Transfer students make the grade at most universities

Shannon West
News Writing Student

OCCC transfer students are keeping up with the grade point averages of undergraduate students at the University of Central Oklahoma and even surpassing that of students at Oklahoma State University.

However, they are showing lower GPAs than the undergraduate students at the University of Oklahoma.

All three are state universities that see a high number of transfer students from OCCC.

Stu Harvey, executive director of Planning and Research, said OCCC analyzed transfer student data to see what they could learn from the numbers.

Curiosity about trees prompts lesson plan

Text by Abbey Rexing
Photos by Jennifer Pearsall

Sixteen preschoolers took a field trip Nov. 18 to the college’s tree farm on the south edge of campus.

The excursion was part of their lesson on trees in the Child Development Center and Lab School, said Lee Ann Townsend, Child Development lab supervisor.

Maddisen, 5, said she already knew about trees. “Acorns fall from acorn trees, and trees need water and sunshine to grow,” she said.

Maddisen and her classmates said they were excited to learn more at the tree farm.

Townsend said the idea for the lesson came after the children noticed the change in colors of the leaves and started expressing interest.

Peyton, 4, said she noticed that “leaves change colors and fall on the ground when it gets cold outside.”

Child Development teachers plan activities that reflect the interests and developmental levels of the children, Townsend said.

Right now, she said, the lessons consist of building the children’s knowledge of trees by using a variety of subjects including science, math and language experiences.