Connors State College students will be encouraged to go “from Orange to Green” for their higher level degrees under an agreement between Connors and Northeastern State University.

Connors President Donnie Nero and NSU President Don Betz signed the agreement Wednesday morning at NSU’s Muskogee campus, where several Connors classes are held. The partnership is designed to help make it easier for Connors students to continue their education at NSU. The presidents said the partnership, called Smart Choice, is just another example of how well the two colleges work together.

“This continues our great partnership,” Nero said. “It’s great to see two separate boards coming together without their own agendas to benefit the students. We offer courses at the NSU site in Muskogee.”

Betz said the common ground between Connors and NSU “is to help students.”

“What better message can we send to the state than that we are working together — two separate schools serving the same population,” Betz said.

The Orange to Green refers to the main colors at each school. Nero wore a tie with orange stripes while Betz wore an NSU green tie. Both stressed that each school will keep its colors and mascots.

NSU public information director Nancy Garber said Smart Choice offers a “seamless transition for Connors students earning an associate degree and looking toward a bachelor’s degree.”

She said the agreement signed on Wednesday confirmed what had been going on behind the scenes between the two schools to help encourage students to continue their education.

“We could help offer them affordable tuition and offer them one-on-one counseling,” she said. “Our faculty will work with their faculty to make sure they share information. Our transfer coordinator works with their transfer coordinator.”

“Hopefully I will be busier,” said NSU transfer students coordinator Suzanne Myers. “I’ll be increasing awareness for CSC students looking for a four-year program.”

For example, a student seeking a bachelor’s degree in accounting “will know what classes to take immediately at Connors,” she said.

Myers and Garber said that getting more students to pursue bachelor’s degrees or above can help boost the percentage of Oklahoma students with college degrees.

Hints of this partnership have already appeared at Connors’ downtown Muskogee campus with posters featuring NSU athletic schedule and Myers’ contact information.