It is a great day to be an Aggie and we are excited for the fall semester ahead.
Seeing the economic growth and new job announcements over the past few months illustrates that the future has never been brighter in southwest Oklahoma. All of us at Cameron University are committed to helping drive growth and opportunity.
By 2031, it is projected that more than 70 percent of U.S. jobs will require education or training beyond a high school diploma. Whether we’re talking about traditional sectors like agriculture and business, or whether it involves emerging high-tech professions, America faces a looming talent shortage because a significant portion of the workforce lacks necessary training.
Cameron University is proudly dedicated to providing valuable education opportunities that empower our local communities and enrich the regional economy. We are committed across campus to providing students with opportunities to improve their lives. We have expanded our offerings in traditional degree programs in topearning industries such as engineering and healthcare. We also have expanded our micro-credential programs — short-term courses that equip learners with critical career-specific knowledge and skills. This training is immediately transferable to the workplace, helping members of the workforce in all industries stay ahead of the curve.
A micro-credential can be valuable for any worker, regardless of industry or experience level. Cameron offers micro-credentials in a variety of fields, including agriculture, business and finance, communication, education, entrepreneurship, management, marketing and STEM-related fields. Classes range from weekend seminars that require students to be on campus for only a single day to semesterlong courses.
Whether they encourage workers to come back to college to learn additional skills, or whether they attract someone to our campus for the first time, our goal is that micro-credentials are valuable to anyone interested in furthering their career.
CU also offers concurrent enrollment to high school students … and large numbers of them are taking advantage of that opportunity. This fall we have a record number of teenagers enrolled in dualcredit programs. Studies show that concurrent students are more likely to go on to finish a college degree and earn higher wages as adults compared to their classmates who only finish high school.
Oklahoma offers tuition waivers to eligible high school students who take concurrent courses, creating an opportunity for those at every financial level to pursue higher education. Students can get an early start on a degree and move more swiftly through college, enabling them to be better prepared to enter the workforce and do it more quickly. It empowers students – especially firstgeneration college students like I was – to try out college before leaving the safety net of high school.
At Cameron University, our priority is to partner with local communities to advance a shared mission of academic success, expanded student opportunity, and sustainable economic growth. Because the majority of our students come from Southwest Oklahoma, every degree awarded grows the local talent pool, empowers residents to pursue greater economic opportunities, and improves the quality of life across the region.
It is a great time to be an Aggie and our best days for Cameron and southwest Oklahoma are still ahead of us.
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Shane Hunt is president of Cameron University