Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents met in regular session at the Renfro Center on the Tonkawa campus Wednesday afternoon.

The regents formally approved the 2021-22 Academic Calendar.Fall semester will begin on August 16, 2021.Spring semester will begin January 22, 2021 and spring break is scheduled from March 14 to March 18. Commencement will take place April 30, 2022.

Regents also approved the financial reports for October.

In the program showcase, the regents heard a presentation from Anna Roland, Director of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) program. Roland explained the program is in the 4th year of a five-year grant program funded by the United States Department of Education.

The grant funded a Cultural Engagement Center (CEC) in the library at the Vineyard Library/Administration Building that includes a reception area, computer lab, conference room and kitchenette.

The program has two other staff members including Gina Conneywerdy, native American Student Success Specialist, and Sara Hawkins, Distance Learning Specialist.

The program has expanded access to high demand, high quality courses, developed and improved online services, and developed support for Native American Student Success. The CEC serves all students, not just those of Native American descent.

In the administrator updates, NOC President Dr. Cheryl Evans complimented the athletic programs at NOC Enid and NOC Tonkawa for their assistance in removing debris from the recent ice storm.She also complimented the physical plant staffs from each campus for their work in the ice storm aftermath.

Dr. Evans also said that NOC is implementing the college’s new ERP system this month.

The next meeting is set for Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at NOC Tonkawa’s Renfro Center.

Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services which create life-changing experiences and develop students as effective learners and leaders within their communities in a connected, ever changing world.

NOC, a public two-year community college, serves 5,700 students on the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater, online, and the University Center in Ponca City. Of these students about 60% receive financial aid and/or scholarships.Over 80% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.

NOC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science. The associate degree fulfills lower-division course work which is applicable towards a bachelor’s degree.

Call (580) 628-6200 for more information about Northern Oklahoma College or visit www.noc.edu .