Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry Breaks Ground on New Facility

Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry Breaks Ground on New Facility

Northeastern State University (NSU) recently broke ground on the planned new home for the Oklahoma College of Optometry.

The college on the NSU campus is the only one of its kind in the state and one of 24 optometry colleges in the nation.

“This morning, we start the construction of a building that will match the reputation of the level of instruction and the level of patient care that has been provided here for decades,” NSU President Steve Turner said.

When complete, the 78,000-square-foot complex will provide nearly triple the usable space of the current optometry school and will house additional exam lanes, labs, classrooms, clinical conference rooms, seminar rooms, an auditorium and optical shop.

According to President Steve Turner, it is the most expensive construction project in NSU history at a projected cost of $39.3 million.

The university secured support from various stakeholders, including the Oklahoma Legislature, Cherokee Nation, the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma and others, including private donors, alumni and faculty members, to help make the new college vision a reality.

A longtime partner to the Cherokee Nation, Northeastern State University has served as the eye care provider for Cherokee citizens since the college’s founding in 1979.

Officials said the new facility will complement other comprehensive and specialty services provided by various NSU College of Optometry (NSUOCO) clinics throughout Green Country. “By investing $5 million in the NSU College of Optometry, we are investing in a brighter future and equipping communities and families across our reservation with the tools necessary to improve health outcomes for generations to come,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said.

Dr. Kyle Tate, president of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, said a strong relationship has long existed between the association and NSUOCO and that it has resulted in a great reputation for the college nationwide.