March 7, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents unanimously voted to authorize the Chair of the Regents to execute a three-year contract to hire V. Burns Hargis as the 18th President of Oklahoma State University and the OSU System during a regularly scheduled meeting today. “Burns Hargis is a truly exceptional leader,” said Lou Watkins, chair of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents. “He has distinguished himself as one of Oklahoma’s most dynamic leaders, earning the respect of people from across the country.” “I am honored and humbled by this appointment,” Hargis said. “As an OSU graduate, I have a deep love for this university and a strong desire to see it excel as one of our nation’s leading land-grant universities. I count it a real privilege to lead OSU and look forward to working collaboratively with the Board of Regents, faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters.” Hargis will oversee one of the nation’s most comprehensive land-grant university systems. Hargis and his wife Ann will reside in the Willham House, a university-provided home for the president north of campus on Washington Avenue. Hargis begins his new job on Monday. For more details, click on the following link index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=929&Itemid=90
Governors join OSU president for new bioenergy lab event
Gov. Brad Henry and former Gov. Henry Bellmon joined new OSU President Burns Hargis to mark the start of construction on the new $1.2 million OSU Bioenergy Laboratory today at the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center at OSU. The OSU Bioenergy Laboratory will be built next to an existing biofuels research building west of the OSU campus. The facility, part of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station under OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, will add almost 3,000 square feet of space for the development of technologies that transform crops into fuels and other value-added products. The lab will enable researchers to scale up and test processes, such as OSU’s novel biofuels conversion from switchgrass, as an important step toward the eventual creation of pilot plants, and new collaborations with industry. It also will support several OSU bioconversion research projects funded by the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center established by Gov. Henry in 2007. For more, click on following link index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=925&Itemid=90
Gary Clark named to OSU leadership position
Oklahoma State University alumnus Gary C. Clark was named OSU Vice President for University Relations during today’s meeting of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents in Stillwater. As vice president, he will report directly to new OSU President Burns Hargis. In this position, he will serve as the senior adviser to the president for university relations and be directly involved with the full spectrum of activities and responsibilities of the president. Clark also will act as liaison with the OSU Foundation, Alumni Association, and other external associations, with direct interaction with other system officials, the OSU Board of Regents, State Regents and other OSU constituents. Clark himself served on the Board of Regents for OSU/A&M Colleges, including serving as chair from 1997-98. “Gary Clark will make a wonderful addition to my leadership team,” said Hargis. “We are thrilled to have someone in this position who not only is an alumnus, but has served on the Board of Regents and at the OSU Foundation. He knows OSU, he knows the OSU family, and he has a real passion to help OSU move forward in all areas.” For more information, click on the following link index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=928&Itemid=90
OSU/A&M Regents act on several campus construction projects and improvements
Members of the OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved agenda items today affecting several construction and renovation projects and improvements that will significantly enhance the OSU-Stillwater campus. The $3.25 million projects include the complete reconstruction of University Avenue between Monroe and Knoblock. The Board also approved granting the City of Stillwater easements and rights-of-way in the Phase I Athletic Village area located between McElroy Road and Hall of Fame Avenue (north and south) and Washington and Duck streets (east and west). In addition, Regents gave approval to allow the university to accept gifts that will finance the Sherman Smith Indoor Training Facility and outdoor practice fields, a new Equine Sports Complex and equine barn. Regents gave approval today to begin the selection process for a construction manager and architect for the $86 million Student Union renovation. They also selected Lippert Bros., Inc., Oklahoma City, OK as the construction manager for an upgrade to the OSU-Stillwater water treatment plant and distribution system. The Board gave the go ahead to the William S. Spears School of Business to ask the Oklahoma State University Foundation to hire an architect to prepare conceptual drawings for a new business building to be used for the purposes of fundraising. For more specific details, click the following link index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=924&Itemid=90
Regents approve 2008-09 residential hall rates
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents today approved a 4 percent rate increase for all on-campus housing and a $50 increase on all meal plans. The increase is based on 9-month rates for single university housing and 12-month rates for family graduate residential housing. The family housing rates will be effective July 1, 2008 with single residential housing rate increases beginning at the start of 2008 fall semester. The increase, to keep pace with mandatory cost increases for debt service, wages and benefits, utilities, and food, as well as maintenance upgrades for residential facilities, is smaller than most other Big 12 institutions and will place rates in OSU traditional residence halls 11th in the Big 12 and more than $700 below the average. The cost and increase varies with the type of housing. For instance, a shared traditional dorm room will increase $14 a month while a private one-bed/one-bath in a furnished deluxe suite will increase $27 per month. For additional details, click on the following link index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=930&Itemid=90
Regents approve posthumous degree
The family of Keeling J. Adams of Broken Arrow, an Oklahoma State University – Okmulgee student in the Construction Technology program who died in November 2007, will be presented with a posthumous degree on his behalf during the Commencement ceremonies on April 24 in Okmulgee. The Oklahoma State University A&M Board of Regents gave approval to award a posthumous Associate in Applied Science degree in Construction Technology for Adams following a recommendation brought to the board by Marlene Strathe, interim OSU president. The action now goes to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for consideration. Adams was raised in Broken Arrow and graduated from Broken Arrow High School. index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=927&Itemid=90
OSU Board approves personnel actions
The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents approved several personnel actions during its meeting today at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Linda E. Watson, professor and chair of the Department of Botany at Miami University, was named professor and head of the Botany Department, effective June 30. J. Kevin Doolen, chair and associate professor of theatre at the University of Albany/State University of New York since 2003, was named professor and head of the Theatre Department, effective June 30. For complete details on personnel actions, click on the following link index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=926&Itemid=90