Category: News

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LANGSTON UNIVERSITY ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN NBCU NEXT LEVEL SUMMIT

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by Ellie Melero, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University encourages any high school or college students interested in journalism or media to attend the NBCU Academy Next Level Summit for free on Oct. 19.

“Next Level Summit: Know Your Audience” is a free virtual learning opportunity which is open to the public, and Langston would like to encourage anyone with an interest in a career in media to attend. The summit will discuss ways for journalists, marketing professionals, public relations specialists and other media industry members to identify and connect with an audience while providing attendees with an opportunity to connect with top industry professionals.

The summit will be hosted by the NBCU Academy, a free online education program for developing skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and technology from Comcast NBCUniversal and NBCU News Group. Langston University is an academic partner of the NBCU Academy.

Langston’s academic partnership with the NBCU Academy is part of its broader efforts to improve and enrich its broadcast journalism program. These efforts began in earnest with the donation of the new Langston OKC campus from Griffin Media.
The new campus, once the KWTV News 9 building, will soon be the new home of the broadcast journalism program. The donation included a full-service news station which will give Langston students a better understanding of what it’s like to work in a professional broadcast newsroom.

Not long after announcing the donation from Griffin Media, Langston announced its new partnership with NBCU Academy. Langston is one of 45 schools who are academic partners with NBCU Academy, and it’s the only university in Oklahoma with this partnership. In addition to the academic partnership, Langston received a $250,000 grant from NBCU Academy.

The NBCU Academy academic partnership offers several virtual and in-person educational and mentoring opportunities to Langston journalism students, including events like the Next Level Summit.

You can register for the Next Level Summit: Know Your Audience at nbcuacademy.com/events/.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES ONLINE RN TO BSN PROGRAM

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by Ellie Melero, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University’s School of Nursing and Health Professions is pleased to announce one of its hallmark programs will be available online starting this spring.

The new online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is available to registered nurses (RN’s) looking to further their careers in nursing. The program can be completed in 9 or 12 months, depending on the student’s preferred class schedule.
For more than 40 years, Langston University has been home to one of the best accredited nursing programs in Oklahoma. Under the direction of Dr. Teressa Hunter, the dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions, the program has continued to grow.

The online BSN degree is available to students admitted to the Langston University main campus, the Langston University Tulsa campus or the Langston University Ardmore site.

The Langston University Tulsa campus is now accepting applications for the Spring 2024 semester. The early admission deadline is Oct. 16.

For more information about the online RN to BSN program, please contact a Langston University Nursing advisor at one of the three sites:

Langston/ Main Campus: 405-466-3415
Tulsa Campus: 918-877-8123
Ardmore Site: 580-319-0317

SGA Student President Nathaniel Rakestraw Edwards and SGA Vice President Hannah Wall talk with an Air Force officer

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SIGNS NEW AGREEMENT WITH AIR FORCE SUSTAINMENT CENTER

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by Jet Turner, Assistant Director of Communications

Langston, Okla. – Langston University signed an agreement with the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base on Monday, giving students the opportunity to gain real-world experience through internship and learning opportunities, leading to a potential path to employment upon graduation.

When Langston University Student Government Association President Nathaneal Rakestraw-Edwards heard news about the signing, he was excited about the opportunities this will give current and future students.

“There are many students with so much potential at Langston University,” Rakestraw-Edwards said. “As a student, this deal is very important in ensuring that we are getting the connections necessary to set us up for our future. I am excited to share with the student body whatever internship or employment opportunities are available through Tinker Air Force Base.”

The Air Force Sustainment Center has partnerships with universities throughout the nation, which typically focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

However, this partnership with Langston University is the first “hybrid” partnership of its kind, expanding upon the STEM relations Tinker Air Force Base has with other institutions to include business majors, environmental scientists, project managers and more.

“This allows us to cast a net to attract prospective employees, particularly students and, in this case, Langston University students, for them to consider Tinker Air Force Base as an option to start their careers,” General Stacy Hawkins said. “As a nation, we cannot afford to leave anybody off the table when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.”

This relationship between Langston University and Tinker Air Force Base is not new, as numerous alumni participated in internships and cooperative education programs that led to fulfilling and gainful careers at the Air Force base and beyond.

The signing re-engages and formalizes Langston University’s partnership with Tinker Air Force Base and strengthens the bond between the two organizations.

“Everybody wins,” said Langston University President Ruth Ray Jackson. “Langston University students have the opportunity to supplement their academic studies with real experiences that allow them to see the theory and innovation in action. The Sustainment Center has access to a diverse pool of talent that is familiar with the role, scope and mission of the organization. Oklahoma wins as more Langston University graduates will see remaining in the area as a viable alternative to leaving the state to begin their careers.”

The signing of this partnership agreement signifies the power of collaboration, and the opportunities it will unlock in the realms of research, education, service, and workforce development are endless.

Langston University SGA Vice President Hannah Wall said Langston University’s growing partnerships proves the institution’s commitment to ensuring students are properly prepared and equipped for the work force.

“Creating opportunities such as this shows how much Langston is willing to put into their students to not only give us quality education, but also versatility to stand out amongst the sea of people we will compete with later in life,” Wall said. “Langston University is not like other Universities and Colleges; it is an institution that prides itself on creating long lasting success within each of its students no matter the challenges they face.”

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2 LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS NAMED 2023 WHITE HOUSE HBCU SCHOLARS

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by Ellie Melero, Media Relations Specialist

Langston, Okla. – Two Langston University students have been named 2023 White House HBCU Scholars, marking the first time two Langston students have received the honor in one academic year.

The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities announced its 2023 HBCU Scholars on July 20, and Langston’s Lovette Mba and Charina Lancaster were among the 102 undergraduate, graduate and professional students to receive the honor.

“We are very excited that Lovette and Charina have been selected to represent Langston University as 2023 White House Initiatives on HBCU Scholars,” said Dr. Alonzo Peterson, the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. “These two students represent some of the best and brightest students here at the university. They are not only great students but render great service to the Langston University community.”

Since 2014, the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities has recognized exceptional HBCU students who have excelled in the areas of academic achievement, civic and campus engagement and entrepreneurial ethos.

Mba and Lancaster are the seventh and eighth Langston students to be recognized as White House HBCU Scholars since the program’s inception.

“I am honored to be chosen as a 2023 White House Initiative on HBCUs Scholar,” said Lancaster, a 2023 nursing graduate. “Being chosen is an exciting opportunity and I am proud to be a scholar representing Langston University, the only HBCU in the state of Oklahoma. Langston University has provided me with a great education, a wide range of opportunities, a powerful network providing many connections on campus within and outside of my major of nursing.”

This year’s cohort is the largest ever and includes students from 70 HBCU’s throughout the country.

White House HBCU Scholars will serve as ambassadors for the White House Initiative on HBCUs, the U.S. Department of Education and their respective academic institutions for the academic year. They will receive several networking and professional development opportunities throughout the year, including at the 2023 HBCU Week National Conference from Sept. 24-28.

“We know that they will take full advantage of opportunities to engage the other scholars, initiative staff, and industry partners on questions of innovation, leadership, and personal and professional development,” Dr. Peterson said. “Most importantly, we want Lovette and Charina to bring those experiences back to Langston University and share them with other students. This is a great opportunity for Lovette and Charina to help other Langston Lions with the knowledge they gain from the conference and the monthly master classes they will attend.”

Mba, a senior business management major, said she applied to the program because it aligns with her goals of community revitalization and economic development, and she’s excited to see what she will learn and what she can bring back to the Langston community.

“It is a great way to network with professionals in the industry I desire to work in and learn more about my passion for economic development on the national level,” Mba said. “I’m ecstatic to represent Langston University as a White House HBCU Scholar, and I cannot wait to experience all the new opportunities that come with the honor.”

Likewise, Lancaster said she’s excited to share her experiences and help the Langston community grow.

“I hope that by being chosen as a 2023 HBCU Scholar that I can help provide future high school graduates from New Mexico with information about Langston University and share my experience with them,” Lancaster said.

Aerial shot of the Langston University Langston Campus

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT: OKLAHOMA MATCH OF FEDERAL FUNDING AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY

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From The Office of the President

Dear Langston University Community:

On Monday, September 18, 2023, the United States Secretaries of Education and Agriculture sent letters to governors of 16 states outlining what the Biden Administration describes as a pattern of inequitable funding by those states to their respective 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. The gaps in funding directly relate to each state’s responsibility to match federal funding, dollar-for-dollar, to support agricultural extension and research.

Langston University, the 1890 Land-Grant of Oklahoma and our state’s only Historically Black College or University, was identified in the letter to Governor Stitt as being under-funded by nearly $419 million since 1987. The Departments of Education and Agriculture reached this figure through a calculation and comparison with the 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in each state. The funding supports the land-grant mission of Langston University, including our agricultural cooperative extension and research initiatives. As many of you know, the work of our cooperative extension program enhances the lives of Oklahomans across the state, with the potential to influence additional communities with more funding. Research within the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences has a local, state, national, and global impact.

It is important to understand that the State of Oklahoma has taken strides since FY23 to address the disparity in matching funds. Langston University received an additional $1.8 million from the State of Oklahoma toward the federally mandated match in FY23, representing an increase of approximately 20% over appropriations in the prior fiscal year. The increase in FY23 brought the state matching levels to an average of 68% matched for Cooperative Extension and 72% matched for Evans-Allen Research. Recently, the State of Oklahoma invested an additional $1.3 million toward the mandated match in FY24. At Langston University, additional funds from the state directed toward meeting the one-to-one match will support critical work within our Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, as reflected below.

Cooperative Extension Award Funded Activities

The Cooperative Extension Award will continue to fund a number of outreach activities for our Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. These activities include but are not limited to:

  • Expansion of Cooperative Extension programs in nutrition support, food safety training, food processing, and related programs for communities with limited resources.
  • Expansion of research into new service areas throughout the state of Oklahoma to support Cooperative Extension education programs.
  • Introduction of Cooperative Extension demonstration centers in various areas of the state.
  • Enhanced partnerships with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) around the state.
  • Expansion of the Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth and Urban engagement programs to support youth development activities in more communities across the state.
  • Additional partnerships with K-12 schools throughout the state to support youth development, nutritional and workforce development programs and activities.

Evans-Allen Award Funded Activities

The Evans-Allen Award will continue to fund a number of research activities for our Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. These activities include but are not limited to:

  • Introduction of new research and extension programs in horticulture, agronomy, climate-smart agriculture, precision agriculture and agribusiness.
  • Installation of two additional climate-controlled hoop houses, with rainwater harvesting technology to complement the new Horticulture Education and Research Center (HERC) on the Langston Campus.
  • Installation of weather stations at HERC and Aquaculture research sites.
  • Development of research fruit orchard at HERC.
  • Development of facilities for the introduction of Large Animal (Cattle) operation.
  • Installation and repair of fencing around pastures supporting animal research and extension.
  • Expansion and enhancement of product development programs including upgrades to milk production and processing facilities.
  • Introduction of Nubian goats to pair with existing Alpine goats for producing high-quality dairy food products.
  • Recruitment of additional staff members to support Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Land-Grant initiatives.

While academic programs are not directly supported from research and extension funding, the overall effects of this funding serve to amplify Langston University and its academic mission, as well as local communities and the state of Oklahoma as a whole.

The letter from the Departments of Education and Agriculture urged each governor to consider making investments, either in the short-term or through a long-term budget strategy, to address the gap in funding and meet and potentially to exceed the mandated state match.

Langston University will continue to engage in discussions with state and federal leadership concerning this important funding. We remain encouraged that these discussions are progressing in a positive manner and appreciate the support shown by our community.

Sincerely,

Ruth Ray Jackson, Ph.D.
Interim President
(405) 466-3201
president@langston.edu

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LANGSTON UNIVERSITY AWARDED $4.375 MILLION NATIONAL GRANT FOR REHABILITATION RESEARCH CENTER

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by Dr. Corey Moore, Founding Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University has been awarded a $4.375 million grant for its Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NDILRR).

The grant, which will total $4.375 million over 5 years, extends a third cycle of funding from the NDILRR Administration for Community Living which is intended to help minority-serving institutions build research capacity and study rehabilitation disparities. Dr. Corey Moore, the founding chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies at Langston, will serve as principal investigator and director for the grant.

“This national RRTC positions LU as the foremost national leader on the frontier of cutting-edge disability and rehabilitation research capacity building at minority-serving institutions and minority disability and rehabilitation research,” Dr. Moore said. “This center will provide Langston University a national avenue to mentor faculty members and students and provide technical assistance to research support systems to enhance scientific abilities and opportunities and access to federal research dollars at historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions.”

The award involves a consortium of researchers and mentors at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the Kessler Foundation, and South Carolina State University. Other collaborators who will work with the LU-RRTC in carrying out activities include the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Delaware Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program and the Association of University Centers of Disabilities. The goal is to build minority-serving institutions’ disability and rehabilitation research capacity through research participation that examines the experiences and outcomes of people with disabilities from traditionally underserved populations, such as African Americans/Blacks, Native Americans or Alaska Natives, Latinx, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

One of the key studies will be carried out in partnership with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston and will involve a mentorship component with a new institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model. This model aims to build the disability and rehabilitation research skills of both faculty members and students as well as the institution’s overall capacity for research. The RRTC will match select minority-serving institutional faculty and students with peer mentors and will link institutional research support systems with key consultants to build the center’s capacity.

The RRTC will also work with providers such as the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Delaware Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program to assess the feasibility of a cultural competence in Employment Support Training Model for providers serving people with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations with co-occurring opioid and/or substance use disorder.

“Langston University is proud to advance the NIDILRR’s mission of generating knowledge used to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities,” said Langston University Interim President Ruth Ray Jackson. “The RRTC advances our institutional focus on access and opportunity for all people.”

The RRTC’s grant fund coordinated, integrated and advanced programs of research, training, and information dissemination in topical areas specified by the NIDILRR. These centers conduct research to improve rehabilitation methodology and service delivery systems as well as improve health and functioning while also promoting employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

LU students, faculty pose with Dr Ruth Ray Jackson on the tennis courts

PRESIDENT JACKSON, LUAHPERD USE PICKLEBALL TO HELP STUDENTS DESTRESS BEFORE MIDTERMS

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by Ellie Melero, Media Relations Specialist

LANGSTON, Okla. – Students running around, laughing and having fun while their university’s president teaches them how to play pickleball is probably not what you’d expect to see on a college campus gearing up for midterms, but that’s what awaited any who made their way to the university tennis courts on Friday afternoon.

Langston University’s Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (LUAHPERD) and the ROARS Peer Educators held a “Cruising Into Midterms” event on Friday, which featured bike riding, pickup basketball and Pickleball with the President. The event was open to all students, and many took a break from studying to come hang out with their friends and decompress as they prepared for midterms.

“One of the priorities of the year is programming,” said Interim President Ruth Ray Jackson. “So, I’m very excited to see the HPER clubs adding programming to support good health and destressing for our students as they prepare for midterm exams.”

President Jackson encouraged everyone who came to pick up a paddle and hit the court, and many students were more than happy to learn a new sport from their president. Others preferred to ride bikes with their friends, and some just wanted to relax in the fresh air. Everyone who came was happy for a chance to get out of their rooms and stretch their legs before the grind of midterms fully began.

Kyara Swanson, a senior physical education major, said she thought the event was a fun way to relax, clear her mind and shake off some nerves as she prepared for her upcoming exams.

“Just simply riding the bikes or doing anything physical, it helps with your mental health,” Swanson said. “It helps you just clear your mind sometimes. You know, you’re in college and sometimes you just need a break.”

Giving students a break was the entire idea behind Cruising Into Midterms.

Dr. Desmond Delk, the chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and one of the faculty advisors for LUAHPERD, said the goal of the event was to remind people to take care of their mental and physical health because doing so will help them succeed in their classes.

“We’re prioritizing mental health, we’re prioritizing physical activity, and we’re encouraging collaboration between our faculty, staff and students,” Dr. Delk said. “I really commend the students on organizing everything, promoting the activity and really just coming out and enjoying themselves.”

The event lasted two hours, and President Jackson was there the whole time, playing pickleball and getting to know the students. Laughs could be heard on and off the court, and many students were happy for an opportunity to spend time with their president and their peers.

“I have had a blast sharing my love of pickleball with our Langston University students,” President Jackson said. “I’m excited that there’s great interest, and perhaps in the future we can add this as part of our recreational programming.”

Dr Ruth Ray Jackson speaks at the 2023 Opening Convocation

RECAP: PRESIDENT JACKSON OUTLINES PLAN FOR LANGSTON UNIVERSITY DURING OPENING CONVOCATION

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by Ellie Melero and Jet Turner

Langston, Okla. – Interim President Ruth Ray Jackson spoke about her goals for Langston University and her plans to achieve them over the next year during the Formal Opening Convocation Ceremony at I.W. Young Auditorium on Thursday.

“As we embark on this year of transition and prepare for a new chapter in the history of our institution, let’s embrace each opportunity to recommit to our institutional vision statement,” President Jackson said. “‘To foster an environment which cultivates leaders, innovators and engaged citizens who meet the challenges of local, national and global communities.’”

The Opening Convocation marked the formal opening of the university for the 2023-24 academic year. President Jackson, who assumed office on July 6 after President Kent J. Smith, Jr.’s, retirement, took the opportunity to address the Langston community and discuss her Presidential Priorities, or Five P’s, for the university during her interim presidency.

The Five P’s are People, Programs, Processes, Public Relations and Purpose.

PEOPLE

People refers to the Langston community: students, future students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends. President Jackson spoke about the need to take care of all members of the Langston family and the ways in which the university is doing so.

“We are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for our students to learn and live,” President Jackson said. “For our employees, we will cultivate a campus culture that allows us to recruit and retain talented people who, first and foremost, understand and support our mission.”

Student retention and graduation rates have increased, and graduate student enrollment has increased by 43%. Campus housing is at capacity, and Langston has taken occupancy of its new Oklahoma City campus on Kelley Avenue.

Additionally, the university has welcomed nearly 40 new faculty and staff since May, and university employees recently received a 3% raise, partially facilitated by funding from the State Regents and Oklahoma legislature.

PROGRAMS

Programs refers not only to the various associates, bachelors, masters and doctoral programs offered at Langston University, but also the various cocurricular and extracurricular activities which help to enrich the lives of Langston students.

Langston’s academic programs are continually evaluated and updated as needed to ensure students receive quality education which fully prepares them for competitive fields and industries. In addition to program updates, Langston is also working to increase its online graduate and certificate program offerings.

President Jackson also announced that Langston will soon offer a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, which means four of Langston’s six academic schools will offer at least one graduate degree program.

PROCESSES

The third P, Processes, refers to President Jackson’s goal to update, optimize and streamline as many of the necessary processes and procedures of the university as possible. Many procedures and platforms are currently under review to determine how best to accomplish this goal.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

“There is an African proverb that says, ‘Until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero,’” President Jackson said. “We must tell our story.”

President Jackson encouraged students, faculty, staff and alumni to not only share their stories with the university’s Public Relations team, but also with their own networks of friends and families.

PURPOSE

President Jackson’s final P is Purpose. As one of only 102 Historically Black Colleges and Universities and one of only 19 Historically Black Land Grant Institutions in the United States, Langston University has a higher calling than simply teaching students.

Langston provides affordable access to all students, regardless of background, to career oriented higher education, and it empowers them to make lasting impacts in the world through critical teaching and research.

“Since our founding in 1897, we have provided a nurturing environment for our students, especially those most at risk for not completing college,” President Jackson said. “We play a critical role in fostering upward mobility and helping diverse students achieve their educational, professional and personal aspirations.”

President Jackson ended her remarks by reading Langston University’s Mission Statement, which aligns with the Five P’s:

Grounded in its rich traditions as a historically Black college and university, and a land-grant institution, Langston University offers quality post-secondary education to diverse populations through academics, research, community engagement, extension, and co-curricular experiences that lead to professional competence and degree completion.

“This is what we were founded to do,” President Jackson said. “This is what we have done for 126 years. This is what we will continue to do this year and for many more to come.”

18th Annual President's Scholarship Gala graphic

A’NGELA WINBUSH, TAMIA TO PERFORM AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY’S 18TH ANNUAL PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP GALA

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by Ellie Melero, Media Relations Specialist

Langston, Okla. – Musical triple-threat A’ngela Winbush and six-time Grammy Award nominee Tamia will perform at Langston University’s 18th Annual President’s Scholarship Gala on Oct. 20 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

The President’s Scholarship Gala is Langston’s largest student scholarship fundraiser of the year. The highly anticipated event always features amazing performances from talented artists, and the LU President’s Scholarship Gala Committee has booked A’ngela Winbush and Tamia to perform at this year’s Gala.

A’ngela Winbush is a highly accomplished artist who has worked as a singer, songwriter and producer for more than 40 years. A graduate of Howard University, Winbush began her career in 1977 when Stevie Wonder hired her as a backup singer, writer and talent for Wonderlove. She later formed a successful duo with Rene Moore called “Rene & A’ngela,” and the duo eventually signed with PolyGram, now Island Def Jam Music Group, where their album “Street Called Desire” went Gold and then Platinum while producing two No. 1 and two No. 2 R&B and Pop singles. After a world tour, Winbush decided to become a solo artist. Her Grammy nominated solo album “Sharp” produced several hits, including the R&B No. 1 single “Angel.”

In addition to her singing career, Winbush has written and produced several award-winning songs and albums for various artists, including Janet Jackson, Stephanie Mills, and the Isley Brothers and Ron Isley. She is a cancer survivor, and she continues to perform with artists such as Frankie Beverly, Keith Sweat and Jefferey Osborne.

Tamia is also an R&B powerhouse. She released her self-titled debut album in 1998 and has received six Grammy Award nominations throughout her career, including nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album for her 2013 album “Beautiful Surprise” and its titular single. Her 2015 album “Love Life” debuted at No. 1, and her most recent album, 2018’s “Passion Like Fire,” also charted at No. 1.

Throughout her career, Tamia has worked with artists such as Brandy, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan. She continues to perform, and she has no plans to stop any time soon.

“I’m so blessed after all these years to still be recording and performing,” Tamia said in a statement. “As an artist, it’s very important to stand behind the songs you put out there. And if you’re fortunate enough, you can sing those songs forever.”

You can purchase tickets for the 18th Annual President’s Scholarship Gala at luhomecoming.com.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CLEARS OVER $4.5 MILLION IN STUDENT BALANCES

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LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SUPPORTS STUDENTS BY CLEARING BALANCES THROUGH HEERF GRANT FUNDING
Langston University Office of Public Relations

LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University announced it will clear student balances through the use of HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund) grant for students enrolled in the Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 academic terms. The debt cleared through this initiative totals $4,587,485.82, and will directly assist students by immediately paying off debt owed to the university. This is the second time Langston University has cleared student debt through the use of the grant. The first debt relief initiative occurred in August 2021.

“Throughout the pandemic, our institution has sought ways to lessen the burden and remove barriers to degree completion for our students,” said Langston University President Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr. “We are excited for what this debt relief means to our students and to their families.”

This initiative will also eliminate balances for former students not currently enrolled at the institution as well as graduates who will now be cleared of any balance preventing them from receiving an official transcript, as long as they were enrolled in either the Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 semesters. There is no expectation or requirement for enrollment in a future semester to receive this benefit. This initiative will clear balances owed in tuition, fees, and fines. Students are still responsible for their federal, state, or private loans.

In addition to this transformational initiative, the Office of the Registrar will consider late applications for graduation due to the timing of this award.

The full letter from President Smith may be found at this link.