Correction: This story was updated at 9:13 a.m. on April 4 to reflect that OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. did meet with Rep. Kevin Hern. This article was updated at 12:48 p.m. April 8 to reflect that the D.C Area Alumni reception was hosted by the OU Foundation and not the OU Alumni Capital Club.
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. met with Oklahoma lawmakers this week to update them on university finances and plans for growth in Washington, D.C.
According to a statement from OU Marketing and Communications, Harroz discussed advancing the university’s priorities with key legislators and was accompanied by his wife, Ashley Harroz, and other university representatives.
In an email last month, Harroz unveiled revisions to the “Lead On, University” strategic plan called “The Next Phase.” Changes included removing the goal of OU being “attainable and affordable” for “ascend as ONE OU,” and the goal of being a place of “belonging and emotional growth” was swapped for the aim to “lift the health of Oklahoma.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Harroz discussed university funding priorities, “how things are going on campus” and future plans, his communications director, Maria Reynolds, wrote in an email.
“It was great to hear about OU’s growth and their vision for making Oklahoma even better,” Lankford wrote in an Instagram post on April 1.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) also met with Harroz, press secretary Kate Currie wrote in an email.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Harroz had breakfast cigars together, discussed how Cole can best represent the university at the national level and entitlement spending, which provides benefits for people who meet certain criteria, communications director Olivia Porcaro told OU Daily in an email.
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) and Harroz focused on OU’s College of Medicine, discussing its financial health and new dean, Ian Dunn. They also talked about Harroz’s aim to bring “top notch” specialty doctors to Oklahoma, according to an email from communications director Wesley Harkins.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and Harroz also met. Press secretary Zack Lissau wrote in an email to OU Daily that they have a strong working relationship and often discuss OU’s impact in Tulsa.
Harroz and other OU representatives also attended a D.C. Area Alumni and Friends Reception hosted by the OU Foundation and attended by members of the OU Alumni Capital Club, an organization of OU graduates in Washington, D.C.
Capital Club president Rainey Sewell told OU Daily in a text message Harroz gave a brief welcome speech to update alumni about student enrollment and fundraising.
Jonathan Lunardi, information and technology consultant, and Capital Club board member, said watching Harroz speak with the U.S. Capitol behind him was an impactful sight, and gathering with influential Sooners in D.C. is always encouraging.
Lunardi said an alumni he was with asked Harroz about urging from the Trump administration to cut diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Harroz said not much university policy has changed, because OU administrators don’t want to decrease inclusivity Lunardi said.
At least 45 universities are under investigation by the Trump administration for race-based discrimination through DEI policies, including OU’s Tulsa campus. Specifically, OU-Tulsa is being investigated for “alleged impermissible race-based scholarships and race-based segregation.”
Harroz said the university is feeling pressure from the administration to cut back on programming for transgender students, and they have, according to Lunardi.
“They’re waiting and seeing, but it really hasn’t affected them much at all,” Lunardi said. “And he really feels diversity is super important.”
According to Lunardi Harroz also briefly mentioned the new strategic plan and said they’ve reduced the cost of attending OU by 28%.
Twenty one Norman city representatives will be in Washington, D.C. April 7-9 for the annual Washington Fly-In, where they will meet with lawmakers and advocate for issues relevant to Norman business.
Chamber of Commerce President Scott Martin said Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman, Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant, Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle, Ward 8 Councilmember Scott Dixon and City Manager Darrel Pyle are part of the delegation, along with Martin, Chamber of Commerce members and two OU students.
The Norman representatives have meetings scheduled with all seven of Oklahoma’s delegation members and plan to discuss National Weather Center cuts and securing federal funding for the 36th Avenue Northwest expansion project and Max Westheimer Airport renovations.
Martin said the group of Norman representatives are “cheerleaders” for local business, and he is confident the trip will bring great outcomes for the city.
“With all that's going on right now around discussion on the federal level, we're excited to be able to go up there and bring the message of why what they're doing and how that impacts local businesses here in Norman,” Martin said.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Peggy Dodd, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Allie Clift and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
