Kayse Shrum's resignation letter says she wants to return to OSU medical school after sabbatical
Former Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum's resignation letter to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents indicates she wants to return to OSU's faculty after a sabbatical.
The Oklahoman obtained the letter, dated Feb. 3, and a copy of her contract via an open-records request. The newspaper still has a large open-records request for information connected with Shrum's resignation pending with the university and the board of regents, which governs the school. Both entities are funded by taxpayers.
OSU officials, including regents' Chair Jimmy Harrel, have refused to discuss the circumstances surrounding Shrum's departure from the university presidency after less than four years or why they waited until Feb. 5 to announce her resignation. OSU officials kept secret Shrum's situation from some of the state's top education officials, who learned of what had happened via media reports.
Shrum's departure was especially curious, given her popularity with students, faculty and state lawmakers, who all have been vocal in support of her since news of her resignation became public.
Shrum has not returned multiple messages seeking comment. In her letter, she told regents she requested that she begin an official sabbatical on Feb. 3, which would run through June 30, the end of the academic year.
'Following this academic year, I will return to the tenured faculty at the OSU Center for Health Sciences per my contract, effective July 1, 2025,' she wrote. 'It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the President of Oklahoma State University. I believe during my tenure I have set the university on a course to a bright future.'
The only hint given by OSU officials about why Shrum resigned came on Feb. 7, when they released a list of motions approved by regents during a Jan. 31 meeting. The motions concerned a review of the OSU Innovation Foundation, a favored project of Shrum that was rebranded in 2023 from its former name, the Oklahoma State University Research Foundation.
Shrum said then the foundation was 'a crucial pillar of our We Are Land-Grant strategy' she forged during her tenure. One of the motions approved Jan. 31 indicate regents were reviewing transfers of funds appropriated by the Legislature involving the Innovation Foundation. Along with Shrum, one of the Innovation Foundation's executives, Elizabeth Pollard, also resigned.
Shrum, 52, became the first woman to lead one of Oklahoma's two research universities when OSU/A&M regents chose her to succeed Burns Hargis, effective July 1, 2021. Shrum, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, previously had been president of OSU's Center for Health Sciences.
She graduated from OSU's medical school in Tulsa in 1998 and returned there in 2002 to teach and practice pediatric medicine. She became the youngest, and first female, dean and president of an Oklahoma medical school when she was promoted at the Center for Health Sciences in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Her current OSU contract, dated July 1, 2024, includes a clause noting that Shrum 'shall retain her faculty appointment in the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Department of Pediatrics (the 'Department') with tenure. Should this Contract be terminated prior to its expiration date and Dr. Shrum elects to return to and actively assume such academic service, such service shall be governed by the policies and rules applicable to the Department and her total compensation shall be equal to the highest-paid faculty member in the Department.'
As president, Shrum received an annual base salary of $650,000, along with a $20,000 annual automobile allowance, use of the president's on-campus home, usual OSU employee benefits and memberships at both the Stillwater Country Club and Karsten Creek Golf Club. OSU also paid $75,000 annually into a retirement plan for Shrum.
On Feb. 7, the regents announced the selection of James Hess as OSU's interim president. Hess most recently has served as vice president for graduate programs at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, where he has worked since 2003. The Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame inducted Hess in 2023. He is from Henryetta and has spent 43 years in Oklahoma higher education.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kayse Shrum wants to return to OSU medical school after sabbatical
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