Northwestern's new e-commerce program records good enrollment at NWOSU

The E's for exciting
Northwestern's new e-commerce program records good enrollment at NWOSU
By Scott Fitzgerald
Staff Writer

Response to a new curriculum in electronic commerce at Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid has been immediately supportive.
Dr. Bill Pennington, dean of the NWOSU-Enid campus, reported Friday school officials have received nearly 130 enrollments this week for the new bachelor's degree program school officials refer to as e-commerce.
"It's an exciting program," Pennington said.
The dean joined 17 others Friday at NWOSU in a forum hosted by Rep. John Sellers, D-Enid.
Alex Pujari, dean of the School of E-Commerce at Northwestern's main campus in Alva, read a release from Northwestern president Dr. Tom J. McDaniel that officially announces the new program in Enid.
"We are very proud to bring this to the Enid community," Pujari said.
The curriculum offers students theoretical knowledge and hands-on laboratory practice in electronic commerce. Course work covers everything from law and marketing practices to network management and database design.
"What we teach is not just going to be theory. Our program is also hands-on," said Jerry Gustafson, a NWOSU professor in Enid.
Pujari said he has received requests about the e-commerce program from major corporations throughout the world.
An executive vice-president at Sun Microsystems approached Pujari recently at a convention in Las Vegas and told the dean Sun executives were looking at the program to train many of their employees.
"He told me, 'You are the only school in the country offering a degree program,'" Pujari said.
Pujari told the audience Enid needed to "capitalize" on the program in the next 12 to 18 months before other major universities throughout the country begin looking at and offering E-commerce degrees.
The dean suggested approaching area industries and raising money for endowments and other means to expand the program.
"Do whatever you can to help out your campus," Pujari said.
Sellers, said he would inquire with Williams Corp. executives about raising money to expand the program and possibly hosting another conference in Enid.