OU Board of Regents will discuss improvements to Max Westheimer Airport, the restructuring of University College and increases to housing and food rates during its meeting Tuesday.
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. recommended the board to improve increased rates of housing and food for the 2024-25 school year in the agenda. Harroz proposed a $230 increase to OU’s standard meal plan, potentially raising it to $3,075.
Housing rates in Walker and Couch towers would be raised by between $110-$175, depending on the type of room. Headington Hall room rates would rise between $320-$467, Cross Village would see increases between $335-$480, residential colleges would see increases between $110-$440 and the David L. Boren Hall would see increases between $90-$130. Finally, Traditions Square East and Traditions Square West’s rates would increase by $510-$630.
The agenda included price comparisons between other schools in the Southeastern Conference, which OU joins this summer, and Oklahoma State University. OU is currently ranked 10th for the 2023-24 fiscal year. With these increases, OU would remain in that ranking spot.
As part of OU’s Campus Master Plan of Capital Improvement Projects, the Board of Regents will also consider a series of improvement projects to facilities across its three campuses, including improvements to Max Westheimer Airport with estimated costs totaling $52 million.
Max Westheimer Airport is a public-use airport owned and operated by OU. The agenda read that the improvements are to support continued maintenance and development, including the construction of a new taxiway, rehabilitation and improvement of all runways, taxiways and ramp areas, construction of a new air traffic control tower, expansion of parking and several security measures.
The board will also consider $10 million for renovations to the National Weather Center as part of the Campus Master Plan. The project, according to the agenda, details interior renovations and modifications to allow for the growth and redistribution of OU and government programs. The board will also vote on architectural firms to assist in the renovation.
The board will also discuss the creation of a weather research radar advanced manufacturing facility that would cost $40 million, according to the agenda. Approval would create a state-of-the-art radar and research center that would house offices, research space, radars and secure space to house a growing amount of defense-related research projects. The facility would be a multi-purpose weather and radar building in collaboration with the university and U.S. government.
Harroz also recommended in the agenda that the Board of Regents approve the restructuring of University College into the Academic Success Center.
In its current form, University College includes first-year academic advising, the Assessment Center, first-year learning and engagement programs, foundation courses, seminars and the Student Learning Center.
With this change, first-year students would no longer enroll in University College and would instead enroll directly in their major's college. The restructuring would take effect in July ahead of the fall 2024 semester.
Operations existing under the current University College structure such as the Center for Major and Career Exploration, the Center for Student Advancement and the Student Learning Center, would continue to exist under the provost’s office as part of a new Academic Success Center.
This restructuring would come over 80 years after the founding of University College in 1942, which was one of the first in the nation to cater directly to first-year students.
The Board of Regents will also vote on the approval of the Gallogly College of Engineering Master Plan and its addition to the Campus Master Plan. The project, according to the agenda, would address and review possible expansion or renovation to several existing buildings within the college. The college currently occupies space in eight buildings on OU’s Norman campus.
The plan would aim to review Felgar Hall, which was constructed in 1910 and has undergone several renovations and is still in need of more, and possibly consolidate programs to enhance the education experience for all students, the agenda read.
The regents will vote on architectural firms to assist in creating a master plan to maximize storage space and consolidate programs, the agenda read. The total project cost is expected to be $70 million.
Following Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order in December calling for a review of diversity, equity and inclusion, OU announced it would rename its Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the Division for Access and Opportunity. The OU Board of Regents agenda included a title change for Belinda Higgs Hyppolite from vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion to vice president for access and opportunity.
During the meeting, the OU Board of Regents will also appoint a new chair and vice chair to serve a one-year term.
Last year, the board appointed Regent Natalie Shirley as its chair and Regent Eric Stevenson as its vice chair. In keeping with tradition, Stevenson is expected to be appointed chair, according to Price College of Business Dean Corey Phelps.
Stevenson graduated from OU in 1985, a year before Sylvia Lewis became the first Black OU Board of Regents member. When Stevenson was appointed to the board in 2019 by Gov. Kevin Stitt, he was the first Black OU regent since 1999. Former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters appointed Melvin Hall and Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher to the board in April 1992.
If appointed, Stevenson would be the first Black chair of the OU Board of Regents since Hall became chair in 1998.
The OU Board of Regents will also discuss approval of the student activity fee budget, funding for OU’s new esports facility in Cross Village building B and various academic personnel changes.
The OU Board of Regents will meet at noon Tuesday in the Michael F. Price College of Business.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Peggy Dodd and Karoline Leonard. Natalie Armour and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
