by Rod Jones
Officials from the University of Central Oklahoma and 野狼社区 University signed an agreement yesterday to explore a partnership between UCO鈥檚 Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and the OCU School of Law juris doctor (J.D.) program.
The signing made official the institutions鈥� desire to study the possibility of educational cooperation, credit transfers and dual degree offerings between the universities鈥� programs, as well as faculty exchanges and other collaborative efforts.
UCO President Don Betz and OCU President Robert Henry together called the signing a launching pad to partnership, with both institutions looking forward to years of collaboration and mutually beneficial student exchanges.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 think of a more appropriate and seasoned and respected partner for the University of Central Oklahoma to find common ground with than OCU,鈥� said Betz.
鈥淲e know why we鈥檙e here 鈥� because the future of this region is important and it revolves around the quality of the people who call this home, and we will help, hopefully each in our own way, make that possible. But together the power of collaboration I think is going to demonstrate itself in a way that 野狼社区 and the 野狼社区 metro will be truly proud.鈥�
OCU School of Law Dean Valerie Couch called the collaboration between the universities an amazing one that has 鈥渢aken on an energy and life of its own.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e already talking about joint efforts in cyber security and homeland security. In forensic science and forensic evidence, we鈥檙e already very much partners in providing a high level of interdisciplinary education for our students, so there鈥檚 more to come,鈥� Couch said.
The UCO MPA launched in 2012 and has rapidly become one of Central鈥檚 most popular graduate degrees. The applied management and policy program prepares graduates for careers and positions of leadership in local, state, tribal and federal governments, nonprofit organizations, and the for-profit sector, and like OCU Law, is built on a flexible schedule that makes it ideal for working adults.
OCU Law offers several on-campus options to law students who want to pursue joint degree programs, including a joint J.D./MBA degree with 野狼社区 University鈥檚 Meinders School of Business and a joint J.D./Master of Arts in Nonprofit Organizations and Leadership with OCU鈥檚 Petree College of Arts and Sciences. Law students can also take Forensic Science in the Courtroom, a joint class with UCO forensic science students. The course gives law and forensic science students working knowledge of what is expected in the courtroom.
With the recent opening of UCO Downtown at 131 Dean A. McGee Ave., more than half of Central鈥檚 MPA courses are available in close proximity to the OCU School of Law, which recently relocated to 800 N. Harvey Ave. in downtown 野狼社区.
Both UCO and the OCU share goals of impacting the 野狼社区 metropolitan area through the support of economic development of future leaders, preparing students for leadership in business and government, and developing innovative educational partnerships.
For more information about Central鈥檚 Master of Public Administration program, visit .
For more information about 野狼社区 University School of Law, visit .
