Langston University to benefit from agreements
“When President Smith proposed the concept some months ago, I was intrigued by the possibilities for both institutions. Both LU-Tulsa and OSU enjoy strong programs in Tulsa. This academic agreement will enable both institutions to pursue strategic objectives and to be more responsive long-term to the market's higher education and workforce needs.”
Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences have agreed to pay Langston University $ 15 million over 10 years as part of an academic agreement announced Thursday.
Approval of the academic agreement was contingent upon the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education's approval of an agreement to resolve a 17- yearold federal civil rights complaint.
That agreement was also announced Thursday.
The resolution agreement to the civil rights complaint will provide Langston University with $750,000 in supplemental funding over a three-year period.
As part of that agreement, regents also agreed they will attempt to continue providing Langston University with a special allocation of at least $1.8 million a year and an additional allocation of at least $ 1.6 million a year for Langston's goat program over the next three years.
The presidents of Langston University and Oklahoma State University enthusiastically announced their new academic agreement Thursday.
"The funds LU will receive from OSU and OSU- CHS will spur investment in innovative programs and services to distinguish LU and advance our mission to offer quality education to diverse populations," said Kent Smith, president of Langston University. "As a historically Black college and university and a land-grant institution, we look forward to investing in and further elevating LU in both presence and stature while maintaining a presence in Tulsa."
The agreement between Langston and OSU is subject to approval by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, which is scheduled to meet next week.
“When President Smith proposed the concept some months ago, I was intrigued by the possibilities for both institutions,” said Burns Hargis, president of the Oklahoma State University. “Both
Burns Hargis, president of the Oklahoma State University
LU-Tulsa and OSU enjoy strong programs in Tulsa. This academic agreement will enable both institutions to pursue strategic objectives and to be more responsive long- term to the market's higher education and workforce needs.”
Under terms of the academic agreement, Langston University will continue to offer an undergraduate degree in rehabilitative services and two master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling and visual rehabilitation services at its Tulsa campus.
In Tulsa, Langston University will no longer offer undergraduate academic programs in accountancy, business administration, elementary education, liberal education, psychology, sociology and special education. It also will no longer offer a graduate program in entrepreneurial studies.
OSU agreed to continue teaching those programs for three years on behalf of Langston University to allow all current students to finish their programs and receive a degree from Langston University, if they choose to do so. OSU agreed to use current Langston University faculty through the transition as much as possible.
OSU and Langston University also agreed to offer a joint minor in Africana Studies and joint programs leading to a Nursing Bachelor of Science degree and Nursing Practitioner Master of Science degree.
Langston agreed to lease its Tulsa properties to OSU and OSU-CHS for 25 years with an option to renew for another 25 years.
OSU was given approval by Langston to offer any programs except the graduate and undergraduate programs it specifically reserved.
OSU agreed to provide up to 100 $1,500 scholarships/waivers per year for students residing in the North Tulsa community.
Civil rights agreement
The other agreement announced Thursday is designed to resolve a complaint pending since 2003 that alleged Langston in Tulsa was negatively impacted because it was not funded at a level necessary to implement its programs and its programs were diminished because of duplication from programs offered by other state institutions.
The complaint was lodged with the U. S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
In order to resolve the complaint, regents initially entered into a resolution agreement in 2009.
The agreement signed Thursday amends the 2009 agreement and calls for the regents' obligations under the agreement to be completed by June 30, 2023.
The agreement involved no admission or confirmation of discrimination and there was no determination of liability on the part of regents.
"Langston University has a historic and vibrant footprint in Oklahoma higher education," State Regents Chair Ann Holloway said in a prepared statement. "We are pleased to announce our approval of this resolution agreement, which will create new pathways for Langston's continued growth and success."
"As Oklahoma's only HBCU (historically black college or university) and a nationally recognized leader in goat research and production, Langston University has an important role and is an integral part of our state system of higher education," said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. "At the center of this collaborative agreement with OCR ( Office of Civil Rights) is a desire to continue supporting Langston University's focus on providing excellent academic and student services."