OBU Trustees Adopt Budget, Celebrate Enrollment Growth

October 6, 2017

The Oklahoma Baptist University Board of Trustees approved a $78.06 million operating budget and the tuition and fee structure for the 2018-19 academic year, while celebrating another large freshman class during their fall semester meeting on the OBU campus in Shawnee Oct. 6.

The University announced another year of enrollment growth with 555 new freshman students and 74 transfer students for a total enrollment of 2,093 this fall. This marks the fourth time in the last five years that OBU welcomed a freshman class of more than 550 students.

The new operating budget will include a projected distribution of $28.9 million in scholarships for the 2018-19 academic year, which is 37 percent of the overall budget, and a $2.8 million increase from the current year, according to Randy Smith, OBU executive vice president for business and administrative services.

Tuition and fees were approved for the 2018-19 academic year. OBU’s tuition for full-time students will increase $1,198 per year from $23,940 for the current academic year to $25,138 for the 2018-19 academic year. The overall costs, which include tuition, fees, room and board, will increase by 4.76 percent, from $33,990 for 2017-18 to $35,608 for 2018-19.

Trustees approved a recommendation to appoint Dr. Warren McWilliams, Auguie Henry Professor of Bible, to senior professor. McWilliams plans to retire at the conclusion of this academic year after serving on the OBU faculty for 42 years.

In other business, the Board of Trustees approved the 2018-19 university objectives to support the long-range strategic plan, OBU 2020.  

Steve Allen, chair of OBU's Board of Trustees, moderated the board's plenary session.

Board officers for the 2017-18 year were elected. They include Steve Allen, chair; Danna Humphries, vice chair; James Wilder, secretary; and Scott Neighbors, treasurer.