Release written by Lauren Stockam, University Communications.

Left to right: Ms. Cheryl Toon, Mrs. Deanna Smith, Dr. Richard Dawe.

Education students from Ozarka College can now earn a bachelor’s degree at the Missouri State University-West Plains campus through Missouri State Outreach.

An articulation agreement between the schools allows students at Ozarka to transfer their Associate of Science in Education to a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through MSU. It was signed June 6.

“The agreement with Missouri State is an advance in our ability to provide more opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Richard Dawe, president of Ozarka College. “We look forward to potential additional areas to collaborate in the future.”

Keeping students close to home

The main purpose of the partnership is to give students at Ozarka an option to continue their advanced degree close to home. Missouri State Outreach in West Plains was a perfect fit.

Outreach offers several undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the MSU Springfield campus.

Ozarka draws students from southeast Missouri and northern Arkansas. They have four campuses in Arkansas: Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring, Melbourne and Mountain View.