Correction: This story was updated at 7:20 a.m. to correct a figure related to athletic department net revenue projections.
The OU Board of Regents will discuss tuition and fee rates, dean salaries and a policy regarding trespass warnings at its Thursday meeting.
The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. in Ardmore.
Tuition and student fees
The agenda shows a proposed 3% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate and graduate students for the Norman campus and OU College of Law.
The cost for a full-time undergraduate resident would be $5,093.25 per semester, showing $150 more than last year’s $4,943.25. The cost for a full-time undergraduate nonresident would be $14,150.25 per semester, $417 more than last year’s $13,733.25.
A graduate resident student would see a $11.50 increase, totaling $393.75 by credit hour. A graduate nonresident would see a $32.50 increase, totaling $1,112.75 by credit hour.
OU College of Law would see a 5% increase in tuition and mandatory fees. A resident student would see a $29.15 increase, totaling $612.65 by credit hour. A nonresident student would see a $52.90 increase, totaling $1,111.90 by credit hour.
Over the past five years, OU has raised tuition and mandatory fees for resident undergraduates by 1.8% per year and for nonresident undergraduates by 2.3% per year. According to the agenda, OU has significantly increased tuition waivers, scholarships and grants that have lowered costs for students.
The agenda also shows a $30 semesterly fee for members of OU fraternities and sororities. Funds raised from the fee would be used to hire additional Greek Life staff to provide support for students, including risk management and leadership development, implement hazing prevention, alcohol education and training for student leaders.
If approved, the increase will be effective fall 2025.
Last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a press briefing he believed universities did not need a tuition increase and instead should focus on incentives for tenured professors.
“I don’t think we’ve gotten all the efficiency out of our universities,” Stitt said. “I would encourage the boards to look for efficiencies, look for the tenured professors that maybe aren’t teaching as many classes as they should. Those are the things that I would continue to push before they do a tuition increase.”
Dean salaries
The board will consider the salaries of several newly-appointed deans.
Michael Markham, who was appointed dean of Dodge Family College of Arts and Science on April 10, would see a $380,000 salary.
Paul Gilmore, who was appointed dean of Honors College on April 16, would see a $225,000 salary.
Robert Palmer, who was appointed dean of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences on April 30, would have a $420,000 salary.
Laku Chidambaram, who was appointed dean of Price College on May 20, would see a $505,000 salary, which was increased from $442,089.
Athletic revenue
The board will consider approving the budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which shows the projected net athletic revenue.
According to the agenda, the athletics department shows a proposed budget of $165 million which include an increased $46 million projection on conference distributions, a $3 million increase in ticket sales and an additional $12.7 million in media and miscellaneous revenue.
On May 24, OU Daily confirmed OU athletics would lay off 5% of its staff as it starts its process of revenue sharing with student athletes. In the email sent by athletics director Joe Castiglione, he shared he would also receive a cut from his compensation.
Peaceful environment policy
The board will consider revisions to a policy regarding administrative trespass warnings on all campuses.
The Preservation of the Peaceful Environment Policy will be revised to reflect current procedures, which are silent on the issuing authority for a “notice to vacate.”
According to the agenda, the board would remove the “notice to vacate” form from board approval level, allowing each campus to modify the form to reflect their campus operations.
Student health plan premiums
OU is requesting an 11.4% increase in premium costs for student health plans due to claims experience.
For the annual coverage, which would be effective Aug. 15-Aug. 14, 2026:
• Students only: $2,714.
• Spouses only: $2,442.
• Children only: $2,173.
For the fall coverage, which would be effective Aug. 15-Jan. 11, 2026:
• Students only: $1,132.
• Spouses only: $1,019
• Children only: $906.
For the spring and summer coverage, which would be effective Jan. 12-Aug. 14, 2026:
• Students only: $1,623.
• Spouse only: $1,460.
• Children only: $1,299.
For summer coverage, which would be effect May 11, 2026-Aug. 14, 2026:
• Students only: $725.
• Spouse only: $652.
• Children only: $580.
According to the agenda, the student health plan rates are reviewed and adjusted each academic year. No changes would be made to the plan design and Blue Cross Blue Shield will continue as the plan carrier for the 2025-26 academic year.
Weather and Advanced Technology Center
The board will consider authorizing the university to hire and pay a construction company to build a Weather and Advanced Technology Center.
The center, which was approved as part of the Campus Master Plan at the board’s March 2024 meeting, would provide research space for radar development and fabrication, house research projects and space for advanced manufacturing.
The agenda shows the project would have a budget of $40 million. It is proposed that the board approve the budget and authorizes the university to hire and make payments in an amount not to exceed $33 million for construction.
According to the agenda, funding for the project is budgeted from state sources.
Rendering of Weather and Advanced Technology Center.
Rendering of Weather and Advanced Technology Center
Life Sciences Laboratories building
The board will consider the project budget and construction of a new Life Sciences Laboratories Building, which would replace the recently demolished Sutton Hall.
The project was first approved by the board in March 2024 as part of the Campus Master Plan of Capital Improvement projects.
According to the agenda, the plans call for the construction of an about 105,000 square-foot science building located next to the Physical Science Center and will hold 25 teaching labs, preparation space, a 250-person auditorium classroom and additional support spaces.
While the estimated partial total cost for the project is $20 million, OU is requesting $12 million for the construction of site improvements and infrastructure, installation of foundations and piers and early access to materials needed for construction. The amount includes cost of work, construction manager compensation, fees, bonds, insurance and owner contingency.
The $12 million has been identified as available and budgeted from state and university funds, according to the agenda.
The board will also discuss design development phase plans and authorize preparation of construction documents.
Faculty Senate expansion
The board will consider revisions to the Norman campus faculty and Faculty Senate Charter proposed by the Faculty Senate.
The agenda states the changes are to modernize language, align with current practices and enhance shared governance of campus.
Key changes include updated language to align with current terminology, broadening the definition of faculty to include all full-time faculty and increasing the senate size from 50 to 60 senators.
In February, the Faculty Senate voted to send the revisions to the full faculty for a vote. The vote, which was conducted online from April 28-May 2, received 375 votes, passing with 86-94% in favor of the revisions.
