OU Board of Regents will discuss health insurance rates, improvements to the Physical Sciences Center and L. Dale Mitchell Park and athletic department revenue at its meeting Tuesday.
The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at Cameron University in Lawton.
Athletic revenue decline
The board will hear the quarterly financial analysis of all OU campuses, which includes athletic department revenue.
OU Athletic department showed a revenue of roughly $107.4 million on June 30, roughly $12 million less than the revenue reported on June 30, 2024.
According to the agenda, the decrease was primarily driven by conference distributions, noting OU received $12.5 million in the fiscal year 2025 for the Southeastern Conference transition compared to the $38 million received in fiscal year 2024 from the Big 12 Conference.
The decrease is also reported to be partially offset by an $8 million increase in athletic ticket sales.
The athletic department also reported $14 million in housing discounts for the fiscal year 2024, as Headington Hall is managed by the athletic department. Housing discounts for the fiscal year 2025 were recorded for Housing and Food Service revenue.
The agenda also states there was a $50 million increase driven by $32 million in 1Oklahoma payments made to student athletes for name, image and likeness following Gov. Kevin Stitt’s January executive order.
Health insurance rates
According to the agenda, the board will consider the 2026 medical and dental premium rates for active employees and retirees younger than 65 for the Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses.
According to the agenda, OU will introduce two new healthcare vendors and renew contracts with existing vendors:
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma would manage medical coverage for active employees and pre-65 retirees.
• Rightway will manage a separate pharmacy benefit for active employees and pre-65 retirees
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma will continue to manage dental coverage for active employees and retirees.
The 2026 plan shows an increase of 6.40% for active, benefits-eligible employees and a 27.82% increase for non-Medicare-eligible retirees, according to the meeting’s agenda. Employees enrolled in the PPO plan would see their monthly contributions increase ranging from $4.30 to $54.02.
Employees in the HDHP plan would see monthly contribution increases ranging from $1.68 to $35.32.
Dental premium rates for employees and retirees would see an increase of 9.72% with monthly increases ranging from $3.04 to $8.70 on the basic plan and $5.02 to $14.38 on the alternate plan.
Life Science Laboratories
The board will consider the design development for the Life Science Laboratories Building and authorize preparation of construction documents.
The building was first approved by the Board of Regents in 2024 as part of the Campus Master Plan of Capital Improvement Projects to serve as space for lower-level chemistry and biosciences laboratory classes, provide new research facilities and replace outdated and aging laboratory spaces located in George Lynn Cross Hall and the Physical Sciences Center.
Life Science Laboratories
Rendering of Life Science Laboratories.
The 105,000 square-foot facility would be located south of the Physical Science Center and north Ellison Hall. It would contain 25 teaching labs, preparation space for the teaching labs, a 250-person auditorium classroom and house research space for life sciences, including all support spaces needed to support research staff.
The estimated partial total project cost would be $20 million, with funding from state funds and university sources, according to the agenda.
Physical Sciences Center renovations
The board will consider authorizing renovations to the Physical Sciences Center.
The project, which has an estimated $15.5 million budget, was approved by the board in 2021 as part of the Campus Master Plan of Capital Improvement Projects for the Norman campus, according to the agenda.
According to the agenda, the project includes:
• renovation of selected laboratories and other spaces
• replacement of the air handling systems serving the renovated areas
• roof replacement
• repair and replace failed glazing system components
• ancillary work
If approved, OU administration would hire and make payments with a maximum cost of $14.1 million.
Athletic director search committee
The board will consider the composition of the search committee for the athletic director position. This comes roughly two months after OU athletic director Joe Castiglione announced his upcoming retirement after 27 years in the position.
The search committee would be composed of:
• Randall Stephenson, chair of football and special adviser to the president and athletics director, as committee chair
• Hollye Hunt, vice president of executive affairs and chief of staff
• Armand Paliotta, vice president and general counsel
• David Surratt, vice president for student affairs and dean of students
• Bob Stoops, executive director and special adviser to the athletics director
• Amy Noah, vice president and chief advancement officer, as designee from outside the university
• Steve Gensler as faculty representative
• Kasie Crall as staff representative
• Kinzie Hansen as student representative
• Sam Bradford, former OU quarterback, as designee from outside the university
• Sherri Coale, former OU head women’s basketball coach, as designee from outside the university
• Dorothy Anderson, vice president and chief human resource officer, as ex officio member
L. Dale Mitchell Park improvements
The board will consider approving the total budget and design development plans of the first phase of the L. Dale Mitchell Park improvement project.
The agenda states the project’s phase 1 has an estimated budget of $3.3 million. If approved, the university would be authorized to hire and make payments not exceeding $2.5 million for phase 1. Funds to cover the costs of the project are budgeted from athletic department funds and private donations.
In 2023, the board approved the L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park Expansion and Improvements, which has an estimated total budget of $45 million. Phase 1 would address improvements to the outfield wall, batter’s eye, bullpens, facility fence and spectator areas beyond the outfield wall, according to the agenda.
The board is expected to consider future phases of work consistent with the facility master plan later this fall, according to the agenda.
Gifts, commitments
The agenda shows gifts and commitments received by the OU Foundation, including:
• $15 million from an anonymous donor to support OU athletics
• $2 million from an anonymous donor to support the athletic director’s discretionary fund and the women’s basketball championship fund
• $1.5 million from Jack Lee to support the Lee Family’s men’s basketball scholarship fund
• $1 million from an anonymous donor to support the athletic director’s discretionary fund
• $1 million from basketball player Trae Young to support OU men’s basketball program
• $1 million from Julia Chew to benefit OU athletics
• $1 million from Aron Marquez to support the OU football program
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure. Avery Avery copy edited this story
