OSU momentum continues with new school year
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Burns Hargis - NewsPress Column, August 2013
OSU momentum continues with new school year
The Oklahoma State University campus and the Stillwater community are alive as we enter the 2013-14 academic year and build on momentum that is carrying OSU to exciting new levels of success.
We continue to enroll students, but total enrollment for the combined OSU Stillwater/OSU Tulsa campuses is nearly 25,800, which eclipses last year’s record total of 25,544. More than 24,000 of those students take classes on the Stillwater campus, also an all-time high.
Over the last four years, total OSU enrollment has jumped 13 percent, or nearly 3,000 students. Freshman enrollment has grown 23 percent over the same period, an increase of more than 700 freshmen from 2009 to this fall. We set a state record for freshman last year and over the last three years our freshman class has averaged more than 4,000 students a year.
OSU makes every effort to keep tuition and fees as low as possible so that cost is not a barrier to our students. Consequently, we were pleased we were able to keep tuition flat for in-state undergraduate students and had a minimal increase for other students.
The value we offer is seen by an increasing number of students coming from states outside Oklahoma, which has fueled our growth the last few years. Since 2009, out-of-state students have increased by 65 percent, from around 4,000 to nearly 6,700 students.
Forbes, Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s have recognized Oklahoma State this year for the value and outstanding education we provide students.
In addition to value, OSU has regularly been recognized for preparing graduates for successful careers. For instance, the Spears School of Business this year was one of only four business schools nationwide where 100 percent of its MBAs were employed within three months of graduation. The Wall Street Journal has named OSU among the top 45 universities whose graduates rank highest by corporate recruiters.
Our top priority for students is that they graduate with a degree that launches them into a successful career. OSU Career Services, under the leadership of Pam Ehlers, does an outstanding job assisting students in their career pursuits.
Thanks to the support of corporate partner Williams, Career Services has expanded its capabilities and support for students with an upgrade to the OSU Career Center. We will celebrate with a ribbon-cutting this week.
The arrival of the fall semester means football and we are excited about the prospects for our Cowboys, who have been picked to win the Big 12. We also are excited about the impact football weekends have on the Stillwater community and our campus. Game days mean a huge economic boost and we appreciate all the City of Stillwater, local businesses and residents do to make it a special time.
The OSU football experience is one of 15 contenders for Southern Living magazine’s best schools for tailgating in the South. Fans are encouraged to vote for their university online. Universities were chosen for spirit, traditions, football success and game-day styles and activities.
It’s going to be a great semester at OSU! Go Pokes!