|
Established
on Christian principles and teachings, Oklahoma Baptist University
exists to provide education in the traditional arts and sciences
and other disciplines to prepare students for effective leadership
and service. |
| OBU
was founded in 1906 when the Baptists of Oklahoma Territory,
realizing the great need for a Christian emphasis among institutions
of higher learning, appointed a commission to make plans for
the founding of a Baptist University. A board of trustees
was elected in 1907, and in 1910 the school was granted articles
of incorporation. |
| Dr.
Mark Brister, elected by trustees in April of 1998, became
OBU's 14th president, effective Sept. 1, 1998. |
| The
University is owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma
and operated through a board of trustees elected by that convention.
The BGCO budgets $2.8 million per year in financial support
for OBU through the Cooperative Program. |
| OBU
is located on a beautiful 189-acre campus on the northwest
side of Shawnee. Known as Bison Hill, the campus features
30 major buildings. |
| Nine
baccalaureate degrees are offered in more than 75 fields of
study through the College of Arts and Sciences, the Joe L.
Ingram School of Christian Service, the Warren M. Angell College
of Fine Arts, the Paul Dickinson School of Business and the
School of Nursing. |
| OBU
offers graduate studies leading to a master of science degree
in marriage and family therapy. A total of 22 students currently
are enrolled inthe program, which offers a distinctively Christian
perspective. |
| OBU's
Ministry Training Institute provides college-level study at
approximately 20 sites in Oklahoma and about 10 locations
in other states. Through the MTI program, students can earn
associate's or bachelor's degrees in Christian studies.
|
| About
83 percent of OBU's full-time tenure-track faculty members
hold doctorates. The University has 114 full-time faculty
members, representing more than 100 institutions of higher
learning from around the world. The University's on-campus
student-to-faculty ratio is 15 to 1. |
| OBU
is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools, National Association of Schools of Music, National
League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, National Council
for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Association
of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. |
| OBU's
fall 2002 headcount enrollment totaled 1,851, which included
794men and 1,057 women. About 61 percent of OBU's students
come from 64 of Oklahoma's 77 counties. The remainder come
from 39 other states and 22 foreign countries. |
| OBU
athletic teams compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference of
the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. OBU
competes in seven men's sports, including basketball, baseball,
tennis, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field and cross
country; and seven women's sports, including softball, basketball,
tennis, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field and cross
country. |
|
OBU's
2002-03 tuition for a full-time student taking 16 hours
is $5,150 per semester, or $10,300 per year. Total cost
for tuition, fees, room and board is estimated at $14,628
per year, which may vary depending on the type of room and
board plan the student chooses.
|
| OBU's
operating budget for 2002-03 is $28.9 million. OBU's total
endowment is about $60 million. |
| Major
campus buildings include the landmark Raley Chapel, historic
Shawnee Hall, Bailey Business Center, W.P. Wood Science Building
(including the W.P. Wood Planetarium), the Geiger Center for
University Life, Sarkeys Telecommunication Center, Montgomery
Hall (religious life offices), Thurmond Hall (administration
and nursing school), Jent Alumni Center, and the Noble Complex
for athletics. Campus housing includes five residence centers
and several apartment units. |
| About
22,000 OBU alumni are scattered around the world. There are
former students in all 50 states as well as in 60 other countries.
The OBU Alumni Association includes 25 chapters. At December
2001 and May 2002 Commencements, 346 graduates joined the
ranks of OBU alumni. |
| For
the 11th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report
has named OBU as one of the top-10 "Best Colleges" in the
western United States. OBU was second in overall academic
quality among Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's in the 2003
U.S. News rankings. OBU also is listed in the 2001-02
edition of Peterson's Competitive Colleges, which lists approximately
350 universities "that attract and admit the world's
best students." |
