Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

UNIVERSITY
OF OKLAHOMA
Bottom left: The South Oval.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ROBERT H. TAYLOR.
With the vision and leadership of
President David L. Boren, the University of
Oklahoma has become a pacesetter in
American public higher education. Emphasis
on four presidential priorities—teaching
quality, research expansion, globalization and
creation of community—has propelled the
University forward, resulting in a dramatic
number of major milestones in the almost
twenty years since he assumed the presidency
and became OU’s second longest-serving
president since OU’s founding in 1890.
The twenty years since he assumed the
presidency have been marked by an emphasis
on putting students first. There is not another
university president in the country more
committed to students as the number one
priority. President Boren teaches an American
government class each semester and is one of
the few presidents of major universities to teach.
He guides the faculty with the belief that
while the University has an important role to
play in the realm of research, the teaching of
students is its central purpose. President Boren
believes that the ability to think critically is
developed as the two generations come together
in the classroom, and that it is through great
teaching that intellectual curiosity is awakened
and human potential is nurtured.
This focus on student quality and teaching
excellence has resulted in OU producing
the academically highest ranked student
body, the highest graduation rate of any
public university in the state and the largest
number of degrees conferred of any college
or university in Oklahoma.
With more and more of our nation’s leaders
trained at public universities, President Boren
believes that our public institutions must be
truly excellent. The proof of OU’s academic
excellence is the University’s No. 1 ranking
among all public universities in the number
of National Merit Scholars enrolled and
OU’s achievement this year of being the only
public or private university in America to
produce a Rhodes Scholar, a Marshall Scholar,
a Mitchell Scholar, A Goldwater Scholar,
a Truman Scholar and a Fulbright Scholar.
To improve teaching quality, a Presidential
Professors Program was instituted in 1995 to
revitalize OU’s commitment to teaching and
to reward outstanding educators. Also, the
Retired Professors Programs was established
to bring a generation of vital knowledge and
experience back into the classroom. Facultyin-Residence
Programs were instituted so
that faculty families live in apartments in all
major residence halls to bring mentoring and
stimulating programs to students.
Underlining the importance of a global
education, President Boren has expanded
study abroad programs, instituted an
Interdisciplinary International Programs
Center, created a College of International
Studies, established a Religious Studies
Program and instituted OU Cousins, a
program that pairs American students with
international students to share social and
informal time together to improve understanding
of various cultures. President Boren
believes that the U. S. must learn how to
better form partnerships with other nations
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