>> DR.
JAMES MACHEL: Welcome to The College of Education and Professional Studies at The University
of Central Oklahoma.
I'm James Machell, Dean of the college and a proud alumnus.
>> Our faculty and staff in The College of Education and Professional Studies serve thousands
of students in a variety of programs.
Each student comes with their own story.
Our story begins right here at this landmark on campus known as Old North.
>> Our roots run deep.
With The University of Central Oklahoma founded in 18-90 as The Territorial Normal School.
It was known as "The Teachers College" dedicated to preparing educators for the classroom.
>> The College of Education has evolved over the years to include "Professional Studies".
Programs that meet the career needs of our growing metropolitan communities.
>> From curriculum and instruction.
Kinesiology and Health Studies.
To Human Environmental Sciences and so much more.
Students are able to explore the many possibilities.
Our faculty and staff are committed to providing every student with a transformative learning
experience.
>> We go beyond the classroom.
Provide creative learning activities, hands-on training, research, leadership and service
learning programs.
>> Class sizes are small in an engaging learning environment that allows students to get personal
attention.
The College of Education and Professional Studies is connected to just about every degree
program on campus.
Our college impacts every community in the state and reaches beyond it's borders.
That's because students who earn a degree from our college will go on to become educators,
entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
>> RITA ARAGON: I think that the College of Education at UCO does a wonderful job with
transformative learning because they take you where you are and they build you - or
help you grow into that type of person, professional, that type of experiential leader that you
want to be.
>> I’m Major General Rita Aragon, retired from the United States Air Force and the Oklahoma
Air National Guard.
I’m the current Secretary of the Military and Veterans Affairs.
And, I’m a proud three-time graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma College
of Education.
>> Before I was in the military, I was an educator, I was a teacher.”
>> UCO has the finest teacher preparation program in the state.
The College of Education was the real impetus for University of Central Oklahoma.
It was the first teachers’ Normal in the state.
That has always been the underpinning of the greatness of being Central.
I mean, think about it, ‘I’m Central - Central what?’
I’m the Central of everything that is happening in our community because we are the education
source.
The College of Education at U-C-O is the birthplace of what the next generation of Oklahoma is
going to look like.
They provide the road, they provide the map, and they provide the support and assistance
to help get young minds where they need to be.
>> RAY WILLIAMS: I was a working student.
I worked during the day and went to class at night and on the weekends.
UCO, being the university that it is, helping out with working adults, parents with children,
coming to the university and getting that degree.
They push you towards that goal and help you obtain that goal.
>> I’m Ray Allen Williams.
I graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in Industrial Safety.
I now own Crutcho Creek Sod Farm.
>> The Industrial Safety program is designed to be a hands-on experience for students.
With the ever-changing codes and regulations, they keep you up to date with that and UCO
has those programs in place now to get their students prepared for the workforce.
>> My education at UCO went above and beyond books and lectures.
It focused on meetings, it showed you how to be prepared, it showed you basically how
to act in a setting where you have to listen, more training.
That’s gotten me prepared for the real-world time and time again.
>> The College of Education and Professional Studies is very special to the teachers.
I believe the teachers make the program.
They help out, they connect with the students.
It’s a big university but it’s small enough to still keep the reach of the students.
It was a lot of self-pride when I graduated to say, ‘I did it'.
A lot of pride of getting a degree from U-C-O.
>> LAUREN FARRAH: I have a special place in my heart for the University of Central Oklahoma,
more specifically the College of Education and Professional Studies.
What I learned here and my experiences really paved the way for me getting the position
that I have now.
>> My name is Lauren Farrah.
I graduated in 2009 from the University of Central Oklahoma.
My major was family life education and child development.
>> I’m currently the executive director of Safe Kids Oklahoma.
I came to Safe Kids through my practicum at UCO.
>> Safe Kids Oklahoma is a statewide non-profit, part of the national Safe Kids organization
campaign.
And we prevent unintentional injuries to children under 14.
That’s the leading cause to children so our jobs is to educate families, talk to children,
and hopefully, save lives in the process.
.> I really researched my degree path.
I knew I wanted to work with children.
Very interested in the developmental process and how children learn -- and how children
grow and -- the more natural and organic process.
The program is so diverse, so many different fields that you can go into depending on what
interests you most.
>> My professors encouraged us to try different things and go outside your comfort zone and
that’s how I fell into the non-profit world.
I loved my coursework at UCO.
It was so relevant to life.
I mean, even if I wasn’t working in non-profit, if I’m a mother some day the coursework
I learned about children and families and marriages and other family connections, you
can apply that doing anything.
>> My experience at the University of Central Oklahoma was invaluable.
I think I have the education and tools to make a difference and to teach people and
to educate others.
>> DR.
JAMES MACHELL: We home that you will explore The College of Education and Professional
Studies.
Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
You will enjoy rich transformative learning experience.
Our hope is that graduates will go on to transform the lives of others and impact their community.
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