Rogers State University Launches Fundraiser For Science and Technology Center

Rogers State University in Claremore is kicking off a major fundraising campaign to build a new $30 million Center for Science and Technology on campus.

The university has seen a boom in student interest in STEM fields, with over hundreds now majoring in these programs.

As Vice President for Development Steam Valencia explained, "We have more than 500 students now who are actively enrolled in majoring in STEM programs. And so our current facility is really inadequate to be able to service that growing population."

Rallying Community Support

The university is aiming to raise $8 million in private funds to complement $10 million from the state and $4 million from the Cherokee Nation. Valencia expressed excitement about the broad support the project has received:

"We had some great support for this from throughout the business and industry community, and now we're kicking off our final fundraising campaign to get all the money in place so we can start construction early next year."

Expanding Access to In-Demand Degrees

The new center will allow Rogers State to expand its STEM program offerings, including the successful chemical engineering degree launched two years ago.

"This is our second year of starting our chemical engineering program. It's a great success. We initially thought at this point we'd have 15 majors in the program. We currently have 28 and 24 of those are from the 918, area code. So we're being able to service local students and give them the opportunity to earn a degree that they would normally have to travel to go to," said Valencia.

The public fundraising campaign will kick off on November 20th, with the university aiming to secure the final $4 million needed to break ground on the new Center for Science and Technology in early 2023.