Eastern plans employer liaison through $5 million college partnership
AccelerateOK will connect students with employers through career advising, internships, and programs developed with industry input.
OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Eastern Oklahoma State College plans to add a staff position dedicated to connecting students with employers as part of a $5 million partnership among three eastern Oklahoma colleges.
The college outlined its role Nov. 5 in AccelerateOK, an effort led by Northeastern State University with Tulsa Community College. NSU received the five-year grant through the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program.
Eastern’s new Career Navigation and Employer Engagement Coordinator will work with area businesses, help students explore occupations, and connect them with resources as they prepare to enter the workforce. The college also plans an online career center with employment information and tools to help students prepare for jobs.
“We want students to leave EOSC with a strong education and a clear understanding of where that education can take them,” Eastern President Randy Harp said in the college’s announcement.
Employers will have several ways to participate. NSU and TCC plan annual workforce summits to discuss hiring needs, examine academic offerings, and develop internship opportunities. A Workforce Faculty Fellows program will pair educators with employers to shape credentials and curriculum.
The grant will also fund staff who help high school students around Tahlequah and Broken Arrow navigate the transition to college.
“Students benefit when they can see how their education connects to future career opportunities,” NSU President Rodney Hanley said in the university’s announcement.
The partnership includes work to help students transfer from Eastern and TCC to NSU. Eastern said the collaboration will expand access to career advising, internships, and professional networks across the region.
The effort follows a broader discussion about how Oklahoma connects education with hiring. An October House interim study examined organizations that help employers find training partners and students find internships, including programs serving the Tulsa region.
