Author: Brad Griffith

The State Regents’ Council for Online Learning Excellence (COLE) recognized faculty members, administrators and two university teams for their outstanding work during the Friday, May 26 State Regents meeting.

Dr. Kathy Essmiller, open educational resources (OER) librarian at Oklahoma State University, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Open Education Impact. Kara Stanley, instructional designer at the University of Oklahoma, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Accessibility. Dr. Niccole Leanne Miller, adjunct professor and senior director of strategic initiatives for student success at the University of Central Oklahoma, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Teaching. Christala LaFay Smith, director of the Center for Instructional Development and Technology at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Individual Leadership. The Oklahoma Mesonet Outreach Team was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Team Leadership. The IDEA Team of the Center for eLearning and Connected Environments at UCO was honored with the Oklahoma Online Excellence Award for Innovation.

“Online learning is a vital component of Oklahoma higher education,” said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett. “With more than 300 fully online degree programs available across the state system, our colleges and universities provide innovative, academically rigorous online education options that expand college access and enhance flexibility for the students we serve.”

The State Regents’ Online Education Task Force formed the COLE in 2016. COLE is comprised of faculty, staff and administrators representing each tier of Oklahoma’s public and private colleges and universities, as well as other entities connected to online learning technologies.

As part of the ongoing effort to improve online learning, COLE members recognize the excellent work of faculty, staff and administrators at Oklahoma’s colleges and universities. The Oklahoma Online Excellence Awards were established in 2017 to formally recognize individuals and teams for excellent work in online or hybrid learning. Nominations are submitted by peers and judged by a committee of COLE members. For more information about the awards and current and previous awardees, visit https://awards.ocolearnok.org.

CUTLINE: The Council for Online Learning Excellence (COLE) recognized faculty members, administrators and two teams for their outstanding work during the May 26, 2023 meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Pictured, front row left to right: Brad Griffith, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Kara Stanley, University of Oklahoma; Dr. Niccole Leanne Miller and Gina NeeDels, University of Central Oklahoma; and Andrea Melvin, Oklahoma Mesonet. Back row, left to right: Dr. Kathy Essmiller, Oklahoma State University; Christala LaFay Smith, Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Sean Gausman, University of Central Oklahoma; Chancellor Allison D. Garrett; Robert Wall and Dr. Linda Banks, University of Central Oklahoma; Dr. Chris Fiebrich and James Hocker, Oklahoma Mesonet; State Regents’ Chair Michael C. Turpen; and Kevin Kloesel, Oklahoma Mesonet.