Freshman Connection Welcomes New Students
Maegan Martin, College and High School Relations Specialist, led freshman students through orientation designed to get them informed and involved before the semester begins on August 12. 82 students attended the event that was held August 10 and 11th.
April Dill, Western Counselor and Chad Wiginton, Vice President for Student Support Services, chatted with new students during Freshman Connection. Faculty and staff where present to engage the students and welcome them to campus and answer any questions before class start
Students at Freshman Connection enjoyed a photo booth and costumes set up for an Instagram photo contest. The student posting their photo to Western’s Instagram page @woscpioneer and receiving the most “likes” won a prize for participating.
The Western Fall 2015 semester got started long before the first class on August 12.
Faculty and staff began engaging new students on August 1o and 11 at Freshman Connection, a special orientation designed to get incoming students informed and involved before they set foot on campus for their first class.
Freshman Connection featured presentations about navigating Moodle and Campus Connect, the student course management systems; Testing, RAVE Alerts, GreenBucks, the student ID card; bookstore and library services, safety and security, campus and online tutoring at tutor.com, how to connect with Western on Facebook (Western Oklahoma State College), Instagram(@woscpioneer) and Twitter (@westernokstate); and how to get involved in the many student organizations and activities on campus.
Students also enjoyed games, music, food a photo booth and connected with faculty and staff who were on hand to answer questions. 82 student participated in Freshman Connection.
Western Navigators Trained to Lead
Chad Wiginton, Vice President for Student Support Services trained 24 students to be Western Navigators. This peer leadership group works with freshmen students needing support as they transition into college life. Navigators focus on retaining and engaging new students and keeping them involved.
Twenty-four Pioneer students have been designated as Western Navigators. This peer leadership group specializes in connecting with other students in need of extra support on campus managing academics and other crucial aspects of campus life.
The Western Navigators are a leadership team that promotes student engagement on campus as well as in the community. Each Navigator is required to maintain a satisfactory GPA, attend campus events, be involved in student organizations, and mentor incoming freshman. The core components of the group consist of retention, community service, and campus involvement. Navigators are awarded a six -hour tuition waiver per semester.
Chad Wiginton, Vice President of Student Support Services said, “We believe the goals of this group combined with each Navigator’s commitment to Western will ultimately enhance the overall success of our student body.”
The Navigators met this week for a training on how to best engage the students that they will mentor during the 2015-16 academic year. The charter Western Navigator members are: Hannah Ames, Jada Bost, Quinten Brazell, Shelby Broaddus, Rhett Bull, McKenna Cargal, Emmanuel Castro, Jordyn Clark, Katie Beth Darby, Brittney Drewry, Elizabeth Franklin, Holly Garza, Lanie Gunter, Kodi Hair, Jade Hernandez, Taylor Landes, Stacey Lockman, Ty-ler Marple, Elizabeth Nicolls, Emaini Payton, Abby Schulz, Kylynn Tatum and Mandalyn Vanswearingen.
Pioneer Welcome Week is August 11- 14
A full slate of FUN and FREE activities for Pioneer students is already underway at Western. Students with a GreenBucks student ID are invited to enjoy an event every night this week . Connect with new friends and get involved. For more info or to sign up call
Maegan Martin, College and High School Relations Specialist at 477-7875.
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Western Elk City Nursing Faculty Named to State Nursing Board
Carmen Nickel, Western nursing faculty, was recently appointed by Governor Fallin to serve on the Oklahoma Board of Nursing and is the freshman instructor at the Elk City campus at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
Carmen Nickel, MSN, RN, of Bessie, OK, was recently appointed by Governor Mary Fallin to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. Carmen is a nursing educator at Western Oklahoma State College on the Elk City campus located at the Pat Wall Professional Building on the grounds of the Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
According to Kim Glazier, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, the board’s mission is to safeguard the public’s health, safety and welfare through the regulation of nursing practice and nursing education in Oklahoma. Oklahoma currently has 52,962 active Registered Nurses; 18, 866 Licensed Practical Nurses; and 2, 891 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. “The charge for this board is to ensure that any person who practices registered nursing, practical nursing, or advanced practice registered nursing in this state is competent to do so,” Glazier said. “The board is a positive resource for nursing professionals in Oklahoma.”
The eleven members of the Board of Nursing are appointed five year terms. Six or the appointees are registered nurses, three are licensed practical nurses, and two are citizens of the Oklahoma who represent the public.
The Nursing Board meets six scheduled times per year, with each meeting lasting three days, during which time the board conducts business and licensure hearings, for licensed individuals alleged to have violated the Nurse Practice Act. Board members also serve on various committees associated with the board.
The functions of the Nursing Board include providing consultation, conducting conferences, forums, studies and research on nursing education and practice; prescribing standards for educational programs that prepare persons for licensure to practice registered or practical nursing and for certification to practice as an advanced unlicensed assistive person; administering the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered and Practical Nurses; licensing/certifying and renewing the license/certification of duly qualified applicants.
The Nursing Board also develops rules to identify the essential elements of education and practice necessary to protect the public; provides records for public inspection under the provisions of the Open Records Act; conducts hearings upon charges calling for disciplinary action; and maintains a Peer Assistance Program for nurses whose competency may be compromised by chemical abuse or dependency.
Nickel brings many years of education and career experience to the Nursing Board. She began her nursing career by working as a nurse’s aide in a very small rural hospital while attending nursing school at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. During her 23 years in nursing, she has gained experience in the areas of labor & delivery, home care, hospice, nursing management, marketing, and education.
In addition to her experience, Carmen continued her education at Northeastern State University and obtained a Master’s of Science in nursing education degree. This is where she acquired a great interest in cultural diversity and Jean Watson’s theory of caring. Her interest in culture has led to the development of an assessment tool to help ensure all patients receive the care they deserve. Carmen’s philosophy of nursing is, “caring and treating all patients as individuals separates the excellent from the mediocre nurse.”
Carmen has been married to Monte Nickel, her high school sweetheart, for 30 years. Monte and Carmen have three children. Whitney attends the University of Oklahoma pursing a degree in dental hygiene. The couple’s twins, Carsen and Camryn, are in junior high school where they are very active in sports and extracurricular activities.