Latest news with #OklahomaA&MBoardofRegents
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma State University governing board appoints new president to 3-year term
Oklahoma State University Interim President Jim Hess speaks at a meeting of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents March 7, 2025 in Stillwater. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma State University's governing board on Friday appointed Jim Hess to serve as the school's 20th president for the next three years. Oklahoma State University A&M Board of Regents said in a statement that Hess, who had been serving as interim president, has proven he's the right person to lead the state's second largest university. The board's statement did not say why Hess was appointed for only a three-year term. 'Dr. Hess has proven himself as the right leader at the right time for Oklahoma State University,' said Board Chairman Jimmy Harrel. 'His deep understanding of OSU's land-grant mission gives our board complete confidence in his ability to lead the university forward.' The board had tapped Hess to serve as interim president in February following the abrupt resignation of Kayse Shrum, the university's first female president. Officials have not said what led Shrum to step down after slightly more than three years at the helm. 'While we could have spent an entire year searching for a new president, seeing Jim's work up close over the past months has provided a level of insight and confidence that no interviews with outside candidates would have yielded,' said Rick Walker, the board's vice chair. 'His positive impact across the OSU community has been swift. He immediately took action on key issues and legislative priorities, and his engagement with OSU's students, faculty, and staff has restored much-needed connections and stability throughout the institution.' Hess brings 43 years of experience working in higher education to the role. He most recently served as vice provost for graduate programs at the OSU Center for Health Sciences. He earned a bachelor's and master's from Northeastern State University and a doctorate in education from OSU. Hess said he was honored and excited about the university's future. 'We launch this journey with an urgency of purpose and the confidence that we can change lives, transform education, and pave the way for the next generation of Cowboys,' Hess said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma A&M regent meetings cost nearly $70K with pricey meals and entertainment, records show
The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents eat breakfast together ahead of an executive session on Oklahoma State University's campus in Stillwater on Dec. 6. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Over the past year, the board that governs one of Oklahoma's flagship public universities has racked up tens of thousands of dollars in bills while eating costly meals, listening to live music and enjoying optional social events and other entertainment outside board meetings. In all, it has cost over $69,000 to host 13 Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents meetings, according to an analysis of over 270 pages of the receipts from the meetings compiled by Oklahoma State University in response to an open records request. That figure excludes about $11,000 in mileage reimbursement. When that's factored in, it cost on average over $6,100 each time the regents met. Records show the OSU system and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College shouldered the burden of those costs, spending over $45,000 on meals and refreshments and thousands more to purchase fresh flowers. They hosted 'social' events, and even once hired a string quartet to entertain the regents. At one point, the total cost to host a single meeting at OSU's Tulsa campus soared to over $13,000. The OSU Foundation, the fundraising arm of the state's second largest university, meanwhile, chipped in to treat regents to a hospitality suite and help them pay for a 'whiskey tasting,' receipts show. The governing board has been under increased scrutiny since the abrupt resignation of OSU president Kayse Shrum in February. It has since signed a contract with a crisis communications firm with close ties to Gov. Kevin Stitt. Current regents and the board's chief executive officer declined to answer specific questions about the expenditures. But the expenses raised questions about optics during a time when Republicans, including the governor, are pressing for greater efficiencies with taxpayer dollars and four of the five universities the entity oversees had tuition increases approved. But, former board chairwoman and regent Trudy Milner said the costs are not 'exorbitant,' and are an industry 'norm.' Milner resigned in February, days after Shrum stepped down. Republican Gov. Mary Fallin appointed Milner to the board in 2013 to help oversee the Oklahoma State University system, Langston University, Connors State College, Northeast Oklahoma A&M College and Oklahoma Panhandle State University, which combined serve an estimated 42,000 students. Many of the regent meetings span two days, Milner said, with a dinner scheduled on a Thursday without any formal business. The official meeting typically takes place the following day. Milner said the dinners ahead of a meeting could include the regents and their spouses as well as presidents, representatives from other campuses, and community leaders. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Some receipts indicate dozens of people attended the dinners based on per plate charges, but the records do not identify the guests. After a dinner, the regents often have a bar set up with snacks at the hotel they're staying at to 'talk informally' for the 'camaraderie of it,' Milner said. While the receipts obtained by Oklahoma Voice do not reflect the purchase of alcohol, one notes that a bartender was hired at a price of $150 for a dinner on Jan. 25, 2024. Another record details a 'Board of Regents Night Cap' with a 'social' theme in December. Others reveal that the OSU Foundation footed the bill for cups and signage to facilitate a whiskey tasting for the regents as well as spending about $250 on personalized cookies, $900 in refreshments, snacks and other items, and over $1,200 for a 'hospitality suite.' The OSU Foundation did not respond to requests for comment. The foundation's website said the private, nonprofit organization's role is to 'manage donor dollars to provide the most advanced educational opportunities to students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of OSU.' Recently, the foundation hosted an online fundraising event aimed in part at raising money to help OSU's food insecure students. As of Friday, the foundation's site said it had raised over $20,000 to help students. The fundraiser noted that nearly 50% of OSU students grapple with some level of food insecurity. Milner said the universities provided meals and entertainment for the regents, but the entertainment usually came in the form of touring campus facilities. She said they once visited a shooting range at Panhandle State University. Receipts show in January 2024 that a string quartet was hired at the cost of over $800, at OSU's expense. Mack Burke, an OSU spokesperson, said in a statement that the ensemble was made up of OSU students that performed to 'highlight our support of the arts and our students' which he said is 'standard operating procedure' for higher education boards. Current board chair Jimmy Harrel has said he didn't want to go to campuses besides OSU's, Milner said. Since January 2024, records show all but one of the 13 meetings took place at an OSU campus. Meetings are supposed to rotate among schools who share the hosting responsibilities so the cost is not on one campus, Milner said. 'I think it's been grossly unfair that OSU had to host it this whole entire year and then they canceled the Panhandle one in April, and I'm not really sure why,' she said. 'But I think that's been a burden, in some ways, for OSU. And I think it's kind of been a slap in the face of the other campuses that they didn't get to show off their campuses.' Harrel, a banker and rancher, did not return messages seeking comment. Stitt appointed the OSU graduate in 2020. Oklahoma Voice attempted multiple times to contact the 10 current and former board members who filed expense reports, but only Milner and Blayne Arthur, who also serves as the state's agriculture commissioner, responded. Arthur's office did not answer specific questions, but instead directed a reporter to the board's chief executive officer, Jason Ramsey. Ramsey also did not answer specific questions about the spending but provided a statement. Regents are unpaid volunteers and their budget pays for their travel and lodging expenses, Ramsey said. Records show regents stayed at hotels such as the Atherton in Stillwater, the Mayo in Tulsa and the Ambassador in Oklahoma City. While records indicated they received discounted rates, the total cost of lodging topped over $6,000, according to records. Records provided to Oklahoma Voice revealed that Ramsey also stayed in hotels, as did some staff. It wasn't clear what the total cost was for the staff's travel and lodging. The office lists an Oklahoma City address. The board rotates its meetings across the campuses it governs and the hosting institution's president's offices plan and budget the board meetings and related events, which can provide 'engagement opportunities' with community leaders and other stakeholders, Ramsey said. Burke, an OSU spokesperson, said it's typical for presidents to host these activities at their own discretion, and they allow colleagues across the OSU A&M System to engage. The board does not request the extra events, Burke said. In many cases, 'university facilities and catering services' are contracted to keep funds within the OSU System, Burke said. Shrum, who headed the OSU system at the time of most of the meetings, did not respond to requests for comment. NEO, which spent over $4,000 on the meeting it hosted, also did not respond. Stitt, who has appointed all current members of the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents and recently named his choice to replace Milner, said in a statement Friday that university presidents need to be 'mindful of their spending.' 'University presidents are responsible for hosting the Board of Regents, and I get that these presidents want to showcase their campus and community,' he said in a statement. 'But at the end of the day, I'm always going to urge the presidents to be mindful of their spending — because the last thing we need is higher tuition and constant requests for more recurring revenue.' Gary Jones, a Republican, who previously served as state auditor, said he's not sure that any of these expenses are in violation of state law, but the real test is how Oklahoma taxpayers respond. 'Everyone has to look at and determine, you know, the circumstances. Who all is there, whether or not they're being compensated in any other ways for the job,' he said. 'If you take into consideration their time and effort and their expertise being volunteered to the state, the question is would most people consider a dinner or something like that, out of line?' He said he wasn't sure a dinner is out of line, but said alcoholic consumption could be viewed negatively. Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, who serves on the House's postsecondary education committee, said the spending is 'concerning,' but that he didn't know if it's out of the ordinary. 'As a regent, it's almost a thankless job,' he said. 'They do get reimbursed for the mileage and things, and that's good. But there's an argument to be said that it doesn't have to be as extravagant, that there could be better ways to spend that money. But at the same time, when you have the regents on your campus you want to put your best foot forward and showcase your campus.' But despite being concerned, Johns said he does not think the Legislature should step in and pass further regulations. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said regents need items like drinks and coffee, but should be cautious 'in this environment' about what is considered reasonable when budgets are being scrutinized, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This is a public board, not a corporate one that represents a private company, she said. It should not be treated as such, Kirt said. Don Heider, chief executive of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University in California, said there are many questions to weigh when evaluating these kinds of costs, including whether regents and university presidents are being 'good stewards' of the taxpayer money with which they are entrusted. 'And could the money be spent in a more efficient way on what they're charged to do, which is overseeing these five universities?' he asked.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt names new member to Oklahoma State University's governing board
The Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents gather in Stillwater for a meeting Feb. 7. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt named a new appointment Wednesday to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents, the governing board that oversees five colleges and universities, including Oklahoma State University. Tracy Poole, of Tulsa, would replace Regent Trudy Milner, who was appointed by former Gov. Mary Fallin. Milner's term was set to expire April 4, but she resigned effective Feb. 6, an OSU spokesperson said. Her resignation came one day after the regents announced the resignation of former OSU president Kayse Shrum. If Poole's appointment is confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate, Stitt will have appointed, or re-appointed, every current member of the governing board. Milner was the only regent remaining appointed by another governor. 'I am honored to be appointed by Governor Stitt to serve on the OSU A&M Board of Regents,' Poole said in a statement. 'Oklahoma State University played a crucial role in shaping my career, and I look forward to giving back and contributing to its continued success by helping foster innovation, entrepreneurship and academic excellence.' Poole is the founder and managing partner of FortySix Venture Capital, a Tulsa-based early-stage investment firm, and previously practiced law at McAfee & Taft. He is also an 'experienced energy professional' who founded an upstream oil and gas producer and served as general counsel to a Chicago-based energy hedge fund, according to a press release. A graduate of OSU, Poole serves as an advisory board member for the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship and the Spears College of Business School of Entrepreneurship at the university. 'Tracy's business expertise and passion for entrepreneurship are going to make him a great addition to the Regents,' Stitt said in a statement. 'As a first-generation college graduate, a successful venture capitalist, and active member of the Oklahoma State community, he understands how higher ed changes lives. He will serve our students and our institutions well.' Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, will carry Poole's nomination in the Oklahoma Senate. The full chamber must confirm his nomination. Editor's note: This story was updated to include the date of Trudy Milner's resignation at 2:21 p.m. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OSU interim president Hess shares goals, passions for university in new role
When Jim Hess was named Oklahoma State University interim president Feb. 7, some people not familiar with his work had a question. Who is Jim Hess? Hess said it wasn't an uncommon question. 'My goal over the last 43 years is to have a low profile and just do my work,' Hess said. 'So, the fact that some people say, 'Who the heck is Jim Hess?' is actually a compliment.' Hess sat in the OSU President's office, where, as of yet, the space isn't fully furnished. It was a space occupied a month ago by former president Dr. Kayse Shrum, who handed her official resignation to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents on Feb. 5 in what appeared to be a sudden decision with little warning. The soft-spoken Hess, known for hard work behind the scenes, discussed his new role, his passions and his goals for the university. 'Let me start by saying that it's a real honor and a privilege to serve in this job,' Hess said. 'There have been lot of great people sit in this corner office over the decades, and I feel unworthy sometimes, having worked for many of those people in the past.' Other days, he said he feels like the 'fastest three-legged dog,' a phrase that showed that, although he may feel 'unworthy,' he's worked just as hard as anyone and proven it. Hess has served the higher education system in Oklahoma for more than 43 years. In 2023, Hess was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Hess served as vice provost for graduate programs at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, helping to create what is now OSU Medical Center, the only osteopathic teaching hospital in the United States. He most recently served as CEO of the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority and is designated as a Riata Faculty Fellow in the OSU School of Entrepreneurship. Despite his accomplishments, his wife, Angela, told the News Press that sometimes he doesn't realize all he has done. She doesn't often get to say much about him, but when she has the chance, she wants to speak up. 'There's something really special and endearing about Jim, and I think it's his humility,' Angela said. 'If I wasn't married to him, I would want him to be my best friend, I would always want him to be in my corner, because what you see is what you get.' Angela said stepping in as interim president and First Cowgirl was 'not on their radar.' 'We were headed to retirement, and we had been praying consistently every day … 'God, what do you want us to do? Where do you want us to go?'' she said. 'And then this came open, and we were both like, 'Oh, my goodness, this is no mistake.'' She said her husband works 16 hours a day, but she's never seen him complain. Hess is a native of Henryetta, a town one hour south of Tulsa, where he said he grew up poor. 'This place changed my life, changed the direction of my life years and years ago, when I first came down here as a student,' Hess said. 'So, I felt like since the university's done so much for me, it's my duty to pay back and to serve.' As a freshman, he came to OSU to study petroleum geology because he was intrigued by the oil and gas business. At OSU, his professors saw his potential and challenged him. 'I was gifted that experience of some great professors who inspired me to be a good student, to do the very best that I could and basically live up to the potential that they saw in me, saying, 'You can be an outstanding student, but you're going need to be motivated to be an outstanding student,'' Hess said. One thing he is grateful for was the scholarship he received as a freshman from anonymous donors that enabled him to compete his education. It's with this in mind that Hess wants to create those same opportunities for other students, especially those in need of scholarships. He said the Board of Regents has been 'holding the line' for the costs of student tuition and fees, but this means there is a greater need for private scholarships. The student experience – from the time they arrive to the time they leave – is a window that is 'really the measure of success' and that depends on the financial pressures students face, he said. 'We like to measure ourselves by numbers, and that's important,' Hess said. '… But it's the student experience that really matters because when a student comes here, we have the opportunity to change their lives and change the trajectory of forever.' A professor himself, Hess was responsible for creating several online graduate programs, including the Master of Science in Health Care Administration, the Master of Science in Global Health, the Master of Science in Medical Sciences, the Doctor of Health Care Administration and the Doctor of Forensic Sciences. He teaches the Healthcare Administration course at OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, in addition to a Higher Education Finance course in the College of Education and Human Sciences in Stillwater. The Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa became known as the 'only institution in the state's higher education system to achieve consecutive year-over-year enrollment growth over the last 10 years,' according to a Feb. 7 story published at OSU's website. 'Nobody in the graduate college teaches more than me,' Hess said. 'That's been true for the last five years. And here's why this is so important to me: the interaction with students … that change(s) me, and I hope it changes them.' He said the close interaction with students as a professor helps him learn what students need, the challenges they face and how they're approaching them. Hess said another area that he's passionate about is in making OSU the premier veterinary medicine university it used to be in the 1960s and 1970s. As a freshman, his work study was in the College of Veterinary Medicine. 'I shoveled stalls – you know what that means,' Hess said. 'I was so proud to be there because the College of Veterinary Medicine was at its pinnacle, its high point. I was fascinated by the kinds of clinical work they did there and solving a lot of complex animal problems.' Fast forward almost 50 years, he said, and he became the CEO of the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority, the entity that supports clinical training, student training and the veterinary teaching hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine. OSUVMA operates much like the OSU Medical Authority and the University Hospitals Authority in their support for the state's medical schools. Hess said it was a 'full-circle moment.' 'I believe that everything happens that happens in life, happens for a reason,' Hess said. 'That's always been my philosophy.' The opportunity to serve in his previous capacity has given him perspective that OSU can once again be the premier college for veterinary medicine. 'Here's what we once were, here's what we can still become,' he said. Only 33 veterinary colleges exist in the United States, and OSU used to be ranked among the Top 1 or 2 of those colleges in terms of reputation, numbers of clinical volume, including referrals and procedures, but due to financial constraints has dropped in ranking. Hess said it's important that OSU regains that status, because the agricultural economy of the state – including large animal food and production – is 'totally dependent on that very profession.' 'I think, with the help of our legislative partners, we can restore the College of Veterinary Medicine to the greatness that OSU deserves,' Hess said. The No. 1 legislative priority is to build a new animal teaching hospital, Hess said. As for the future, Hess said he's approaching his role with the idea of 'making the best decisions that are in the long-term best interests of the institution.' 'If at the end of whatever time period I'm here, if I can say that I left the place better than when I found it, then I was successful,' Hess said. 'And I think that's really the only measure for me.' Hess also touched on the relationship between OSU and the community, noting that it was a great connection and not one found in many college towns. 'Everybody who works here (at OSU), lives here,' Hess said. ' … If you were going to describe the ideal place to put a university where the culture of the community is important, you couldn't describe a better place than Stillwater.'
