.On May 27, 1968, the Oklahoma State Regents forHigher Education designated Southeastern as an AreaCommunity College. While retaining previous functions,the college moved in the direction of providing greaterpostsecondary educational opportunities by expanding itscurriculum to include new programs in areas such asbusiness, technology, aviation, and conservation.In 1971, the Oklahoma State Regents for HigherEducation requested that the state supported institutionsof higher education review and evaluate their functions asmembers of the State System of Higher Education. Uponcompletion of the review, a comprehensive “Plan for theSeventies” was prepared by each institution andsubmitted to the Regents. On June 1, 1972, Southeasternsubmitted its plan to the Regents which was,subsequently, approved on March 29, 1973. The Masterof Education degree was changed to the Master ofBehavioral Studies and, subsequently, the University wasapproved to offer a graduate program in business whichculminates in the degree of Master of AdministrativeStudies. Four options of the Master of Behavioral Studiesdegree were re-titled Master of Education in August,1979.On August 15, 1974, the name of Southeastern StateCollege was changed to Southeastern Oklahoma StateUniversity by an act of the Oklahoma State Legislature.Since 1974, Southeastern, through institutionalreorganizations, has continued to diversify, so that,presently, there are three academic schools: Arts andSciences, Business, and Education and BehavioralSciences.The faculty and administration of SoutheasternOklahoma State University continue to review, evaluate,

Generaland revise its curriculum to keep abreast with thechanging times. In 1989, Southeastern was authorized tooffer a specialty degree, the Bachelor of Music, and in1991 the Music Education program was re-designated asthe Bachelor of Music Education. In April 1997, theOklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approveda Master of Business Administration program to replacethe Master of Administrative Studies in Business, and fiveexisting business programs were re-designated. ABachelor of Arts in Spanish was added in February 2004.A Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Healthwas added in 2006 and a Master of Education-MathSpecialist degree in 2008. In the Fall of 2010, the Masterof Behavioral Studies was changed to a Master of Arts inClinical Mental Health Counseling.In the Fall of 2011, a Master of Science in SportStudies and Athletic Administration were added. TheBachelor of Science in Early Intervention and ChildDevelopment was added in 2012.In October 2014, a Master of Science in NativeAmerican Leadership was added and a Master of MusicEducation in April 2015. A Master in Early Interventionand Child Development was added in February 2017 anda Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performancein December 2017.GrowthOne hundred years have passed since Southeastern firstopened its doors. The 20 acres and no buildings of 1909have expanded to approximately 268 acres and 80buildings. The 39 faculty members and 324 students haveincreased to approximately 140 full-time and 136 parttime faculty members and 4,100 students. Total assetsof the University have grown from less than 1,000 in1909 to over 104,388,588 in 2012.Current Institutional MissionSoutheastern Oklahoma State University provides anenvironment of academic excellence that enablesstudents to reach their highest potential. By havingpersonal access to excellent teaching, challengingacademic programs, and extracurricular experiences,students will develop skills and habits that promote valuesfor career preparation, responsible citizenship, andlifelong learning.I nform ati on 3Scope and FunctionThe major emphasis at Southeastern continues to bea quality undergraduate education. The University offersan array of baccalaureate-level programs that preparestudents for a changing society. In addition, selectedgraduate level programs are provided to serve the needsof the region.In fulfilling its mission, Southeastern fosters theregion’s cultural opportunities, economic growth,environmental quality, scientific and technologicalprogress, as well as social and personal well-being.Consistent with Southeastern’s mission and regionalfocus, the University concentrates on achieving thefollowing objectives:For students Southeastern will:1. Provide an opportunity to succeed through . Offer an undergraduate foundation in the liberalarts and sciences, with an emphasis onintegrating critical thinking, communication skills,and appropriate technological applications intothe curriculum across all disciplines.3. Provide a general education program thatfamiliarizes students with major areas ofscholarship.4. Provide professional, academic, and careeroriented undergraduate and graduate programsto meet the changing needs of the workforce.5. Provide an environment for non-academicexperiences, which fosters the development ofpersonality, social living and effective citizenship.6. Present a system of governance that providesreliable information and, as appropriate, involvesthe students in the decision-making process.7. Actively recruit traditionally under-representedstudents and offer scholarship programs to attractstudents of various socioeconomic and academiclevels.For the faculty and staff Southeastern will:1. Provideopportunitiesforprofessionaldevelopment.2. Use assessment to improve student learning andeffective teaching.3. Adhere to well-defined organizational structures,policies, and procedures.4. Adapt to a changing higher educationenvironment.

General5. Administer a system of shared governance thatprovides dependable information to theinstitution’s constituencies.6. Nurture a campus community responsive to theneeds of a diverse population.For the region Southeastern will:1. Provide in-service instruction for educators andotherprofessionalsneededtomakeSoutheastern competitive in national and worldmarkets.2. Continue its historical preparation of qualityeducators for Oklahoma.3. Provide advanced graduate studies and researchin areas of particular strength and need for theregion and the state of Oklahoma.4. Provide opportunities for global awareness.5. Share human, academic, and technologicalresources with schools, industries, and publicagencies through economic development,partnerships, and outreach activities.6. Serve as a cultural, artistic, and informationcenter.Assessment PolicyThe Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Educationand The Higher Learning Commission: A Commission ofthe North Central Association of Colleges and Schoolsrequire accredited colleges and universities to conductperiodic assessments of their students for the purpose ofmonitoring and improving their educational programs.All students at Southeastern are required toparticipate in a variety of assessment activities. Uponadmission to Southeastern basic skills testing is requiredin English, mathematics, reading, and science forplacement purposes. Mid-level testing of freshmen,sophomores, juniors and seniors is conducted to assessgeneral education skills in the areas of reading, writing,mathematics, and science and critical thinking. Exit-levelassessment is conducted during the senior year in themajor field. Assessments within the major may also berequired at other times. In addition to the above activities,students are required to respond to surveys and submitsamples of their work for portfolios.Affiliation and AccreditationSoutheastern Oklahoma State University is amember of the Oklahoma System of Higher Educationand is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission: ACommission of the North Central Association of Collegesand Schools, American Association of Colleges forI nform ati on 4Teacher Education, American Council on Education,National Commission on Accrediting, and the Council forthe Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Southeasternis also accredited by the Oklahoma State Board ofEducation with respect to the program of preparation forall elementary and secondary teachers’ certificates whichit offers. Through its accreditation efforts with The HigherLearning Commission and approved by the OklahomaRegents for Higher Education, Southeastern is aninstitution of higher education granting bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees.In addition to the above accreditation, the ClinicalMental Health Counseling Master of Arts Degree isaccredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counselingand Related Educational Programs; the Department ofMusic in the School of Arts and Sciences is accredited bythe National Association of Schools of Music; and theSchool of Business is accredited by the Association ofCollegiate Business Schools and Programs to offer thefollowing business degrees: The Bachelor of BusinessAdministration (B.B.A.) with majors in Accounting,General Business, F

Regional University System of Oklahoma The Regional University System of Oklahoma is the governing board for the following Oklahoma state universities: Southeastern Oklahoma State University; University of Central Oklahoma, East Central University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and Southwestern Oklahoma .