OSU Housing and Residential Life awards more than $110,000 in scholarships

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Oklahoma State University’s Department of Housing and Residential Life awarded 32 housing scholarships this fall to Oklahoma students who had been accepted at OSU, but needed financial need to attend.  These scholarships allowed the students to live on campus, freeing them from additional stress and financial burden.  The total awarded was $110,720.

“We were pleased to partner with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to identify the worthy students,” said Dr. Matthew Brown, Director of Housing and Residential Life. “We are also very thankful to Joe Weaver, Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance, for his support. This scholarship program is paving the way for these deserving students to reach their goal of attending OSU, and it is allowing them to reap the many benefits of living on campus.”

The 2010 awards were the first Centennial Housing Scholarships awarded and are intended to commemorate 100 years of Student Housing at Oklahoma State.  The goal now is to endow the fund with $6 million so the university can offer 100 housing scholarships annually.

There are a variety of opportunities to provide scholarships in honor of favorite friends, loved ones, professors, or maybe just to honor those favorite residence hall memories. Whatever the reason, donors will be helping to support access to higher education for years to come.  Often the cost of housing is overlooked, but it is a significant portion of the overall cost of attendance for students.   

“This is an amazing opportunity for us to impact the lives of students for many, many years,” said Dr. Brown.  “Oklahoma State has numerous academic scholarships, but until now, there were no general housing scholarships available. This Centennial Scholarship Fund allows us to provide need-based aid to talented students.”

Studies show that students who live on campus consistently have higher grade point averages, complete more credit hours, are more likely to stay in school and are more involved compared to students who commute. 

Oklahoma State boasts some of the best residence hall facilities in the nation.  In addition, it offers a number of Living-Learning Communities for students to choose from and a Faculty Associate Program which allows students to routinely engage with faculty outside of the classroom.  Housing and Residential Life employs nearly 200 students and offers outstanding leadership opportunities through the OSU Residence Halls Association, which has won the National Association of College and Residence Halls (NACURH) School of the Year award more times than any other university.

Housing at Oklahoma State University began in 1909 with the construction of two halls: the Boy's dormitory and the Woman's Building. They both opened in 1910 after two years of construction.  The Boy's Dormitory was later renamed Crutchfield Hall and was used as a Residence Hall and as the home for the Music Department. It was torn down in 1995. The Woman's Building was later named Garner Hall and had several features including a dining hall, classrooms and home economic classes, and the women resided in rooms on the upper floors. Today the building is still in use as the Bartlett Center for Fine Arts.

Times have certainly changed.  According to the Oklahoma A&M College 1910 catalog, room and board for students living in the Woman’s Building or in the Boy’s Dormitory cost $3 per month for a furnished room for two students, payable in advance; board included heat, lights, water, etc., and was $2.00 to $2.50 per week, payable monthly in advance.  Today, the cost for room and board can range from $500 to $1,000 a month, and students can choose from traditional halls, suites and apartments.

For more information about Housing and Residential Life or contributing to the Centennial Scholarship, please contact the Department at 405-744-5592 or on the web at www.reslife.okstate.edu.