Student Services

Title III / LASSO Project

Enhancing Student Success, Engagement and Purpose-Driven Education

What does LASSO stand for?

Leadership, Academic Success, Superior Outcomes

What is our Mission?

The mission of the Northwestern Oklahoma State Title III/LASSO Project is to provide support services to First-Time, Full-Time and continuing students promoting student engagement and academic success while providing guidance to cope with experiences and challenges encountered during the collegiate journey. The Title III/LASSO Project aims at improving student retention, graduation rates, and overall student success.

CONTACTS:

Lisa Franz
Title III/LASSO Project Director
Ryerson Hall 142
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
(580) 327-8131
lifranz@nwosu.edu

Miranda Ealey
LASSO Center Learning Coach
Ryerson Hall 145
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
(580) 327-8130
mlealey@nwosu.edu

Julie Lehr
LASSO Center Learning Coach
Ryerson Hall 145
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
(580) 327-8132
jalehr@nwosu.edu

Taylor Phillips
LASSO Center Career Coach
Ryerson Hall 145
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
(580) 327-8133
tnphillips@nwosu.edu

LASSO Student Resource Center
Ryerson Hall 145
Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Who Do We Serve?

The Title III/LASSO Project serves first-time, full-time students, as well as, continuing students who are seeking support and guidance to help overcome academic and nonacademic concerns. Through the LASSO Student Resource Center, participants will receive personalized coaching and advising, along with enhanced career counseling.

NWOSU LASSO Center is actively involved in implementing Complete College America’s Purpose First Strategy through Career Exploration, Academic Structures, and the First Year Experience.

What Services Do We Provide?

The Title III/LASSO Project exists to help the students we serve in a variety of ways: provide educational support, assist with choosing a major and provide dedicated career counseling, help with academic advisement, monitor your progress and assist when you are having academic issues, and overall support and encouragement when obstacles seem to be keeping you from your educational goals. We know that trying to incorporate college life into your daily routine can definitely present challenges. The Title III/LASSO Project’s holistic approach is designed to provide students with the tools to make informed decisions, cope and rise above challenges and stay on-track leading to the goal of retention, degree completion and graduation!

Career Exploration

The LASSO Center Career Coach informs student choice by providing relevant job-market information such as job demand, benefits, associated skills, and education requirements. Workshops and Career Fairs are also held to help students connect with faculty and business owners to learn more about how coursework aligns with potential careers.

The LASSO Center Career Coach meets one-on-one with students to help them develop a career path plan that is tailored to their interests, values, and goals and how to connect with career aligned organizations on and off campus.

The LASSO Center Career Coach has taken a Facilitating Career Development course through NCDA (National Career Developement Association) and completed the requirements for Certified Career Services Provider. This has helped the Career Coach to build student ownership in career development and help connect learning with skills associated with careers and help students identify major options.

Academic Structures

The LASSO Center Coaches prioritize staying up to date with current majors and requirements for graduation, as well as how to effectively advise students to help them create milestones for each year of study.

First Year Experience

NWOSU requires that all students go through Ranger Connection, a first-year experience course for students. Our LASSO Center Student Coaches teach Ranger Connection classes and require that students complete a career exploration assignment and select a major by the end of the semester.

The LASSO Center Student Coaches and Career Coach regularly meet with students to ensure that they are on track to meet their education and career goals, attending classes, and making sure they are confident in their major and career path decisions by informing them with up-to-date information in their chosen career fields.

The LASSO Center meets with other Ranger Connection Teachers to discuss what has and has not worked in the past with the first-year experience and work together to design competencies that relate to career outcomes and student success.

How Our Learning Coaches Can Help

LASSO Center Learning Coaches will be assigned to help you with:

Academic advisement and the course registration/enrollment process.
The development and implementation of education plans of action and making sure you are on-track to graduate.
Academic progress and connecting with the appropriate support services necessary to help you be successful.
Goal-setting, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Student engagement through Ranger Connection classes and helping you connect with individuals and groups throughout the campus community.
Guidance and support in overcoming academic and nonacademic challenges.

How Our Career Coach Can Help

LASSO Center Career Coach will provide assistance to help you:

Explore career and degree options, especially if you are “undecided” on a major, through the use of My Majors and Focus 2 Career resources, as well as, Ranger Connection class discussions and presentations.
Connect with the appropriate on and off campus support to help you make informed decisions when considering a degree and career opportunities.
Build a strong link between your educational and career goals by developing and implementing plans of action and evaluating the process to make sure you are staying on-track to achieve your goals.
Persevere by providing guidance, support and motivation to assure you are heading in the right direction towards graduation and your career path.
Assistance with Job and Life Skills such as Resume Building, Interviewing Well, and Finding Internships.
For additional career help, please refer to our Career Book. For additional help, contact the Career Coach to schedule an appointment. If you would like to take interest assessments, click the tab "additional resources."