OSU News


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Grandparent University Registration Now Open!
Thursday, March 29, 2007 (200 reads)

It's time to enroll in this year's Grandparent University, which takes place June 21-22. GPU is a two-day summer camp for grandparents and their fully-registered OSU legacies.

Participants get to enroll in a major and "graduate" at the end of the camp. This year's majors are architecture, art, athletic training, aviation, broadcasting, child care, fashion, interior design and veterinary medicine.

To register for GPU 2007, you can complete an online registration form, or you may download a registration packet and fax in your registration or you can call in your registration at 800.433.4678.

State’s Most Advanced Telescope Added to OSU
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 (137 reads)

Oklahoma's largest, most technologically advanced telescope was installed at OSU's H.S. Mendenhall Observatory the week of February 9–15.

The telescope will be used to discover planets orbiting other stars, track asteroids which threaten to collide with Earth, and measure the changing brightness of objects whose light output varies with time.

Spring 2007 Graduation Fair This Week
Monday, March 26, 2007 (92 reads)

It’s that time of year, graduation is approaching! Parents and seniors alike are full of questions. Make sure you or your graduating senior attend the Spring 2007 Graduation Fair on Tuesday, March 27 from noon to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fair provides an opportunity for seniors to receive information about products and services related to commencement. During the graduation fair, seniors can order their cap and gown as well as their personalized announcements. They also can take advantage of reduced prices on graduation and alumni apparel and most importantly learn more about the OSU Alumni Association.

“Centennial Voices” to Celebrate Oklahoma Authors and Women’s History Month
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 (161 reads)

TULSA – An exceptional group of Oklahoma authors will gather this month for a celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial anniversary and Women’s History Month.

Oklahoma State University-Tulsa’s Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers and Tulsa Community College will present “Centennial Voices” on Tuesday, March 27th at 7 p.m.

Hall of Fame authors Rilla Askew, S.E. Hinton, Billie Letts, Wilma Mankiller and Joyce Carol Thomas will present readings and autograph books. Clifton Taulbert, the Center’s literary ambassador, will also make a special appearance.

Cowboy Baseball in Full Swing
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 (111 reads)

Cowboy Baseball is in full swing as the team is ranked 14th and has a 17-5 record on the season thus far. Most recently, the Cowboys hosted Hartford and took the series 3-1.

They will return to action on Friday as they open Big 12 Conference play in Lawrence, Kan., against the Kansas Jayhawks. Their next home series will be March 30 – April 1 against Baylor.

2007 Miss American Indian OSU Pageant
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 (104 reads)

The 2007 Miss American Indian OSU pageant will be held April 6. The 2006 Miss American Indian OSU, Sasha Big Hair, will hand over her crown at the Wes Watkins Center.

The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship, while the first runner-up receives a $500 scholarship.

The participants will be judged on a personal interview with the judges, gourd dancing, traditional wear, platform competition, evening wear and extemporaneous question competition.

For more information on about the Miss American Indian OSU pageant, contact the Multicultural Student Center at 405-744-0401.

OSU Seeks Energy Managers
Friday, March 16, 2007 (163 reads)

Oklahoma State University is searching for energy managers for each of its campuses as the key first step in a comprehensive energy conservation initiative expected to save the OSU System more than $30 million over the next seven years.

OSU will hire eight energy managers to guide implementation of a customized, multi-year conservation education program developed in partnership with national leader Energy Education Inc. (EEI). Approved in January by the OSU/A&M College Board of Regents, the partnership with EEI is part of OSU’s efforts to prevent escalating utility costs from encumbering its educational pursuits and mission.

Drop 'Em a Line!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 (97 reads)

Be part of the excitement as the Cowgirls prepare for their first trip to the NCAA tournament in 11 years. You can send a message of congratulations and well wishes to the girls by clicking here.

Cowboys Accept bid to NIT
Monday, March 12, 2007 (134 reads)

Stillwater, Okla. - Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Basketball team has accepted a bid to play in the National Invitation Tournament. The Cowboys will play Marist College on Tuesday night at 9 p.m. inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Tickets for the first-round matchup with Marist are available on-line at www.okstate.com. Ticket prices are $15 for reserved seating (floor and level 200), $10 for general admission (level 300) and $6 for OSU students. Student tickets can only be purchased at the ticket office windows at Gallagher-Iba Arena beginning Monday morning at 8 a.m.

For a complete tournament bracket, click here.

Strathe Named Interim Leader
Tuesday, March 06, 2007 (259 reads)

OSU Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Marlene I. Strathe is serving as interim System CEO and President of Oklahoma State University from March 1 until a new president assumes office.

The nine-member OSU/A&M Board of Regents held a special session Feb. 21 to discuss a transitional plan following the Feb. 17 announcement that OSU President and System CEO David J. Schmidly had been named the next president of the University of New Mexico.

“We are very pleased Dr. Strathe has agreed to serve in this capacity. She is an accomplished scholar and administrator, and she is very familiar with the OSU community,” said Joe D. Hall, chair of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents. “It is important during leadership transition that we remain committed to pursuing the priorities of importance to OSU and the System and that we sustain continuity and momentum. We have complete confidence in Dr. Strathe’s abilities to provide excellent leadership during this transitional period and we are also confident in the faculty and staff to continue fulfilling their important roles.”

Dr. Strathe joined OSU as Provost and Senior Vice President in July of 2003. As interim president and CEO, she will be responsible for OSU campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee, as well as the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa.

“I look forward to working with the Regents and the broad OSU community during this time and I appreciate the confidence they have shown by naming me the interim President and CEO of the System,” Dr. Strathe said.

Innovative fundraising initiative secures funds
Monday, March 05, 2007 (190 reads)

Oklahoma State University (OSU) announced today that it will benefit from more than $250 million in life insurance commitments to support athletic department initiatives through an innovative program entitled “Gift of a Lifetime.”

The announcement was made by OSU Athletic Director Mike Holder, who also serves as president of Cowboy Athletics, Inc. He said the money will be used to endow athletic scholarships, facilities and operations and will significantly advance the school's effort to be competitive in the Big 12 Conference.

The $250 million is in addition to the more than $200 million given recently by alums T. Boone Pickens and Sherman Smith to fund the construction of new athletic facilities.

OSU's “Gift of a Lifetime” program involves selected alums in a broad age spread who have qualified for $10 million individual life insurance policies and agreed to name Cowboy Athletics the beneficiary.

Cowboy Athletics is paying the premiums. So far, 25 alums have qualified for the program, which is a form of testamentary giving.

The idea for “Gift of a Lifetime” came from Pickens, one of the nation's most generous philanthropists and founder and chairman of BP Capital, a Dallas, TX-based energy investment fund.

It is believed to be the first time collegiate athletics has used a life insurance program on such a grand scale, Holder said.

Pickens, a pioneer in the field of corporate health and fitness, said that “Gift of a Lifetime” gives participants the ability to monetize good health. “It is an easy way for qualified individuals to give, with the proceeds from life insurance policies secured with a pool of like-minded colleagues who share a common commitment to their institution.”

“Our initial discussions with Boone on this subject quickly shifted from a 'what if?' to a 'why not?' conversation,” Holder said. “One thing led to another and we sought guidance of top insurance experts to research the idea. This program is evidence of our loyal supporters willingness to embrace new ways to help their university by leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit OSU Cowboys and Cowgirls for generations to come.

“We have a bold vision with OSU Athletics to build a championship-caliber program which will be self-sufficient and therefore benefit academics as well,” said Holder. “We have been behind the curve in the Big 12 in several of our sports and this helps address that problem long-term. Boone's donation and 'Gift of a Lifetime' are wonderful for longer term stability, but they do not address the current and projected budget deficit.”

“This program was an ambitious and creative undertaking by the athletic department and they are to be commended,” said Interim OSU System CEO and President Dr. Marlene Strathe. “We need to carefully review this and other initiatives to determine if they have application as we enhance our fundraising to provide essential support for scholarships, fellowships and scientific research.”

OSU unveils long-term campus master plan
Monday, March 05, 2007 (170 reads)

(STILLWATER, OK) - The Oklahoma State University/A&M College Board of Regents recently approved the OSU Master Plan 2025, a long-range vision for development of the Stillwater campus.

The 2025 plan is a complement to the five-to-seven year campus master plan approved last year which is guiding an $825 million capital improvement project that will transform OSU’s main campus and enhance academics, student life, athletics and infrastructure.

“This is an important step in the history of this great university,” said OSU Interim System CEO and President Marlene Strathe.

“I commend the Regents for their foresight and appreciate Joe Weaver for his leadership in working across the campus and the community to develop a blue print that will guide OSU for many, many years.” Strathe added.

Since July 2006, Weaver, associate vice president and chief budget planning officer, has been leading the plan’s development; an endeavor that drew heavily on talents within OSU’s School of Architecture and involved dozens of campus groups as well as representatives of Stillwater’s city government.

“We started by visiting the deans of the academic colleges to do a needs-assessment and then expanded the assessment to all areas on and off campus,” said Weaver.

Representatives from the city planner’s office participated in the planning process and helped advance concepts for merging the campus and community.

“It’s an incredible effort on behalf of OSU’s administration to not only conduct the campus master planning process in-house but to also look beyond the boundaries of the campus,” said Paula Dennison, director of Development Services for the City of Stillwater.

“The coordination is a great way to build relationships between the university and the community and develop connections that can be seen and experienced,” Dennison said.

“The 2025 plan provides a glimpse not only at the future of the campus but also its place within the Stillwater community,” Weaver added.

The plan has also given rise to a Long-range Facilities Planning Group that will manage the 2025 vision and its evolution. In addition, architectural, engineering, mechanical systems and construction management representatives serving on the group will provide oversight on all campus construction projects with budgets exceeding $2 million.