The History

Oklahoma State University was founded as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College on Dec. 25, 1890, just 20 months after the Land Run of 1889. When the first students assembled for class on Dec. 14, 1891, no buildings, books or curriculum existed. 

Land-grant universities were made possible by the Morrill Acts of 1862, 1890 and 1994. They first granted federally controlled land to states to establish “land-grant” colleges. They were designed to be a departure from the typical liberal arts curriculum and a response to the industrial revolution. Land-grant colleges were designed to improve the world through education and research in agriculture, military tactics and mechanical arts. 

In 1894, two-and-a-half years after classes began in local churches, 144 students moved into the first academic building — later named Old Central and still located on the southeast corner of campus, housing the Honors College today. In 1896, Oklahoma A&M held its first commencement with six male graduates.

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 created a cooperative extension service associated with each land-grant institution. OSU has 77 Extension offices, one in each county. They provide practical, research-based knowledge for improving lives and communities. 

On July 1, 1957, Oklahoma A&M College became Oklahoma State University. Technical branches were established in Okmulgee in 1946 and in Oklahoma City in 1961. In 1990, these two technical branches were renamed OSU-Okmulgee and OSU-Oklahoma City; and in 2008, OSU-Okmulgee was renamed OSU Institute of Technology. OSU-Tulsa was formed in 1999 from a consortium of universities that were originally established in 1982. In July 1988, the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (in Tulsa) became the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2001, it became part of the OSU Center for Health Sciences, which also has an affiliation with its primary teaching hospital — OSU Medical Center. Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Cherokee Nation established the nation’s first tribally affiliated college of medicine in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which opened in August 2020.

OSU’s main campus is located in Stillwater, a north-central Oklahoma community with a population of around 50,000. Stillwater is approximately 60 miles from the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas and is readily accessible by interstate highway and air. Stillwater Regional Airport added daily air service to Dallas in 2016.

The university has an enrollment of more than 34,500 students on five campuses. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in many fields, as well as Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. Specialist in Education degrees are also offered in select fields.

Although OSU is a large, comprehensive university, its size does not minimize the personal attention each student receives. The individual is more than just a number at OSU. Students can count on personal attention in a friendly environment.

As a comprehensive land-grant institution, OSU offers many distinct advantages: nearly four million volumes in the library’s collection; modern research laboratories and equipment; excellent physical education, recreation and student union facilities; more than 500 student organizations; nationally recognized residence hall programs; outstanding cultural and athletic events; and 45 nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities that provide a stimulating educational and social environment.

The Strategy

Through teaching, research and Extension, the land-grant institutions steward a timeless responsibility: to raise successive generations of servant-leaders; to engage as vital members of their communities; to bring research and new knowledge to bear to prepare students for the world they will enter; and to extend critical knowledge and expertise to meet society’s most pressing problems — the “Grand Challenges” facing civilization.

In October 2022, OSU released its strategy to become the nation’s preeminent land-grant institution. The plan is deeply rooted in the university’s land-grant mission to serve the public good. Included in the plan are eight policy imperatives that include, among others, decreasing student debt through scholarships, new enrollment goals and a commitment to creating graduates who exhibit the four competencies of 1) professional preparedness, 2) engaged citizenship, 3) ethical leadership and 4) personal responsibility. The strategy also lays out a plan to capitalize on the intersection of the university’s research strengths with society’s greatest needs. 

Student Profile

OSU has a diverse student body. Students come from Oklahoma, across the nation and around the world. Of OSU's more than 36,100 students, approximately 73% are on the Stillwater campus, including students at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The remaining student population is spread over OSU-Oklahoma City, OSU Institute of Technology, OSU-Tulsa and the OSU Center for Health Sciences. 

More than 75% of the undergraduates enrolled are Oklahoma residents. International undergraduates consist of 1% and are from 58foreign countries. The total international enrollment is from 98 countries. Of the undergraduate population, 53% are women. U.S. minorities make up approximately 36% of the undergraduate student body. The six-year graduation rate of full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students is 66% for OSU-Stillwater and OSU-Tulsa.

There are 6,236 graduate students throughout the OSU system. Almost 4,000 of those students are on the Stillwater campus. Of the graduate students on all campuses, 40% are Oklahoma residents, 40% are out-of-state residents and 20% are from foreign countries. Females make up 53% and U.S. minorities make up 31.2% of the graduate student body.

An annual report regarding gender equity in OSU's athletic programs is available upon request from the Athletic Department.

Research

Research has been one of the three essential components of the OSU mission since the University’s inception. Research adds richness, depth and broader impact to the other mission components of teaching and outreach. In the sciences and engineering, basic research advances the frontiers of disciplinary knowledge; whereas, applied research improves quality of life and economic prosperity by bringing new products, processes and medicines to the marketplace. Research and creative innovations within the arts and humanities enhance how human beings view and understand the world we live in.

OSU’s faculty and students are engaged in research across the full spectrum of human endeavor and inquiry, including areas of state and national priority. In addition to disciplinary research in virtually all academic units on campus, OSU is strong in several areas of interdisciplinary research. Researchers involved in next generation sustainable energy span agricultural innovation, nutrition, engineering, toxicology, geosciences, economics and the social/behavioral sciences. OneHealth is an interdisciplinary framework that recognizes the interconnections between human health, animal health and a healthy planet. OSU OneHealth includes research as diverse as pandemic preparedness, veterinary medicine, ecology, psychology, exercise science and bioengineering—as well as basic research in the bench sciences. Unmanned systems research (including unmanned aircraft) brings researchers from several engineering disciplines together with experts in production agriculture, computer science, information systems and aviation education to create platforms, sensors, data management tools and new applications for this burgeoning field. Such interdisciplinary research strengths are enhanced by big data solutions, including OSU’s high performance computing facilities and advanced analytical expertise. Other strength areas include transportation, rural renewal, wheat and sod science, and factors associated with the opioid crisis.

The Division of the Vice President for Research administers research across the OSU System. The division is comprised of the following units:

The Research Administration office (research.okstate.edu) is responsible for research governance, operations and special programs including the OSU Researchers' Reception, the Regents Distinguished Research Awards, the President’s Fellows Faculty Research Award, the Otto S. Cox Graduate Fellowships for Genetics Research and the Niblack Research Scholars program. Other areas administered by the office include complaints of research misconduct, core facilities and facilities renovation/development programs, University cost-share and University research start-up programs.

The Office of University Research Compliance (research.okstate.edu/research-compliance) ensures OSU follows federal, state and University regulations that set forth requirements for certain kinds of research. Working through faculty committees, it oversees research involving human subjects, animal models, radiological materials, certain hazardous agents and recombinant DNA.

Central Sponsored Programs Administration (https://research.okstate.edu/faculty-resources/central-sponsored-programs-admin.html) is the document control center for the routing of all proposals and awards throughout the University. It provides support to faculty and staff (through information about funding opportunities and training seminars); manages campus-wide electric research administration systems (e.g., proposal submission, funding notification, and administration of awards); manages limited submission competitions; and posts online research expenditures. Additionally, contracting specialists provide guidance for compliance with federal export control regulations that govern the conduct of research and export of specific technologies.

The Division of the Vice President for Research is also home to several core research facilities. The High Performance Computing Center (hpcc.okstate.edu) provides supercomputing services and computational science expertise that enables faculty, staff and students to conduct a wide range of focused research, development and test activities. Its main objective is to facilitate research and aid in educational advancement by integrating state-of-the-art high performance computing technology for multidisciplinary units across the OSU campus and throughout Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State University Microscopy Laboratory (research.okstate.edu/microscopy) is a multi-user instrumentation facility for materials research spanning from nanotechnology to biology and medicine. Analytical capabilities include microscopy via electron beams, force probes and visible light, as well as nanomechanical and nanotribological probes. OSU's Animal Resources (research.okstate.edu/animalresources) handles the centralized housing and husbandry of animals utilized in research, and overseas the veterinary care of all OSU animals used for teaching testing and research.

Research Centers and Facilities

OSU has multiple research centers and facilities across the Stillwater campus and throughout the state.

The NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program leads a statewide initiative that conducts cutting edge research while building Oklahoma’s talent pipeline in STEM fields (http://okepscor.org). 

The Oklahoma Center for Microbiome Research (https://cas.okstate.edu/microbiology_and_molecular_genetics/oklahoma_center_for_microbiome_research/) has a thematic, multidisciplinary focus on microbiome science and fosters the careers of up-and-coming scientists in the microbiome field. 

The Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases (ocrid.okstate.edu) works toward understanding and treatment of a major health problem in the U.S.

The Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity (circaok.com), a collaboration between OSU and the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, is establishing the linkages between childhood difficulties and later physical health.

The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (https://go.okstate.edu/aerospace/) brings together researchers from all over the university and the state to advance unmanned aerial systems and related technologies and applications.

The Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center (food.okstate.edu) provides large and small businesses, producers and entrepreneurs access to faculty and staff with expertise in business and technical disciplines. The FAPC seeks to develop successful value-added enterprises in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Center (water.okstate.edu) aims to understand and manage Oklahoma water resources and resolve Oklahoma water issues by conducting research and disseminating the resulting knowledge. With expertise in a variety of disciplines, more than 80 faculty members across campus are involved in the Center’s activities.

The Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center (tulsa.okstate.edu/helmerich) is a state-of-the-art research, development, testing and education center located on the OSU-Tulsa campus. Faculty from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and materials science and engineering work collaboratively there on research and graduate education.

The Henry Bellmon Research Center houses six of OSU’s leading interdisciplinary research programs: synthetic chemistry, biodiversity, biophysics, photonics, bioforensics and biogeophysics. These are but a few of OSU’s research centers and facilities; for other examples and more detailed information, visit https://research.okstate.edu/centers-and-institutes.html

Professional and Continuing Education 

As a land-grant institution, Oklahoma State University embraces a distinct responsibility to provide accessible and impactful educational opportunities to the citizens of Oklahoma and beyond.

With a longstanding tradition of excellence in education and community engagement, OSU’s land-grant heritage is reflected in its commitment to serving diverse populations through professional and continuing education. This legacy continues today through hundreds of programs designed to address real-world challenges and empower individuals and communities to thrive—locally, nationally, and globally.

Every academic college at OSU contributes to this mission, offering a wide range of outreach and professional development initiatives. These include credit and non-credit professional development courses and micro-credentials to support individual continuing education, technical assistance to support business and economic development, and lifelong learning opportunities for individuals of all ages from early childhood to older adulthood. Visit OSU Professional and Continuing Education. 

Office of Individual Study

The Oklahoma State University Office of Individual Study offers online, self-paced undergraduate courses in multiple time frames including 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 12 months. Individual Study courses offer college credit and are ideal for individuals with busy schedules who desire a more flexible, self-paced format such as those working full-time, juggling family responsibilities, military members, and incarcerated individuals. Individual study students do not need to be admitted to OSU and includes in-state, out of state, and out of country students. 

OSU students can also enroll in Individual Study courses. Browse OSU's class schedule for "independent study." Yearlong courses have open start dates so students may begin a course anytime. Courses are delivered through the OSU learning management system, Canvas; however, students who do not have Internet access can participate in courses using print-based materials.

Call 405-744-6390 or visit is.okstate.edu for class descriptions, costs, and enrollment information. For information on all OSU online courses and degrees, visit osuonline.okstate.edu, call 405-744-1015, or email osuonline@okstate.edu.

Accreditation

Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities for the Midwest region of the United States. Accreditation is the process by which colleges, universities, and academic programs demonstrate their quality.   

At Oklahoma State University, various programs within the academic colleges hold specific area accreditation and are subject to review periodically based on the associated accrediting body. Area accreditation serves as a quality assurance process under which an external body evaluates services and operations of educational programs to determine if applicable standards are met. OSU holds more than 70 area accreditations across numerous fields of study. Below is the list of currently held area accreditations as reported by each college.

College of Arts and Sciences

Communication Sciences and Disorders is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Media and Strategic Communications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Multimedia Journalism is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Sports Media is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. B.M. Education, B.M. Performance, B.A. Music, B.S. Music Industry, M.M. Applied Performance, M.M. Conducting, and M.M. Applied Multiple Woodwinds are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). PhD in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). PhD in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). BA in Theatre is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

College of Engineering and Architecture Technology

Aerospace Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Architectural Engineering is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational Technical Education. Architecture is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Civil and Environmental Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Construction Engineering Technology is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Electrical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Electrical Engineering Technology is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Industrial Engineering & Management is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Mechanical Engineering Technology is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.

College of Education and Human Sciences

Apparel Design & Apparel Design and Technology is accredited by the Textile and Apparel Programs Accreditation Commission (TAPAC). Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Fashion Design and Merchandising is accredited by the Textile and Apparel Programs Accreditation Commission (TAPAC). Bachelor of Science in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND, Formerly CADE). Master of Science in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND, Formerly CADE). PhD in School Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association. PhD in School Psychology is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists. EDS is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists; 2026. Family and Consumer Sciences is accredited by the CAEP. Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers is accredited by the OEQA. Early Childhood Education is accredited by the OEQA. Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). The Child Development Lab School is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Child Development Laboratory is accredited by the Licensed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion is accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH). Bachelor of Science in Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Master in Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Counseling Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Therapeutic Recreation is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE) through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Education Leadership - School Administration is accredited by the ELCC (though will have transitioned to NELP Standards for the next report). School Administration is accredited by the ELCC (though will have transitioned to NELP Standards for the next report). Building Level Leadership is accredited by the CAEP. District Level Leadership is accredited by the CAEP. M.S. Educational Technology - School Library Media is accredited by the OEQA. Elementary Education is accredited by the CAEP. BS in Elementary Education is accredited by the Formerly ACEI; and has transitioned to OEQA, Oklahoma’s state accreditor. Secondary Education - Art Education is accredited by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA). B.S. in Secondary Education - English is accredited by the NCTE. Secondary Education - Foreign Language Education is accredited by the ACTFL. B.S. in Secondary Education - Social Studies is accredited by the NCSS. Secondary Mathematics Ed. (B.S. Content Area Degree, plus Secondary Teaching Cert. option) is accredited by the NCTM. Secondary Science Ed. (B.S. Content Area Degree, Secondary Teaching Cert. options) is accredited by the NSTA (for this last report; will transition to OEQA). M.S. in Teaching, Learning & Leadership: Reading & Literacy is accredited by the OEQA. Aerospace Administration and Operations is accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration. Applied Exercise Science is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education.

Ferguson College of Agriculture

Agriculture Education is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Landscape Architecture is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board. Natural Resource Ecology and Management - Forestry Option is accredited by the Society of American Foresters.

Spears School of Business

Accounting is accredited by the Federation of Schools of Accountancy. Accounting, Economics (previously Economics and Legal Studies in Business), Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Management Sciences & Information Systems, Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Accounting, Systems, and Auditing, Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics and Data Science, Economics is accredited, Finance Essentials, Property And Real Estate Management, Quantitative Finance, Travel And Tourism Management, Business Essentials, Business, Business Sustainability, Nonprofit Management, Sustainable Business Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Business Analytics and Data Science (previously Marketing Analytics), Sales and Service Excellence, Data Analytics, Information Assurance, Health Analytics, Business Administration: Executive Research, General Business is accredited, Entrepreneurship, Casino & Gaming Management, Hospitality and Tourism Analytics, Finance & Investment Banking, are all accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

College of Veterinary Medicine

The College of Veterinary Medicine is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education. The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE). The Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association.

General Education Area Designations

A course is qualified to be part of the general education curriculum if it meets the needs of students in all disciplines without requiring extensive specialized skills and satisfies all the criteria for a specific general education area.  The requirements for each general education area are as follows:

COWBOY COMPASS OUTCOMES-BASED GENERAL EDUCATION DESIGNATIONS

(Revised 5/1/2024)

QUANTITATIVE THOUGHT & LOGICAL REASONING – (Q) - 3 credit hours

Purpose:

Courses with the Quantitative Thought & Logical Reasoning designation equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and apply mathematical concepts in real-world contexts. These courses foster critical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem solving. By honing these skills, students are better prepared to make informed decisions, navigate numerical data, and appreciate the importance and practicality of mathematics in their personal and professional lives.

Learning outcomes:

1. Analyze relationships between varying quantities and recognize patterns in information.
2. Apply quantitative, geometric, or logical models to analyze and solve problems.
3. Form inferences using logical systems and mathematical information and communicate them effectively.
4. Accurately interpret and translate between appropriate multiple representations (symbolic, visual, graphical, numerical, or verbal) of logical or mathematical information.
5. Relate abstract generalizations of concepts to concrete instances of these concepts and generalize multiple instances of a phenomenon into broad observations.

REASONING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES – (N) - 6 credit hours, including one course with a designation of Laboratory-Based Inquiry – (L)

Purpose:

Courses with the Reasoning in the Natural Sciences designation provide essential insights into the fundamental principles underlying the physical and biological processes that govern our world. By acquiring a solid foundation in the natural sciences, students gain the ability to critically analyze the methods employed in scientific inquiry, comprehend the knowledge derived from these disciplines, and realize the interconnectedness of science and society.

Learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding in a particular branch of the natural sciences.
2. Assess evidence, interpretations, outcomes, and solutions within the framework of natural sciences.
3. Identify and address broad, far-reaching problems through scientific techniques.
4. Describe how human involvement in physical and biological processes affects our world.

LABORATORY-BASED INQUIRY – (L) - One course needed in conjunction with the Reasoning in the Natural Sciences requirement.

Purpose:

Courses with the Laboratory-Based Inquiry designation emphasize processes of scientific investigation using real-world applications in the natural sciences. Students engage in concrete experiences meant to strengthen skills of observation, analysis, and interpretation. Interacting with content in this way allows students to connect theoretical constructs with practical experiences and develops an ability to evaluate the credibility of others’ scientific findings.

Learning outcomes:

1. Apply the principles and techniques of scientific inquiry, e.g., formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments, making observations, analyzing data, and interpreting results.
2. Communicate procedures, results and conclusions of one's scientific inquiry.
3. Evaluate the credibility of Scientific information.

UNDERSTANDING HUMANITIES - HUMAN HERITAGE AND CULTURES – (H) - 6 credit hours

Purpose:

Courses with the Understanding Humanities - Human Heritage and Cultures designation emphasize the interpretation, analysis, and expression of ideas, values, and aesthetics that have played a significant role in shaping individuals and societies. These courses encourage students to analyze and interpret events and artifacts, while considering the diverse range of human ideas, cultural values, and aesthetics across various contexts. They often draw from disciplines such as history, philosophy, anthropology, archeology, cultural geography, modern and ancient languages, and cultural studies. In addition, they may pertain to music, art, drama, and dance courses that are not studio-based performance classes.

Learning outcomes:

1. Synthesize relationships of ideas, cultural values, or aesthetics to historic and contemporary cultures. 
2. Assess how ideas, events, texts, artifacts or arts shape diverse individual identities.
3. Analyze and interpret events and artifacts, and consider the diverse range of human ideas, cultural values, and aesthetics across various contexts. 
4. Enhance critical thinking, connect sources, and apply disciplinary concepts to generate coherent arguments related to the human experience.

EXPLORING SOCIETY AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR – (S) - 3 credit hours

Purpose:

Courses with the Exploring Society and Human Behavior designation allow students to explain society and human behavior in social and/or physical environments through use of theoretical and methodological constructs. These courses are based on empirical observation of human behavior rather than the study of aesthetics, ideas or cultural values. In these courses, students critically analyze generalizations about society, explore theoretical structures, and realize the role of empirical observation in social and behavioral structures.

Learning outcomes:

1. Interpret fundamental concepts of the social/behavioral sciences. 
2. Critically analyze generalizations about society and explore theoretical structures.
3. Describe and/or practice empirical observation using quantitative and qualitative methods in the social and behavioral sciences.
4. Compare and contrast dimensions of economic, social, or cultural diversity. 
5. Examine cultural, social, and historic dynamics that influence individuals and groups.
6. Apply social and behavioral science concepts to the practice of ethical and engaged citizenship to facilitate adaptation in a constantly changing society.

GLOBAL CULTURAL COMPETENCY – (G) - 3 Credit hours. Courses can be paired with another GE designation but may not be paired with the D designation.

Purpose:

Courses with the Global Cultural Competency designation are designed to cultivate critical thinking skills, cultural competency, and empathy necessary for navigating and appreciating diverse perspectives, identities, and experiences outside the United States. These courses equip students with the basic skills needed to successfully navigate a multicultural world, to reflect on historic legacies and present-day* dynamics, and provide a foundation for identifying and assessing potential avenues for positive change, growth, and development at a global level.

Learning outcomes:

1. Identify international dimensions of political, economic, ideological, and ethical perspectives and relate these to the complex systems of oppression, political ideology, globalization, or other similar dynamics.
2. Analyze the complex issues, problems, or obstacles that affect societies, economies, or the environment worldwide to determine the difficulties and possibilities that exist on a global scale.
3. Develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable individuals to navigate cultural differences, communicate respectfully, and collaborate across cultural boundaries.
4. Apply disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary theories and knowledge to comprehend diverse global social, cultural, and political perspectives
5. Apply concepts of global cultural competency to the practice of ethical leadership and engaged citizenship.
6. Identify the ways in which global cultural competency may emerge in student’s lives and careers through dimensions of personal responsibility and professional preparedness.
7. Engage in respectful communication with others, regardless of one’s perspective.

* Present-day is defined as approximately the last 5 years. A minimum of 25% of course content must fit the present-day definition.

DIVERSITY – (D) - 3 Credit hours. Courses can be paired with another GE designation but may not be paired with the G designation.

Purpose:

Courses with the Diversity designation are designed to cultivate critical thinking skills, cultural competency, and empathy necessary for navigating and appreciating diverse perspectives, identities, and experiences in the United States. Students will explore the ways in which social identities shape our human experience and reflect on historic legacies and present-day* dyanamics to develop the skills required to engage in respectful dialogue and collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Reflect on identity through the examination of one or more underrepresented groups in the United States related to socially salient categories, which may include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation.
2. Examine the ways that underrepresented groups define and express themselves and the context in which these developments occurred.      
3. Critically analyze theories and systems of cultural, societal, political, or economic power.  
4. Apply disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary theories and knowledge to comprehend diverse social, cultural, and political perspectives. 
5. Apply concepts of diversity to the practice of ethical leadership and engaged citizenship.
6. Identify the ways in which issues of diversity may emerge in students' lives and careers through dimensions of personal responsibility and professional preparedness.
7. Engage in respectful communication with others, regardless of one’s perspective.

* Present-day is defined as approximately the last 5 years. A minimum of 25% of course content must fit the present-day definition.

EXPRESSION THROUGH FINE ARTS AND LANGUAGES – (F) – OPTIONAL General Education courses to reach GE elective total.

Purpose:

Courses with the Expression through Fine Arts and Languages designation provide students with opportunities to apply experiential methods in order to analyze and understand the meaning and value of fine and language arts.  These courses encourage students to create, participate in, and interact with content through visual or performing arts*, creative writing†, and foreign languages.

Learning outcomes:

1. Interpret and apply the techniques and theoretical approaches to communication, performance, and/or production in visual arts, performing arts, creative writing, and foreign languages.   
2. Evaluate how individual and collective identities are expressed and shaped through the visual arts, performing arts, creative writing, or foreign languages.   
3. Examine cultural, social, and historic dynamics that influence visual, performing, and linguistic arts. 
4. Demonstrate knowledge and skill through artistic production, performance, and/or practical application. 

*Studio or performance dimensions must be less than 50% of course content.

† Creative writing, a form of artistic expression, draws on the imagination to convey meaning through the use of imagery, narrative, and drama. This is in contrast to analytic or pragmatic forms of writing. This genre includes poetry, fiction (novels, short stories), scripts, screenplays, and creative non-fiction.

WRITTEN, ORAL & VISUAL COMMUNICATION COMPETENCIES

Learning outcomes and requirements

(Revised 10/1/2024)

The exchange of ideas through written, oral, and visual communications is critical to students’ success. A student who is an effective communicator can appropriately and productively engage with various academic, professional, and public audiences. The integrative concepts of written, oral, and visual communication develop through courses that instruct students in the principles and practices of these communication competencies. Skills in these areas will also serve the individual throughout their lives, including in career, community, civic society, and social and leisure activities. Courses with communication competency attributes must have communication-related content and assignments worth a minimum of 20% of the overall grade. Courses with multiple competencies must meet the minimum percentage for each competency. Throughout, lists of examples of possible types of projects are for illustrative purposes and not exhaustive.

Courses including a Written (W), Oral (O) or Visual (V) competency will be given a corresponding attribute in Banner. Requirements for written, oral, and visual communication competencies will pertain to H, S, D, G, and F courses. For Q, N, and L courses, students will demonstrate their ability to communicate in a manner appropriate to the discipline.

Written Communication:

Courses with the Written Communication attribute are expected to help students become more confident and competent writers. These courses strengthen students’ expressive communication and develop skills in critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and rhetoric, building on the skills learned in basic composition classes by preparing students to develop written texts of varying lengths and styles that communicate appropriately and effectively across various settings. By acquiring the ability to reason and write in multiple ways, students strengthen their critical thinking and deepen communication skills critical to their personal and professional lives.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Develop foundational knowledge about the writing process and best practices.
2. Analyze different types of texts and audiences, and tailor one’s writing accordingly.
3. Craft clear and coherent arguments, supported by evidence and logic.
4. Express ideas in an engaging manner.
5. Produce writing that reflects a recursive process of revision across multiple drafts.
6. Use sources in ethical ways to support written content.

Requirements:

1. Writing assignments must be weighted in the grading scheme such that students are discouraged from skipping the assignment(s) (i.e., the total of all writing assignments must be worth at least 20% of the overall grade). 
2. Written communication assignments must be tied to the purpose/requirements of the designation. 
3. Written communication must form the basis of at least 20% of course assignments, including the critique and development of written materials. The minimum required number of pages may be fulfilled in one or multiple assignment(s).  Informal writing assignments (like journals or class notes) and group projects will not count toward the writing minimum.  Multiple drafts of the same work cannot be counted twice in the cumulative word count/page minimum.  
4. Instructors must provide timely and actionable feedback that students can incorporate in subsequent written communication assignments within the course.  A notation that instructor feedback will be provided must be specified in the syllabus.
5. Lower-division courses must include a minimum of 1000 words (four pages) of written assignments emphasizing the writing process.   
6. Upper-division courses must include a minimum of 2000 words (eight pages) of written assignments emphasizing the writing process.  One writing assignment must be at least 1000 words (4 pages) in length.  
7. Written communication assignments should allow students to demonstrate their ability to communicate in a manner appropriate to the discipline.

Oral Communication:

Courses with the Oral Communication attribute teach students to effectively interpret, compose, and present information, ideas, and perspectives to various audiences, including the public. By honing their skills in presentations, interviews, active debates, critiques, and performances, students broaden their critical thinking and communication skills needed to function in an increasingly interconnected world. Students are also better prepared for success in the workplace given that employers list proficiency in oral presentation and communication as top-rated skills.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Develop foundational knowledge about the oral communication process and best practices.
2. Listen to, interpret, and critically evaluate public communication from diverse perspectives.
3. Apply theories of communication to make ethical rhetorical choices that achieve selected communicative purposes (such as informing, persuading, commemorating).
4. Develop and deliver audience-centered presentations and adapt to the needs of distinct speaking situations.
5. Employ verbal and nonverbal techniques for effective delivery in an oral presentation.
6. Ethically integrate credible and relevant supporting materials to craft cohesive messages.

Requirements:

1. Oral communication assignments must be weighted in the grading scheme such that students are discouraged from skipping the assignments. (i.e., the total of all oral communication assignments must be worth at least 20% of the overall grade). 
2. Oral communication assignments must be tied to the purpose/requirements of the designation. 
3. Oral communication must form the basis of at least 20% of course assignments, including the critique and development of oral presentation materials. Presentations may be live or recorded. Informal and group presentations will not count toward the oral communication minimum.  Multiple drafts of the same work cannot be counted twice in the cumulative minimum.  
4. Instructors must provide timely and actionable feedback that students can incorporate in subsequent oral communication assignments within the course.  A notation that instructor feedback will be provided must be specified in the syllabus.
5. Lower-division courses must include a minimum of ten minutes of planned or scripted presentations, which must occur through two or more assignments.
6. Upper-division courses must include a minimum of fifteen minutes of planned or scripted presentations which must occur through two or more assignments
7. Students must apply their learning by engaging in presentation critiques that include criteria such as rapport with the audience, voice, projection, and audibility; clarity of purpose; originality of ideas; organization; persuasiveness of evidence; and ability to respond to questions.
8. Oral communication assignments must allow students to demonstrate their ability to communicate in a manner appropriate to the discipline.

Visual Communication

Courses with the Visual Communication attribute will instruct students in the analysis, structure, theories, and principles of visual images to provide students with the analytical skills they need to communicate through visual means and be thoughtful consumers of visual materials. Courses enable students to understand how still and moving images, art, architecture, and illustrations inform and persuade people. Students will be able to analyze the contextual, cultural, ethical, aesthetic, intellectual, and technical components involved in producing and using visual materials. By preparing students to analyze and communicate through visual media, these courses strengthen the critical thinking, visual literacy, and communication skills needed in an increasingly digital landscape.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Develop foundational knowledge about the visual communication process and best practices.
2. Apply appropriate visual literacy vocabulary/terminology as it relates to course media.
3. Recognize the role of textual information in providing access to image content and identify types of textual information and metadata typically associated with images (such as captions or other descriptions, personal or user-generated tags, creator information, repository names, title keywords, descriptions of visual content)
4. Use appropriate tools to accurately portray visual images.
5. Produce visual media and analyze its role in the presentation of ideas or concepts (such as the following non-exhaustive list of examples: photographs, sculpture, video, films, new media, presentations, or papers)

Requirements:

1. Visual communication assignments must be weighted in the grading scheme such that students are discouraged from skipping the assignments. (i.e., the total of all visual communication assignments must be worth at least 20% of the overall grade). 
2. Visual communication assignments must be tied to the purpose/requirements of the designation. 
3. Visual communication must form the basis of at least 20% of course assignments, including the critique and development of visual materials. The minimum visual communication requirements may be fulfilled in one or multiple assignment(s). Informal and group projects will not count toward the visual communication minimum. Multiple drafts of the same work cannot be counted twice in the cumulative minimum.
4. Instructors must provide timely and actionable feedback that students can incorporate in subsequent visual communication assignments within the course.  A notation that instructor feedback will be provided must be specified in the syllabus.
5. Lower-division courses must facilitate the production of visual content through one or more visual communication projects (such as an infographic, visual analytics, a website, story mapping, a short video, a research poster, virtual reality, art or design pieces, set or costume design).
6. Upper-division courses must facilitate the production of visual content through two or more visual communication projects (such as an infographic, visual analytics, a website, story mapping, a short video, a research poster, virtual reality, art or design pieces, set or costume design).
7. Visual communication assignments must allow students to demonstrate their ability to communicate in a manner appropriate to the discipline.

Athletic Programs Mission

Oklahoma State University is committed to providing regionally and nationally competitive athletics programs as an integral part of the overall educational mission of the University. Sponsored programs comply with the highest recognized standards of the institution and the athletic governing bodies. Intercollegiate athletics operate in harmony with the University's stated mission and are committed to the intellectual, cultural, physical and social development of the student-athletes as individuals. Opportunities for student-athletes are provided without discrimination. OSU is a member of the highly competitive Big 12 Conference.

Facilities

The OSU campus is one of exceptional beauty with its many modified Georgian-style buildings set against immaculate landscaping. The main campus encompasses more than 200 permanent buildings on 840 acres. Notable facilities include the Edmon Low Library, one of the largest in the Southwest, and Old Central, the university’s first permanent structure on campus. Lovingly restored, Old Central continues to hold court on the southeast side of campus and houses the Honors College.  

OSU boasts an extremely comprehensive Student Union. Thanks to a $63 million facelift, the Student Union offers greatly enhanced facilities and services to students. Campus Life is prominently located on the second floor and dining options have been enhanced and expanded. The Student Services Center in the Union houses the Bursar, Registrar, Hargis Leadership Institute, Campus Life, Scholarship and Financial Aid, University College Advising, Undergraduate Admissions and New Student Orientation and Enrollment in one convenient location. In 2016, the Student Union’s Atherton Hotel received a major renovation that enlarged its rooms and upgraded its accommodations.

In 2006, OSU launched its campus Master Plan 2025, calling for more than $850 million in projects to improve facilities in four areas: academics, student life, infrastructure and athletics. The historic, far-reaching plan continues to transform the OSU campus.

Newest Additions

Agricultural Hall is a $115.2 million, 184,000 square-foot building that houses the Ferguson College of Agriculture. The new home was occupied in the fall 2024 semester and strengthened OSU Agriculture’s research, teaching and Extension missions while addressing two key challenges: attracting and retaining scientific leaders and equipping collaborative teams with state-of-the-art laboratory and field facilities. It has redefined what is possible for faculty, students and the industries and communities that depend on their research. It has prioritized experiential teaching, flexible research and a strong sense of community through strategically designed spaces. There will be expanded space and presence for student organizations, including the Student Success Center, which coordinates on-campus career fairs and other activities with more than 60 student organizations. The facility was created with modern teaching methods in mind, utilizing flexible lab spaces to serve multiple disciplines. It has changed and modernized how research is conducted and how scientific subjects are taught. Featuring numerous interactive classrooms to harness students’ energy and the excitement of innovation, Agricultural Hall is a space that fosters learning and collaboration.

The $28.9 million renovation and expansion for Engineering South was completed in July 2023 in time for the 2023 fall semester. This historic structure has been the home for various departments within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology since 1939. All four floors of the interior were gutted and redesigned to propel Engineering South into the 21st century. The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department occupies the second floor and the Mechanical Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department occupies the third floor. Upgrades to the public first floor are department-focused spaces with a goal to create a strong ECE and MAE community, encourage and support our teaching and research missions, brand ECE and MAE as leaders in high-tech innovation, and attract the brightest students and faculty. The fourth floor provides an exciting opportunity for CEAT innovation and growth, including an open design studio for collaborative senior design, a design and innovation laboratory and seminar room for laboratory intensive courses, additional office space for teaching and research assistants, and gathering and study spaces for ECE and MAE students and student organizations. The Zink Center for Competitive Innovation and the new 207-seat Chickasaw STEM auditorium will provide CEAT with new programming and innovative spaces to elevate student learning and success.

The new $100 million Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute (HPNRI) will be constructed on the Stillwater campus and will develop preventative therapeutic strategies to combat obesity and chronic diseases. The institute will be the first of its kind — a university-based center focused on human performance and nutrition science for optimizing health and performance. The institute will leverage research and expertise from several departments and colleges across the OSU system, including the College of Education and Human Sciences, Ferguson College of Agriculture, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Robert M. Kerr Food and Agriculture Products Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine and more.

The new Transportation Operation Facility will be a $16 million replacement facility for the existing Motor Pool at the northeast corner of Farm Road and Western. The new facility, which is being funded by grants, will be located on Lakeview Road next to the Clean Energy Fuel station. The facility will make it possible to service all OSU vehicles with 12 large service bays, bus and vehicle automatic wash bays, space for fleet vehicle rentals, a fueling station and offices. The project will be  completed in the fall of 2025.

Research

As a land-grant university, Oklahoma State University is a leader in research of all kinds with the facilities to make that possible. ENDEAVOR opened in fall 2018. The 72,000-square-foot lab in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and is dedicated to immersive undergraduate learning experiences. It’s the glass-and-steel embodiment of a new era in undergraduate engineering learning, where walls no longer exist between disciplines, and individual expertise is melded into interdisciplinary teams. Donors paid for more than half of the $35 million cost to build it. 

The impressive Henry Bellmon Research Center opened in 2010. The $70 million building, the largest project in the state’s Capitol Bond Program, provides state-of-the-art laboratory space for a wide range of disciplines and encourages collaborative research. In spring 2015, OSU opened the Bert Cooper Engineering Laboratory for structures and materials engineering with new geothermal systems for energy efficiency.

The grand opening of EXCELSIOR, an unmanned systems innovation laboratory, was celebrated on Nov. 2, 2019. The new lab houses multidisciplinary research and education programs for the Unmanned Systems Research Institute in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. The facility offers a recognized emphasis in instruction and research in unmanned aircraft systems and supplies hands-on analysis, design, construction and flight testing of UAS platforms. Students focus on projects that include flight testing and operations. Research opportunities include UAS design, aerodynamics, flight path management and airspace integration, sense and avoid, controls, structures, aeroacoustics, propulsion, communications and operations, and sensors and payloads.

The Boone Pickens School of Geology dedicated the new Gary F. Stewart Core Research Facility in November 2019. The facility serves as a “one-stop shop” for treatment, storage and analysis of core samples (cylindrical rock samples obtained by drilling), a needed service in the region. The building includes a grinding and polishing lab, thin section preparation, an area designated for coloring, porosity and permeability, significant layout and review space, as well as office space and a conference room. More than a repository, the facility houses active research. It is located in the northwest section of campus, near the corner of McElroy Road and North Willis Street.

Academics

Providing the quality facilities for a foundation of success for our students is an overarching goal at Oklahoma State University. From smaller renovations and updated buildings to constructing new facilities, academic buildings are well cared for as part of the overall building plan. 

The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts is a world-class epicenter for the arts, attracting celebrated national and international programs featuring notable productions and artists. The New York Philharmonic opened McKnight's 2019-2020 season. The center will allow the university and the center’s supporters to express — and be recognized for — their passion for the arts on a global stage. The 93,000-square-foot facility opened in 2019 along the southwest corner of University Avenue and Hester Street, boasting 1,100 seats in the Performance Hall and 250 in the Recital Hall. The 1,000-seat outdoor plaza features a massive, high-definition screen that can show events taking place inside the Performing Arts Center or telecasts from around the world.

The Michael and Anne Greenwood School of Music is a premier music education facility that harnesses the synergy of research, talent and incomparable hands-on learning experiences available only at OSU. The building opened in spring 2021, thanks to lead donors Michael and Anne Greenwood. The Greenwood School of Music’s proximity to The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts will amplify and leverage opportunities, including master classes for students and faculty to interact with world-class musicians. Music laboratories, classrooms and teaching studios will be equipped with the latest technology for high-level studio production.

The new Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center is a $6 million replacement facility that will serve as a premier resource for students pursuing degrees in aviation education. The 11,600-square-foot facility opened in spring 2022 and includes private rooms for individual flight debriefings between students and flight instructors. Additional advances to the student learning experience include space for state-of-the-art simulator technology, dispatch space and student common areas.

The Roger J. Panciera Education Center is a new $6 million building at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Its designated classroom facilities have elevated the educational experience for students. The addition includes three flexible classrooms and makes room for specialized training in existing instructional space. The new and enhanced teaching facilities support modern teaching methods and cutting-edge technology critical to the successful recruitment and training of students, faculty and staff.

The Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources new Greenhouse Learning Center opened in August 2019 and serves students in OSU’s Ferguson College of Agriculture in a new facility that will better prepare them to enter the professional workforce. The Greenhouse Learning Center, a $6 million facility, will replace and improve functions of OSU’s existing teaching greenhouses that have been in use for decades. Greenleaf Nursery, one of North America’s largest wholesale nursery growers and longtime partner and supporter of OSU’s horticulture programs, has committed $1 million toward this new project. The Greenhouse Learning Center features six greenhouses, including an isolated entomology greenhouse, and head house, which includes a classroom, office space and plant-preparation area, as well as storage space for soil, equipment and chemicals such as fertilizer and pest-management materials. A large foyer will provide space for student club meetings. It also will house cutting-edge irrigation systems, intense climate and humidity control and other technology standards in today’s horticulture industry.

The new home for the Spears School of Business on Hester Street opened in spring 2018. The $72 million building is unique in design and shape, a “Crescent Masterpiece” that brings all of Spears Business together for now and in the future. Spears Business is designed to promote collaboration and hands-on, experiential learning to best prepare graduates for success in the modern workplace.

The north wing of the Nancy Randolph Davis Building opened in fall 2016 and houses hotel and restaurant, design and other programs. Also in 2016, OSU opened a new veterinary medicine academic center and the Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Center.

OSU opened several renovated buildings in 2009. Thanks to a gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, OSU doubled the size of its School of Architecture building. The Psychology Building, built as a women’s dormitory in 1933, was renovated to house seven departments from the College of Arts and Sciences. The North Classroom building, funded in part by the state’s Higher Education Capital Bond Program, opened on the north side of the Stillwater campus in 2009. The facility offers the latest in teaching technology and features an eco-friendly eatery.

Athletics

One of the most tradition-rich programs in college baseball has a state-of-the-art home. O’Brate Stadium features an expansive clubhouse and operations center, including a "training triangle" with an indoor facility, pitching lab and practice infield. The ballpark includes 3,500 permanent seats that can be expanded to 8,000 as needed. 

The renovation of the west end of Boone Pickens Stadium created one of the premier collegiate football facilities in the country, and there have been several significant enhancements to the fan experience since 2018. The university also completed several athletic projects north of Boone Pickens Stadium. OSU opened the Sherman E. Smith Training Center for indoor training and a new outdoor track in 2013. The Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center opened in early 2014. The Greenwood Tennis Center features six indoor and 12 outdoor courts and is one of the leading collegiate tennis facilities in the country. It hosted the 2024 NCAA Tennis Championships.

Gallagher-Iba Arena continues to be a staple of athletics at OSU. In 2001, the university constructed the new Athletic Center on the site of Gallagher-Iba. The top of the original building was removed, and the Athletic Center was built completely over and around Gallagher-Iba, expanding its seating to approximately 13,600. Historic Gallagher-Iba continues to exist as the arena within the Athletic Center.

Women’s soccer plays in the finest on-campus women’s soccer-only facility in America. The $20 million Neal Patterson Stadium opened in 2018 and is a showcase for college soccer with club seats, plaza and upper bowl gathering areas and a north end zone terrace area and seating designed specifically for OSU students. Team facilities include locker rooms, a soccer-only strength and conditioning center, meeting areas, kitchen facilities, sports medicine areas and equipment rooms. 

After undergoing extensive upgrades, the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course opened in its current form in 2019 when OSU hosted the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship. Since then, the course was selected to host the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2020 and again in 2022.

Karsten Creek Golf Club is consistently ranked as one of the best college golf courses in the country and has hosted two NCAA Division I Golf Championships, most recently in 2018. The facility is in the regular rotation to host NCAA Regional Championships as well.

Life

OSU also has an eye on comfortable and convenient living, ranging from residence halls and transportation to incorporating art into the campus. The university has been on the forefront of replacing outdated residential halls with apartments and suite-style accommodations for nearly two decades. Multiple upgrades have opened, giving on-campus students new opportunities for better living and community within the halls.

The University Commons, a traditional-style residence hall, opened for the fall 2015 semester. Located north of the Colvin Center on Hall of Fame Avenue, the facility was enhanced a year later with the nearby North Dining Facility, which features seven distinctive dining choices that offer a focus on healthy, fresh options.

Parking and Transportation have also seen significant changes in recent years. The Multimodal Transportation Terminal and 1,100-space Monroe Street Garage opened in the fall of 2009. The facilities provide a central point of contact for the various modes of transportation serving OSU-Stillwater and its branch campuses, as well as the community and surrounding areas. OSU has added two more multilevel parking garages — the Wentz Lane Garage opened on the southwest corner of campus in the spring of 2013, and the Fourth Avenue Garage opened in fall of 2016 adjacent to the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts. OSU has expanded campus bus service for both the Stillwater community and the OSU-Stillwater campus. To reduce energy costs and emissions, OSU converted its entire fleet of campus buses to compressed natural gas in 2010.

From stunning sculptures enlivening the Stillwater campus of OSU to striking landscaping designed to welcome one and all, art is taking its place in the public realm — some of it in America’s Brightest Orange. The university has seen the installation of pieces from renowned sculptor Allan Houser; yearlong exhibitions by Bill Barrett; the commemoration of Nancy Randolph Davis, the first African-American to attend the university when it was Oklahoma A&M College; and many more. The sculptures co-exist with the brick-and-mortar architectural landscape and integrate art into everyday life. OSU opened its Postal Plaza Gallery in 2014 as the home of the OSU Museum of Art, showcasing the university’s extensive art collection and strengthening its connection to downtown Stillwater.

Infrastructure

OSU completed work on a state-of-the-art Central Plant to replace its inefficient 1940s power plant. The facility reduces OSU’s environmental footprint, saves energy costs and improves reliability for the air conditioning and heating systems on the Stillwater campus. The Central Plant features a 60-person classroom and includes a viewing area for education and public outreach.

The first phase of a campuswide electrical upgrade project across campus has also been completed. The project is improving reliability of campus power with the construction of the Power Distribution Center. The PDC connects campus to two independent power sources, both provided by OSU’s campus energy partner, OG&E. The project is also replacing aging underground cabling that provides power to campus buildings. When complete, the project will provide capacity for campus growth, improve reliability and renew the life of the campus electrical system for decades to come.

OSU also has a focus on sustainability. In 2013, OSU and Oklahoma Gas and Electric started the Cowboy Wind Farm near Blackwell, Oklahoma. Seventy-five percent of the energy used by OSU is supplied by wind energy from the Cowboy Wind Farm.

OSU is a leader in network computing resources. The university has applied the student technology fee in concert with other resources to create a second-to-none networking system on campus that includes maintenance of large-scale computer laboratories, high speed inter-laboratory connectivity and a virtually seamless interface to the internet across campus.

Improvements continue in the university's outdoor spaces as well, and a landscape architectural master plan developed in 2010 is guiding those efforts. Major east-west streets — Hall of Fame Avenue and University Avenue — have been greatly updated, and the university has completed a total redesign and reconstruction of Monroe Street, which runs north-south through the heart of the campus. A series of landscape projects near student residential facilities have occurred in recent years. In the summer of 2005, the Edmon Low Library plaza was restored by installing a new surface on the main upper plaza and the lower area. Completed in 2013, Legacy Walk provides a scenic pedestrian thoroughfare in front of the library, connecting to Hester and Monroe streets. In the fall of 2016, OSU unveiled an impressive Welcome Plaza outside the southeast corner of the Student Union. The plaza is an inviting garden area featuring statues of a galloping mare and her foal. 

Recent improvements include preparing the iconic Theta Pond for the next 100 years of graduation photos. The large bridge and all three small bridges have been replaced with stone bridges and exquisite landscaping. A sculpture has been added to the southeast side of the pond. 

Other facilities of note

Lake Carl Blackwell, located 8 miles west of Stillwater, is owned by OSU. The area includes approximately 3,350 acres bordering the 3,000-acre lake that provides the water supply for OSU. It is also used for research activities in addition to being a popular regional recreational area.