STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 52nd Legislature (2009)

SENATE
RESOLUTION 27	By:	Burrage

AS INTRODUCED

A Resolution congratulating Rogers State University on its Centennial; commending its growth; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, Rogers State University (RSU) was founded in 1909 — just two years after Oklahoma was granted statehood.  The institution was officially established as Eastern University Preparatory School in Claremore, Oklahoma, by the Oklahoma State Legislature during its second session.  The mission of the school was to prepare the sons and daughters of Native Americans, farmers, and ranchers for entry into the colleges and universities of Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, during the construction of its first building, Preparatory Hall, from 1909 to 1911, classes were held in the old Claremont Building in downtown Claremore, Oklahoma.  Five students graduated at the end of the institution’s first academic year.  During its second academic year (1910-1911), 375 students were enrolled.  The institution continued to grow rapidly, adding a library in 1914 and receiving accreditation as a secondary school by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1916.  Preparatory Hall housed the entire operation of the institution until it was closed in 1917; and
WHEREAS, two years later, the institution was resurrected as the Oklahoma Military Academy (OMA) in response to the needs of area residents and the United States Armed Forces.  By 1923, the Oklahoma Military Academy offered secondary education and two years of college to young men from Oklahoma and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Military Academy has an extensive register of graduates who became great leaders, both in military and civilian life.  More than 2,500 graduates served in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.  More than 100 graduates gave their lives in service to their country.  Oklahoma Military Academy quickly gained recognition as one of the top military schools in the United States, and was often referred to as the “West Point of the Southwest”; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, in response to the growing educational needs of a rapidly developing economy in the Claremore area, the Oklahoma State Legislature replaced the Oklahoma Military Academy with the new Claremore Junior College.  The mission of the institution was expanded to provide a variety of high-quality, two-year associate degree programs for area residents; and
WHEREAS, Claremore Junior College quickly grew from 477 students in 1971 to more than 3,000 in 1982, when the institution was renamed Rogers State College to better represent the areas it served — Rogers County and the surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, as Rogers State College, the institution prospered, adding a variety of academic programs, including the state’s only full-power public television station on a college campus.  The institution became a national pioneer in distance education, offering telecourses and independent study options for students; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, the Oklahoma State Legislature approved the merger of Rogers State College and the University Center at Tulsa (UCAT), a consortium of four Oklahoma universities — the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, and Langston University.  The new institution was named Rogers University and continued operation for two years with branches in Claremore and Tulsa; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the Oklahoma State Legislature separated the institutions, creating a branch of Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, and Rogers State University (RSU), a new regional university with a main campus in Claremore, Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma State Legislature granted permission for Rogers State University to seek accreditation for its own four-year bachelor degrees, while continuing to offer associate degrees; and
WHEREAS, in August 2000, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools formally granted Rogers State University accreditation as a four-year university; and
WHEREAS, since Rogers State University was accredited as a four-year university in 2000, enrollment (full-time equivalency-FTE) has increased by nearly 70 percent, earning RSU the title of one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing universities; and
WHEREAS, today, Rogers State University is a dynamic, progressive university with nearly 4,000 students, widely recognized for its high-quality academic programs, distance learning options, and high-technology learning environment.  The university enjoys status as the only public four-year, residential university in the Tulsa metropolitan area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma State Senate congratulates Rogers State University upon the occasion of its Centennial.
THAT the Oklahoma State Senate commends Rogers State University for its progress and growth during the past 100 years and encourages RSU to continue on the path of steady advancement and stable development during its next 100 years.
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Rogers State University President Larry Rice.

52-1-1829	THC	3/26/2009 9:27:56 AM