NEWS
OKLAHOMA CITY – At the University of Oklahoma’s Board of Regents meeting, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. underscored the profound impact of state investment in its flagship university and outlined OU’s vision for continued partnership with the state. Harroz outlined a plan designed to accelerate Oklahoma’s path toward greater prosperity and health, seeking to build on OU’s achievements and set the stage for lasting economic and societal growth across the state.
Harroz reflected on the collaborative efforts between OU and state leaders, emphasizing the critical role of legislative support in advancing education, health care and economic prosperity. As the Oklahoma Legislature convenes next week for the 2025 regular session, OU is making a bold request for $75 million in state investment.
“When you look at those states we aspire to be, they’ve cracked the code: invest in high-performing public research universities,” Harroz said. “These investments drive health, research, new business and the prosperity of the population in the workforce that can help move you forward. Oklahoma is at a crossroads, but we know the path forward.”
OU’s $75 million request in additional state support would be used to recruit top-tier faculty, increase student scholarships and expand career and workforce-ready initiatives. This funding is essential to becoming the best value public research university in the country, Harroz said.
Thanking the legislature for their previous support, Harroz pointed to significant milestones achieved by the university in the past five years. Enrollment across OU’s three campuses has grown by nearly 6 percent, with a 20 percent increase in incoming freshmen on the Norman campus over the past two years. OU also has doubled its number of nursing graduates over the same time and expanded cancer care access to northeast Oklahoma, where a lack of access to NCI-designated cancer care was identified.
These efforts are bolstered by OU’s unprecedented research growth, including $411 million in annual research expenditures—a 12 percent increase that places OU among the top 8 percent of research universities nationwide and makes it the fourth-fastest-growing research institution in the country. Coupled with a 38 percent increase in need-based aid and a 28 percent reduction in net tuition and fees for Oklahoma students, OU is making higher education more accessible while driving innovation and economic impact across the state.
“Combining the highest-value public research university with excellence is the formula, and it works, but you have to do it, Harroz said. “Our request this year is to hit the gas pedal so that Oklahoma remains a land of opportunity, hope and promise for generations to come.”
Also during the meeting, the Regents took the following actions:
The Board is set to next meet in March.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
The University of Oklahoma has received a transformative gift from Jon and Shannon McCartney, which will name the McCartney Family Tunnel of Champions, the McCartney Family Gate of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and the McCartney Family Grand Lecture Hall in the Michael F. Price College of Business. The gift will also support the Inspiring Champions and the Athletic Director’s Discretionary Fund, in addition to establishing the McCartney DFW Career Trek program at Price College.
The University of Oklahoma today celebrated the opening of a new air traffic control tower at the OU Max Westheimer Airport. Standing 106 feet tall, more than double the current 52-foot facility, the new tower will modernize air traffic control operations and improve safety for pilots and students operating in the airspace.
Do I buy groceries or pay the electric bill? Should I pawn some of my belongings to afford my prescription? My child is sick, so I will have to miss work to take care of him. Those are just a few of the difficult choices that OU-Tulsa health professional students confronted during the Community Access to Resources Experience. The role-playing activity challenged students to navigate the financial, family and other pressures that can affect a person’s health and ability to follow medical advice. Held annually during the SCM Institute orientation week, the experience is designed to generate understanding and build empathy.
