25th Anniversary of Classes at Northwestern-Woodward to be Celebrated with Red Tie Jazz Event Feb. 15
February 11, 2022
In 2002, Northwestern began offering classes at the First American Bank Building (now Great Plains Bank) in Woodward. The first classes began in 1996 at the High Plains Technology Center and Woodward High School. |
One of the first acts in her presidency at Northwestern had Dr. Janet Cunningham breaking ground on Nov. 8, 2006, to begin construction of a Northwestern-Woodward campus building. |
 The new Woodward campus building was first used in the fall 2008 with a formal dedication ceremony on Sept. 24, 2008. |
 The grass has filled in nicely and trees have grown well at Northwestern - Woodward since it was finished in 2008. |
The 25th anniversary of Northwestern Oklahoma State University having classes available in Woodward will be celebrated with an evening of live music Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Woodward Conference Center, which is just across the street from the university’s Woodward campus building.
The Woodward campus address is 2007 34th Street, and the Woodward Conference Center’s address is 3401 Centennial Drive.
Red Tie Jazz, sponsored by the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association, will feature music by Max Ridgway, adjunct instructor of music, as well as the University Singers under the direction of Dr. Karsten Longhurst, assistant professor of music and director of choral studies.
A buffet of hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages, will be available during the evening. The free event is open to the public, and no reservations are necessary.
Although Northwestern has been offering higher education classes in Alva since 1897, it wasn’t until 1996 when House Bill 2164 was approved to establish branch campuses in Enid and Woodward. Once Gov. Frank Keating signed the measure into law on May 30, 1996, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education followed with its approval.
Classes in Woodward were first housed at the High Plains Technology Center and Woodward High School through in-person classes and interactive television classes (ITV). Classes were then moved into the First American Bank Building (now Great Plains Bank) in 2002. While most classes were held at the bank location, the nursing classes took place via ITV at the local Woodward hospital.
A groundbreaking ceremony to create a new state-of-the-art campus facility in Woodward took place on Nov. 8, 2006. The first classes in the building were taught in fall 2008 with a formal dedication ceremony for the structure taking place on Sept. 25, 2008.
The 19,905 square foot building houses 11 classrooms, a nursing laboratory, a science laboratory, computer laboratory, commons area, conference room, areas for offices, as well as library and bookstore resources. It also leaves room for possible future expansion. Each classroom is set up with technology to support the student and faculty needs.
The campus provides undergraduate courses in a wide variety of bachelor’s degree programs, as well as serving high school students in the area through concurrent enrollment options. The campus also offers master’s degree programs in American Studies, Education, Counseling Psychology, General Psychology and Heritage Tourism and Conservation. An online doctoral program in nursing practice was added in 2016.
Classes are taught via a variety of platforms, including traditional, ITV and online. Additionally, the campus serves as a community educational resource for training, certifications and a wide array of special events.
Dr. Deena Fisher became the director of the Woodward campus in 1996 and retired as the dean of the campus in June 2020. Dr. Jonathan Thomason became the current dean of the Woodward campus in July 2020.
A 25th-anniversary event took place on the Northwestern-Enid campus on Nov. 18, 2021.
Questions about the Red Tie Jazz event should be directed to John Allen, director of alumni relations, at (580) 327-8593 or jwallen@nwosu.edu.
More information about the Woodward campus may be found at www.nwosu.edu/woodward.
-NW-