Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

Tonkawa, Oklahoma’s people and heritage
play a significant role in the development
of Northern Oklahoma College. After the
1893 Cherokee Strip Land Opening, the
government provided school lands as it
had done after other openings. From the
beginning there was much interest in
higher education.
The history of NOC began in 1901 when
the Honorable James Wilkin realized the
need for a secondary school in the Tonkawa
area. After significant political efforts, the
Sixth Territorial Legislature passed an
appropriation bill on March 1, 1901 for the
establishment of the University Preparatory
School at Tonkawa. The doors opened to
217 students and seven faculty members.
During the first two decades, the school
served as a feeder institution for the
University of Oklahoma and paralleled the
university curriculum of music, foreign
languages, business, literature and military
science. The school served as an educational
center for the cultural and performing arts,
a distinction that continues today with the
Kinzer Performing Arts Center and the
Renfro Center.
In June 1999, Northern purchased the
former Phillips University campus in Enid
to expand public educational offerings.
The Bridge program, a partnership with
Northwestern Oklahoma State University,
was developed to encourage smooth transfer
for students.
NOC also played a large role in the
development of the University Center in
Ponca City, providing administration services
and course offerings beginning in 1999.
In August 2003, NOC joined in a partnership
with Oklahoma State University to
create the Gateway Program in Stillwater,
which expands opportunities for students
who want to meet
admission requirements
to OSU after successfully
completing twentyfour
credits at NOC.
Northern is the leader
among Oklahoma colleges
in technological
advances in developing
online and interactive
television courses that
serve students in rural
and remote areas who
could not otherwise
attain a college degree.
Northern Oklahoma
College offers an affordable,
quality education. Northern offers
choices to students who select the place,
price and programs that fit their lives.
Alumni become learners, earners and leaders
prepared to transfer and pursue additional
degrees or enter the workforce.
The students, faculty and staff give the
three campuses distinct character and they
are making a difference to the thousands
who achieve their goals at Northern.
Northern Oklahoma College creates lifechanging
higher education experiences
for students.
Currently, construction of additional residence
halls on the Tonkawa and Enid campuses
marks another milestone in Northern’s
history of providing the best living and
learning environment to assist students in
reaching their career goals.
Today, Northern serves approximately
5,000 students. For the third consecutive
time, the college has been selected by
the Washington-based Aspen Institute as
one of the top 150 community colleges in
the nation and the only one selected
in Oklahoma.
NORTHERN
OKLAHOMA
COLLEGE
Central Hall was the first and only
building on the Tonkawa campus until
1906. Although construction was authorized
in 1901, Central was not occupied until
fall classes began in September 1902.
The building was (and still is) brick and
limestone and originally had a cupola or
“belfry-type steeple” and final cost was
$23,000. It has four stories. All classes
were taught in Central the first four years.
Today, Central Hall is now devoted to the
Language Arts Division; i.e., English
composition, Oral Communication,
Mass Communications (journalism and
radio broadcast), Developmental Reading,
KAYE-FM The Source college radio station
and The Maverick college newspaper office.
O K L A H O M A P A R T N E R S
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