Southeastern announces Tribal Gaming and Hospitality degree pathway in conjunction with UNLV
Photo by Dan Hoke attached: (L-R) Tammi Tiger, Director of the Tribal Education Initiative at the UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality; Dr. David Cárdenas, Dean of the UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality; Dr. David Whitlock, President of Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Chad Harp, Executive Director of Tribal Relations at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
SE Communications
DURANT – Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the Tribal Education Initiative at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality announced a partnership to educate and prepare students for careers in Tribal gaming and hospitality enterprises in a ceremony on the Southeastern campus on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The ceremony featured the signing of a 2+2 articulation agreement opening doors for Southeastern students to seamlessly transfer credits to UNLV’s College of Hospitality, where they can complete their bachelor’s degree with a focus on Tribal Gaming or Hospitality Management. Students can choose to study in person on the UNLV campus or entirely online.
Southeastern President Dr. David Whitlock and Dr. David Cárdenas, dean of the Harrah College of Hospitality, were signatories to the agreement at the ceremony. The partnership will directly impact Southeastern’s partner tribal nations, who will have immediate access to local students with a degree from the pre-eminent hospitality and gaming school in the nation.
“This will be an outstanding partnership for students in our area, who will have the opportunity to stay in Oklahoma, get an education from the AACSB-accredited John Massey School of Business at the best regional university in the state as well as the best hospitality and gaming school in the country, and work with tribes in Oklahoma,” Whitlock said. “These types of partnerships are great pathways for students, and we appreciate the collaboration with the Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV.”
“Education is the best investment you can make,” said Cárdenas, “and we’re so excited to work with Southeastern to expand opportunities for students. Through partnerships like this, we’re not only growing our program; we’re also helping Tribes across nations build a strong educational foundation in hospitality, tourism, and gaming.”Current Southeastern students interested in pursuing this pathway should contact Chad Harp, executive director of tribal relations, at charp@se.edu.