NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma is helping set a national standard for research in collegiate esports. OU contributed both the largest dataset and the primary data collection researcher to the Benefits of Collegiate Esports Study, the most comprehensive analysis of its kind released by the nonprofit Voice of Intercollegiate Esports (VOICE).
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. represents the university on the VOICE Presidents Advisory Council, a national body of senior leaders guiding the future of collegiate esports. His leadership underscores OU’s commitment to innovation in emerging fields and to co-curricular student development.
“Esports brings together technology, academics and community in ways that prepare our students for the future,” Harroz said. “Our engagement with VOICE allows us to lead not just on our own campus, but across higher education nationally.”
The study found that collegiate esports participants demonstrate higher graduation intentions than their peers, with more than 94 percent planning to complete their degree. Nearly two-thirds are pursuing STEM majors, reinforcing the program’s strong connection to high-demand academic fields.
OU’s contributions were led by Joshua Riesenberg, a Ph.D. candidate in strategic communication and the university’s Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation competition coordinator, who served as the study’s primary data researcher and collector. Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation is a unit within the Division of Student Affairs.
“Since our program’s founding, OU has been committed to demonstrating the real impact of esports in higher education,” said Michael Aguilar, director of Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation. “This study validates what we’ve seen on our own campus: esports builds community, improves student success and opens pathways to academic and professional growth.”
David Surratt, Ed.D., vice president for student affairs and dean of students, emphasized how the findings align with the university’s broader vision. “Esports is more than competition. It fosters belonging, connects students to academic disciplines, and supports persistence through graduation,” Surratt said. “Our leadership in this research reflects OU’s commitment to student success in all its forms.”
In addition to its national collaborations, OU has formally established the Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation Research Committee, the first university-led committee of its kind in the collegiate esports space. The committee brings together faculty, students and industry professionals to examine the connections between gaming, student identity and academic outcomes. Its first major project explores how athletic coping skills influence belonging among collegiate esports athletes, with two peer-reviewed articles, two white papers and two case studies anticipated within the next academic year.
OU’s broader esports infrastructure continues to expand. The department now operates seven days a week, with programming supporting students on OU’s Norman, Health and Tulsa campuses, as well as virtually. Through K–12 outreach, streaming content, and varsity-level competitive teams, Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation offers immersive engagement across a range of experiences.
Since its founding, OU Esports has engaged more than 1,200 students in leadership, media, and competitive roles, with an average of 150 students actively participating in development each year. Today, the program supports a community of more than 4,500 members, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, prospective students and peers from other institutions. In spring 2024, the department reported a 97 percent retention rate among students in its development programs.
These efforts earned OU Esports the 2023 Esports Awards Global Collegiate Program of the Year, the highest international honor for a university esports program. The award recognizes excellence in program development, student impact and national leadership, positioning OU among the top innovators in the world of competitive gaming.
“Since joining OU Esports, I have grown as both a student and a leader,” said John Morgan, a senior majoring in sports business and pursuing the esports business certificate in the Michael F. Price College of Business. “Through my roles as competition lead and head coach of OU’s Valorant team, I have built lasting friendships, gained professional connections, and developed skills that will prepare me for a career in athletic administration or the esports industry.”
OU’s investment in esports directly aligns with the university’s “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan. Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation advances Pillar 5—Shape the Future through Discovery, Creativity, and Innovation—by blending research, technology and student development in one of the fastest-growing sectors in higher education. The department also supports key goals across student well-being, leadership and career readiness.
The VOICE study has received national recognition and is slated for submission to academic journals. Through this work, OU continues to expand its role as a leader in collegiate esports innovation, research and policy development.
Learn more at voicecollegiate.org or ou.edu/esports.
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.
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