President Hargis issues statement on legislative funding for endowed chairs

Friday, May 28, 2021

Media Contact: Monica Roberts | Director of Media Relations | 405-744-4800 | monica.roberts@okstate.edu

"The passage of a bill to complete the state’s match for the endowed chair program is excellent news. 

I welcome the passage, especially given it happened as I near the completion of my tenure as President of Oklahoma State University.  Today’s signing of the bill represents the fulfillment of a promise made in 1988. 

At Oklahoma State, we raised $166 million to endow professorship chairs and professorships to support productive research in areas such as agriculture, aerospace, medicine, and energy.   Out of what we raised, about $86 million remained eligible for state match.

I said before; the endowed chair program strengthens our faculty recruitment initiatives by providing a consistent source of investment through our professors in their teaching, research, and service activities.

In turn, the program, especially the investment in research, will contribute to the development and advancement of our state’s economy.  

There are many people to thank for this momentous bill. I thank Governor Kevin Stitt, Speaker Charles McCall, President Pro Tem Greg Treat and the appropriation chairs and vice chairs in the House and Senate: Senators Roger Thompson and Chuck Hall, and Representatives Kevin Wallace and Kyle Hilbert, and  the Senators and Representatives who supported the bill. 

I am deeply appreciative and grateful."

— President Burns Hargis