Highlights through the years
2018
New business school building opens for classes
January 16, 2018
OSU opened the doors to classes in its iconic new $72 million building housing the Spears School of Business. The eye-catching building will hold 161 classes for more than 3,400 students this spring. The building has five levels and nearly doubles previous space for the business school. The unique crescent-shaped building beautifully maintains the campus’ Georgian Revival architecture and is a state-of-the-art teaching facility with spaces designed to inspire collaboration. A grand opening is planned for April.
OSU celebrates 10 years of energy savings
January 25, 2018
The university celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its nationally acclaimed Energy Management Program during a Decade of Excellence ceremony. OSU President Burns Hargis congratulated the energy management team, as well as all employees and students, for making the behavior-based energy management program a huge success. Systemwide energy savings from the program are approaching $50 million, with nearly $40 million of that on the OSU Stillwater campus.
Campus honors Ann and Burns Hargis on 10-year anniversary
March 9, 2018
Students, faculty, staff and other members of the Cowboy family helped Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis celebrate 10 years of leadership at OSU during a campus event. Hargis was unanimously chosen by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents as the 18th president and officially took office on March 10, 2008. During Hargis' presidency, the university has set enrollment and fundraising records, and enjoyed a campus and facilities transformation.
Greenhouse Learning Center to provide cutting-edge educational opportunities
June 6, 2018
With a groundbreaking ceremony, OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources unveiled plans for a new Greenhouse Learning Center, a $6 million facility that will replace and improve functions of OSU’s existing teaching greenhouses that have been in use for decades. Greenleaf Nursery made a $1 million lead gift to the project. The new center will feature six greenhouses, classroom and office space, and other areas. The university officially opened the facility in August 2019.
Baker’s Ann included in four new wheat varieties from Oklahoma State
September 18, 2018
In an OSU first, the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources’ Wheat Improvement Team released four hard red winter wheat varieties -- Showdown, Green Hammer, Baker’s Ann and Skydance – at the same time. Wheat is Oklahoma’s largest cash crop and OSU-bred varieties account for about 50 percent of the wheat acres planted in the state. Baker’s Ann was selected for its outstanding baking and milling qualities and is a tribute to The First Cowgirl, Ann Hargis.
State-of the-art ENDEAVOR laboratory center dedicated
September 22, 2018
ENDEAVOR begins a new era in undergraduate engineering learning, where walls have been torn down between disciplines and individual expertise is melded into interdisciplinary teams. ENDEAVOR has 23 interdisciplinary engineering science and project labs, including four that are each the size of a basketball court. “This one-of-a-kind laboratory is a shining example of Oklahoma State's commitment to academic excellence and student discovery,” said OSU President Burns Hargis.
OSU announces two important health initiatives
September 24, 2018
OSU has been awarded nearly $4 million over the next five years by the CDC to tackle Oklahoma’s obesity crisis. The project is a collaboration between OSU's College of Human Sciences, OSU's Center for Health Systems Innovation and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. In addition, OSU Medicine is elevating the care of addiction disorders in Tulsa with the opening of the OSU Addiction Medicine Clinic, which has attained membership in the prestigious Hazelden Betty Ford Patient Care Network.
Houser sculptures spotlight campus public art initiative
October 23, 2018
Oklahoma State advanced its initiative to integrate renowned public art on campus with the installation of Singing Heart, a sculpture by Allan Houser, located in the Mother’s Garden on the west side of the Atherton Hotel. Singing Heart is gifted by Jeanene Jenkins Hulsey (class of ’67) and Ron Hulsey. In December, a second Houser sculpture, perfectly matched to America’s Brightest Orange, was unveiled on the north side of the Student Union Plaza. Abstract Orange is a gift from James Pickel (class of ’72).
Community honors victims, survivors with Stillwater Strong Memorial
October 26, 2018
OSU President Burns Hargis helped dedicate the Stillwater Strong Memorial, near the intersection of Hall of Fame and Main Street, the site of the October 24, 2015 OSU Homecoming parade tragedy. On that date, four parade attendees were killed and 50 injured when a vehicle drove into the crowd. “The memorial provides a lasting tribute to the victims of the parade tragedy, an event that brought the Stillwater community together like never before,” said Hargis.
OSU, Cherokee Nation announce first-of-its-kind medical partnership
October 31, 2018
The Cherokee Nation and OSU Center for Health Sciences have established the nation’s first college of medicine to be located at a tribal health facility. The OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation will be located at Tahlequah’s W.W. Hastings Hospital. Current plans call for the enrollment of an inaugural class of 50 students, starting in the fall of 2020, with a total of 200 students when fully operational.