OU Unveils Lead On University The Next Phase

The Strategic Plan Refresh Sets a Vision for OU to Lead as a Top-Tier Public Research University, Empower Students for Success, Lift the Health of Oklahoma, and Shape the Future for Generations to Come

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NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma is embarking on a bold and ambitious new chapter with a refresh of its “Lead On, University: The Next Phase” Strategic Plan that builds on the momentum and progress of the last five years while embracing transformative new aspirations to position it for even greater success. 

“For any institution to thrive, it must embrace change, anticipate challenges and seize new opportunities through clarity and purpose,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Progress demands a bold vision, a commitment to growth and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. This is a moment of recognition for all we have accomplished in the first five years of the Strategic Plan and a declaration of transformative new aspirations that position us for significantly greater impact in the next five years.”

Since the launch of its initial Strategic Plan in 2020, OU has risen to meet its Purpose of changing lives by sparking a spirit of excellence that has reshaped the University. A few of those defining achievements include:

• Ensuring an OU education remains affordable and accessible, especially for those with the greatest need. While college tuition skyrocketed nationwide, an OU degree is more affordable today than it was five years ago. Over the last five years, need-based aid has increased by 38%, the number of scholarships awarded to students has risen by more than 20%, and resident freshmen have seen a nearly 30% reduction in net tuition and fees.
• Growing enrollment across the University while ensuring more students earn their degrees. This year, total enrollment across all OU campuses rose 5.7% – the University’s largest percentage increase in nearly 50 years. OU also welcomed four consecutive record-breaking freshman classes, grew new student enrollment at OU Health Sciences by 18% in just two years, and catapulted online enrollment by more than 100% in five years. At the same time, OU’s six-year graduation rate has risen from 67% to 75.3%.
• Reimagining health care in Oklahoma by creating OU Health – Oklahoma’s first and only research-driven academic health system. In addition to delivering world-class care to more Oklahomans than ever, in just three years bold structural changes have transformed the clinical enterprise from a $1.5 billion organization to a thriving $3 billion organization that has emerged as the state’s top-performing health system. Plans also are underway to expand Stephenson Cancer Center to Tulsa and Norman to further extend life-saving cancer care to communities in need.
• Fueling innovation and economic prosperity as Oklahoma’s leading research engine. OU’s research enterprise achieved an average 12% annual growth rate for awards over the last four years and has the 4^th-fastest rate of growth in research in the nation. 
• Launching a historic $2 billion fundraising campaign. The University is approaching the $1.4 billion mark of its ambitious $2 billion goal, with donors contributing $330 million to date toward student support – the campaign’s top priority.

“At the University of Oklahoma, we refuse to stand still,” Harroz said. “As we reflect on our achievements and the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, we recognize the need to sharpen our focus, maximize our impact and build on our momentum.”

The refreshed Strategic Plan is comprised of five updated central Pillars that define how the University will fulfill its Purpose and Values:

1. Lead as a Top-Tier Public Research University
2. Empower Students for a Life of Success, Meaning, and Impact
3. Ascend as ONE OU – Unified by our Purpose, Values, and Strategic Plan
4. Lift the Health of Oklahoma
5. Shape the Future Through Discovery, Creativity, and Innovation

Within these Pillars, the refreshed Strategic Plan declares OU’s ambition to become an AAU institution, the gold standard of academic achievement; maintain its commitment to affordability and accessibility; advance Oklahoma’s health and well-being by, in part, reducing cancer mortality by 10% and the cardiovascular complications and death from diabetes by 30%; lead the way in civic education to help students discover their purpose and responsibilities as citizens; leverage key partnerships to develop a coordinated “Strategic Plan” for the state of Oklahoma; unite as One University its campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa, as well as OU Online, as a collective force for progress; and harness its strengths to lead globally and confront society’s most pressing challenges.

“Our refreshed Strategic Plan builds on the strong foundation we’ve established, particularly in forging partnerships that drive innovation and opportunity for Oklahoma,” Harroz said. “Few measures are as pivotal to a state’s prosperity and health as a strong alliance with its flagship public research University. While our original Strategic Plan laid the groundwork for success, this next phase is about amplifying our impact – deepening collaborations, strengthening our state and changing lives like never before.”

The process to refresh OU’s Strategic Plan began nearly one year ago. It included oversight from the University’s Executive Steering Committee and a 24-member cross-campus working group comprised of students, faculty and staff from all three OU campuses. The Board of Regents approved the Strategic Plan refresh at its meeting yesterday.

Learn more about OU’s refreshed Strategic Plan, “Lead On, University: The Next Phase,” at ou.edu/leadon.

During the meeting, the Regents also:

• Approved revisions to the Campus Master Plan of Capital Improvement Projects for the Norman, OU Health Sciences and OU-Tulsa campuses, including:    
  • An update to the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Master Plan to reflect ongoing preparations to renovate the west side of the stadium.
  • A change to the cost of the Gallogly College of Engineering Master Plan to reflect the proposed donor funding for the project.
• Authorized the University to purchase five airplanes to expand OU’s No. 1 ranked School of Aviation. The purchase coincides with a multi-year plan to increase freshman enrollment while expanding the school’s fleet with modern, state-of-the-art airplanes.
• Approved academic and administrative appointments, including David Ebert as interim chief AI officer and Miloš Savić as dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies.

The board is set to next meet in June.