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Oklahoma Baptist University

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Oklahoma Baptist University
Motto"Eruditione Religioneque Veritas"
TypePrivate
Established1910
Endowment$93.7 million
PresidentDavid Wesley Whitlock
Students1753 (fall 2008)
Location
Shawnee
,
Oklahoma
,
United States
CampusUrban, 200 acres
ColorsGreen & Gold
Nickname"Bison Hill"
AffiliationsBaptist General Convention of Oklahoma
MascotBison
Websitewww.okbu.edu

Oklahoma Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Raley Chapel

OBU Mission Statement

As a Christian liberal arts university, OBU transforms lives by equipping students to pursue academic excellence, integrate faith with all areas of knowledge, engage a diverse world, and live worthy of the high calling of God in Christ.

Academics

Oklahoma Baptist University is one of the top two baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report rankings of “America’s Best Colleges”. OBU has been Oklahoma's highest ranked comprehensive college in the US News rankings for 15 consecutive years.

A typical degree at OBU requires 30 credits in a specific degree area, though some plans require up to 60 credits in a specific area. In addition, a core degree curriculum must be met. In keeping with the school's liberal arts focus, the core curriculum emphasizes diverse education, including history, literature, religion, science, mathematics, the social sciences, and the humanities.

stained glass window in Raley Chapel

OBU offers ten bachelor's degrees in 83 areas of study in five academic schools. The typical degree offered by OBU is a Bachelor of Arts, or a BA. The school also offers degrees more focused within a specific school, such as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) A Bachelor of Science degree requires completing a degree plan from a major within the school of science. A Bachelor of Music requires nearly 60 credits from the School of Music, including a senior project, which is generally a recital.

OBU also offers two graduate degrees through the OBU International Graduate School, based in downtown Oklahoma City. The school currently offers a MBA degree with an international business focus, and a Master of Science in Nursing degree.

Colleges

Athletics and wellness

The Bison compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference of the NAIA in 17 sports, including baseball, men & women's basketball, men & women's cross country, men & women's golf, men & women's soccer, softball, men & women's tennis, men & women's track & field, and women's volleyball. OBU has a total of five NAIA National Championships: men’s basketball, one, 1966; men’s outdoor track and field, two, 1990 and 2007; women’s indoor track and field, two, 2005 and 2007.

OBU was ranked #5 in the 2006-07 U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup standings for the NAIA. The rankings are based on the overall success of athletic programs at NAIA member schools. OBU finished as the top school from the Sooner Athletic Conference and NAIA Region VI with 639.

OBU’s women’s indoor track and field team won the 2007 NAIA Championship, which was their second championship in three years. The OBU men’s outdoor track and field team won the 2007 NAIA Championship, which was their second championship.[1]

The OBU Recreation and Wellness Center was completed in 2007 and includes cardio and weight machines, a 29-foot (8.8 m) rock climbing wall, an indoor running track, three basketball/volleyball courts, three racquetball courts, a swimming pool, and a snack bar/lounge. The RAWC is home to many campus intramural sports, which include Basketball, Bowling, Flag Football, Free Throw Shooting, Racquetball, Sand Volleyball, Softball, Volleyball, Wallyball, and Ultimate Frisbee.[2]

Campus organizations

  • The Bison (campus student newspaper)
  • The Yahnseh (campus yearbook)
  • Campus Activities Board (CAB)
  • Student Government Association
  • Volunteer Action Committee (VAC)
  • University Concert Series (UCS)
  • Bison Glee Club
  • University Chorale
  • Bisonette Glee Club
  • Chapel Choir
  • Bison Jazz Orchestra
  • University Ringers
  • New Creation
  • Symphonic Band
  • Philosophy Club
  • Black Student Fellowship
  • Cheerleading
  • College Republicans
  • International Justice Mission
  • International Student Union
  • Native American Heritage Association
  • Outdoor Adventure Klub (OAK)
  • Student Ambassadors
  • Student Foundation (STUFO)
  • Young Democrats
  • English Club
  • Intercollegiate Speech & Debate
  • Kappa Kappa Psi (band)
  • Missionary Fellowship
  • National Association for Music Education
  • Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (men's music)
  • Religious Education Fellowship
  • Sigma Alpha Iota (women's music)
  • Society of Professional Journalists
  • Southern Baptist Church Music Conference
  • Spanish Club
  • Student Education Association
  • Student Music Teachers Association
  • Student Nurses Association
  • College Players
  • Sigma Beta Mu
  • Alpha Chi Epsilon
  • Delta Xi Lambda
  • Omega Chi Delta
  • Zeta Pi Lambda
  • Gamma Phi Delta
  • Phi Omega Sigma
  • Theta Sigma Chi

Notable alumni

Student Government Association

There are three branches of SGA: Executive, Judicial, and Legislative.

The Executive branch is headed by the Student Body President. The President is elected on a ballot open to the entire student body near the end of the spring semester. Anyone who is at least a junior and has a 3.0 grade point average is eligible to run for President or Vice President (see legislative section). The President works directly with the Board of Trustees and the University President. The SGA Presidents also holds the power to sign bills for passage, or veto them.

The Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court which serves as the final authority for interpreting the constitution, though their services have not been utilized in past year.

The Legislative branch is considered to be the most powerful branch of the three. It is headed by an independently elected Student Vice President. The Vice President runs on a separate ticket from the President. The Vice President's primary responsibility is to conduct Senate meetings.

Five (5) Senators are elected from each class, and eight (8) at large senators are also elected. Furthermore, the four (4) Class Presidents also serve as senators, for a total of 32.

Each year, Senate is given a budget (which is a part of the whole SGA budget), that they are vested with distributing to various campus organizations. Campus organizations and individuals petition Senate for funds that go to various club activities and for competitions such as Model Arab League.

Events hosted at OBU

  • OBU annually hosts three sessions of Super Summer, each lasting one week, during the first three full weeks in June.
  • OBU annually hosts the OSSAA State 1A, 2A, and 3A Vocal Contest. The majority of contest activities take place in Raley Chapel where numerous high school choirs and ensembles warm-up and perform for contest judges.
  • OBU hosts Welcome Week, freshman orientation for all new students prior to the start of the fall semester. Students are given OBU beanies and taught the school spirit chant known as Karip.
  • OBU, over the course of the past few years, has held a two (2) day camp in preparation for the OMEA (Oklahoma Music Educators Association) High-School All-State Chorus auditions. Usually this event takes place the second or third weekend in July.

University administration

OBU presidents

References

  1. ^ Oklahoma Baptist University
  2. ^ Oklahoma Baptist University

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