Student Life

University Student Development Policies

University policies relating to student life are intended to give each student programmed opportunities within the context of a Christian community to develop and to expand those potentialities which can give full expression to personality. The formulation of behavioral expectations into policy is guided by Baptist beliefs; and these policies provide the bases of creative social relationships in the OBU community.

OBU students are afforded the privileges and responsibilities of campus fellowship. Within University guidelines, a student is encouraged to make educational and social choices which enhance personal development. Students may actively participate in the process of institutional governance through University Committee membership, agencies of student government, and advisory groups.

Student Services Center

Career Development Services

The Career Development Office provides guidance and career assessment services for students and alumni, information concerning vocational opportunities, and the job search process.

Counseling Services

The University offers personal counseling services free of charge to all students. Appointments are confidential and may be made by calling the Kemp MFT Clinic.

Student Health Services

Students are expected to assume primary responsibility for individual health needs, including financial responsibility for medical treatment which may be required. The University offers supplementary services through the employment of a Campus Nurse, who is available during daytime hours to consult with students concerning health needs and practices.

Disability Services

The Special Services Office provides support services to students with disabilities. The office is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full participation for students with disabilities. Students are required to provide documentation of disability prior to the provision of services. If you have a need for services due to disabilities, please contact the Dean of Students’ Office for details regarding applicable policies.

Athletics, Intramural Sports and Campus Recreation

As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and the Great American Conference, Oklahoma Baptist University offers men’s intercollegiate athletic teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. Women’s intercollegiate sports include basketball, cheer, cross country, golf, lacrosse, pom, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. In addition, OBU offers a wide variety of club and intramural sports in activities such as soccer, racquetball, softball, walleyball, basketball, etc. to promote participation, social interaction, and physical well-being for all students and faculty. Also, the Recreation and Wellness Center is the center of campus recreation with facilities for the pursuit of many team and individual sport and fitness activities.

The following are the stated purposes of the OBU athletics program and are compatible with the overall University mission statement:

To provide programs of intercollegiate athletic competition which will be consistent with and supportive of the purposes and goals of the University.

To provide a forum by which the athletically gifted student may develop his/her talent to the fullest while representing the University against outside competition in a wholesome, Christian manner.

To provide an environment which will stimulate the academic growth of the student athlete which will be beyond minimal conference/national standards and which will lead to graduation of the athletes.

To encourage growth as Christians and as campus citizens by becoming involved in and assuming leadership roles in all aspects of campus life.

To enhance the public image of the University to students (spectators and players), prospective students (athletes and nonathletes), alumni, other schools and other segments of the public.

To serve as a means of aiding the participant, through teams participation and cooperation, to define, organize, and clarify a system of values, which is in harmony with a code of Christian ethics and which helps to establish a direction of personal, professional and societal behavior.

To make a positive contribution to the campus social environment by providing competitive athletic contests in a wholesome atmosphere for the OBU community as spectators.

Publications

Student publications include The Bison, a weekly newspaper, and OBU’s yearbook, Yahnseh. Both The Bison and the Yahnseh serve as journalism laboratories, but staff members consist of students from various areas of concentration.

All student publications are supervised by the Media Committee, an administrative advisory committee composed of students, faculty and administrators.

Other publications include The Green Book, a student handbook published online by the office of the Dean of Students, and the University Directory, a listing of all administrators, faculty, staff, and students published online by the University administration.

Spiritual Life

Oklahoma Baptist University is a Christ-centered university dedicated to the spiritual development of students along with their social, academic and physical development. Spiritual Life is committed to supporting the University’s Mission through Chapel, Student Ministry, the Avery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach, and Pastoral Care. Spiritual Life helps create and advance an atmosphere beneficial for spiritual formation through vibrant worship encounters, small group experiences, and through service/mission opportunities in Shawnee, across the U.S. and around the world.

Worship - OBU provides occasions for worship in Chapel and through various Student Ministry organizations.

The Chapel program is an integral part of campus life at OBU. It is the central gathering of the OBU family where students worship and glorify God while building community, faith, and knowledge. Chapels emphasize participation in a creative and celebratory atmosphere. Chapels are provided each Wednesday of the semester at 10:00 am. In addition to Wednesday chapels, OBU provides chapel experiences at 10:00 am on select Mondays and Fridays throughout the semester.

In addition to Chapel, other worship opportunities exist for students each month. Student-led worship teams allow students to use their gifts in worship experiences like Canterbury and FCA. Many of these teams also find opportunities to use their gifts in church settings both locally and nationally.

Community - OBU provides ample opportunities for spiritual community to take place through local churches, Student Ministry, and the Center for Discipleship.

Local church involvement is the principal area of community for OBU students, staff, and faculty. As an extension of the church, OBU partners with local churches in a variety of ways to encourage all members of the OBU community to be active members of local bodies of believers. OBU affirms the necessity of healthy church membership for Christ-followers and seeks to strengthen the relationship between the OBU community and local churches through events like Noonday, OBU Day in the Church, Falls Creek, and countless others.

Student Ministry organizations offer diverse ministry experiences that allow students to connect, grow, and learn together. Additionally, Student Ministry participates in state and national collegiate ministry events that allow students to form an expansive community of fellow believers.

The Center for Discipleship creates community by helping form and support discipleship groups in the OBU community. As the foundation of Spiritual Life at OBU, discipleship groups offer personalized attention, spiritual formation, and a sense of belonging. They encourage students to walk in the spiritual disciplines and discover gifts and passions that help focus their involvement in personal spiritual growth. Discipleship resources, training, and support are available through the Center for Discipleship.

Outreach - Channels for local outreach are available throughout campus. Service learning is provided through select classroom experiences and student led service teams that are life giving agents throughout the Shawnee area. Every week more than one hundred fifty students from across the campus are leading and serving in youth, inner city community, volunteer, senior citizen, prison and special needs perpetual service projects. New projects are added each year.

Global Outreach opportunities are provided through select courses, faculty direction, and student leadership. Global Outreach is coordinated through the Avery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach, and is available to the OBU community as a whole. OBU students participate in J-term, spring break, summer, semester and extended term mission opportunities each year. Global Outreach opportunities develop through select courses, faculty direction, and student leadership.

Before graduation, most OBU students will have first-hand local and global outreach experience.

Basic Beliefs - Oklahoma Baptist University is owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. The beliefs of the convention are found in the Baptist Faith and Message (BFM).

Though the attitudes and beliefs of individual members of the academic community generally reflect the viewpoints of the Baptist constituency, there is no attempt to seek religious conformity from students of diverse persuasions. The freedom of the individual to develop his own spiritual insights is one of the most cherished of Baptist traditions; it is of paramount importance on this campus.

The Geiger Center

The Geiger Center is a facility which serves the entire community. The center houses the Geiger Counter Snackbar/Convenience Store and the coffee shop, mailroom, OBU Bookstore, Cafe on the Hill, meeting rooms, special dining areas and information desk. The offices of the Dean of Students; Director of Events, Conferences, and Camps; Director of Residential Life and Campus Activities; Global Outreach Director and Campus Minister; Student Government Association; and the Student Services Center are located in the Geiger Center. The Student Services Center includes Career Development Services, Special Services and Student Health Services.

Bookstore

The University Bookstore is located on the lower floor of the Geiger Center and is open for purchase of textbooks and supplies from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, when classes are in session and during all scheduled enrollment periods.

The Bookstore provides a fulfillment service to all students called Textbook Butler. The Textbook Butler service fulfills each student’s required books according to the student’s class schedule and delivers the book order to the student’s on campus dorm or apartment (if they are a residential student) prior to the first day of class. Non-residential students can pick up their pre-packaged book order in the Bookstore. Book charges are then automatically charged to the student’s account allowing the student to utilize scholarships or financial aid to purchase their books or to include their book charges in their semester installment plan. Students who do not wish to participate in Textbook Butler may opt-out.

Student Organizations for Co-Curricular Activities

See The Green Book for more detailed descriptions.

Residence Halls and Living Accommodations

A long-standing tradition of Oklahoma Baptist University has been the provision of a residential campus. This position has been affirmed through research, which reveals that if students remain in campus housing they are more likely to complete their college education, develop a strong spiritual formation, participate in campus activities, adjust to various social situations, and establish lifelong friendships with students and faculty.

The Green Book and the Residential Life Handbook provide further information, including policies and procedures related to living on campus and off campus. These documents are located on the web at www.okbu.edu/campuslife.

The University Maintains Four Housing Units for Men.

Agee Residence Center, (named for former OBU president Bob Agee and his wife Nelle and formerly known as Brotherhood Dormitory), includes rooms with movable furniture, accommodates 365 men, and features its own laundry facilities, co-ed fitness center, big screen television viewing area, and a computer lab. Agee is equipped with OBU computer wifi network access in each student room.

Apartment Village accommodates 138 junior and senior men in 24 furnished apartments. The Apartment Village features four individual rooms, two shared bathrooms, full kitchen, and shared living room. Twelve of the apartments have washers and dryers. All apartments include computer wifi network access.

The Lodge is our newest hall that is able to house 160 men. This hall is designated primarily for freshman and sophomore men in furnished suites each having their own bathroom facilities and computer wifi network access. The Lodge also features its own laundry facilities and big screen television viewing area, with community kitchen and eating area as well.

MacArthur Drive Apartments accommodate 32 junior and senior men in 8 furnished apartments. MacArthur Drive Apartments were built in 1991. These apartments are equipped with computer wifi network access in each.

There are Eight Housing Units for Women.

Apartment Village accommodates 92 junior and senior women in 24 furnished apartments. The Apartment Village features four individual rooms, two shared bathrooms, full kitchen, and shared living room. Twelve of the apartments have washers and dryers. All apartments include cable television and computer access.

East Devereaux Apartments provide housing for 13 women in six furnished apartments with computer wifi network access in each.

Kerr Residence Center, a residence for 231 women, was named for Mrs. W.S. Kerr, mother of the late Senator Robert S. Kerr. This facility was extensively renovated during 1995 and 1996. Each student room is equipped with OBU computer wifi network access. In addition, a computer lab is located on the second floor for the use of all residents of this facility.

Howard Apartments, named in honor of the late Dr. R.C. Howard and Mrs. Howard, is comprised of 12 townhouse apartments for 48 junior and senior women. Each room has computer wifi network access.

Howard Residence Center, named in honor of the late Dr. R.C. Howard and Mrs. Howard, consists of suitestyle rooms for 34 junior and senior women. Computer wifi network access is available in each unit.

The Doris and Jim Taylor Residence Center, a hall for 156 women, opened in August 1997. This hall houses sophomore, junior, and senior women in furnished suites each having their own bathroom facilities and computer wifi network access.

West University Apartments house 160 junior and senior women in 40 apartments. These apartments provide year-round housing for female students and are furnished and each equipped with computer wifi network access.

WMU Residence Center, which was built by funds provided by the Woman’s Missionary Union of Oklahoma, is a residence for freshman women. This facility was expanded and extensively renovated in 2009 to accommodate 198 students. Recent improvements to this facility include OBU computer wifi network access in each student room.

Residence Hall Regulations

Each residence is supervised by a Residence Director who is a member of the administrative staff of the University. The director is assisted by student resident assistants, upperclass men and women carefully chosen and trained for this important responsibility.

Residence halls are normally closed during official University holiday periods.

Room Reservations

New students who desire to have a room reserved in a residence hall should contact the Office of Admissions for an application form. This application should be submitted at the earliest possible time prior to the opening of the semester for which the student expects to be admitted.

Burns, Cobbs and West Devereaux Apartments for Married Students

The University has a limited number of unfurnished apartments available for rental to married students with and without children. At least one spouse must be classified as a full-time student, taking a minimum course load of 12 credit hours each semester. A prospective student’s name will be placed on the apartment waiting list only after his/her application for admission to the University has been accepted and the required deposit has been paid. Students who desire information about married student housing and the application process should contact the Office of Residential Life.

General Regulations

Automobiles

Possession and operation of an automobile on campus is considered a privilege.

All automobiles operated on campus must be registered with the University Police Department. Laws and regulations promulgated by state, local, and University authorities must be observed. Responsibility for an automobile resides with the person who registers it. Regulations are published each year in the Green Book.

Chapel

Chapel is a long-standing tradition on Bison Hill and is a vital part of the University community. Chapel is the gathering where the OBU family worships and glorifies God while building community, informing, and educating. The Chapel program is an integral part of the life of Oklahoma Baptist University. Chapel programs emphasize praise and participation in a creative and celebratory atmosphere.

Chapel attendance is a graduation requirement for all students enrolled full time (12 credit hours or more) and for students residing in campus housing without regard for the number of hours enrolled. In order for a student to graduate and receive a diploma, all academic requirements must be met including satisfying the chapel attendance policy. Failure to meet the number of required chapels will result in the student contracting to make up the deficiency before a degree is awarded.

Students are required to attend a total of 96 chapel programs to receive a bachelor’s degree. The number is prorated for students who attend fewer than eight fall/spring semesters. Credit for chapel attendance is given only for attending chapel. Absences are neither excused nor unexcused. Doctor appointments, illnesses, school-related activities, and other reasons for failure to attend chapel do not reduce the total number required.

Attendance is recorded by scanning a valid, functioning OBU ID card when departing the chapel program. Students must be in the auditorium for the full length of the chapel program and successfully scan their ID card at the conclusion of the program in order to receive chapel credit.

College Citizenship

All students of the University are expected to maintain the highest standards of moral conduct and concern for the well-being and rights of their fellow students.

The Green Book, the student handbook, provides detailed statements of University policies, procedures and penalties relating to campus citizenship. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the information contained therein. The Green Book may be accessed at www.okbu.edu/campuslife.

Student Educational Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect.

The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. A student may ask the University to amend a record that he or she believes is inaccurate or misleading. The student should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record he or she wants changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The following are some, but not all, of the exceptions which allow disclosure by the University without the student’s consent.

Disclosure may be made to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

The University may disclose directory information, that is, information contained in the education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information includes, but is not limited to, the student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended unless the student notifies the Director of Academic Records/Registrar in writing within two weeks of registration that the student does not want any or all this information disclosed without the student’s consent.

The University may disclose information concerning a student which is furnished to the University by the State of Oklahoma pursuant to the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act.

The University also may disclose, to a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, the final results of the disciplinary proceeding conducted by the University with respect to that alleged crime or offense.

The University may release information to the parents of students under the age of 21 at the time of the disclosure when the University determines that the student has violated University rules or the law governing the use or possession of alcohol or other drugs. The University also may release any student record to the parents of a dependent student, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Oklahoma Baptist University may issue a copy of the academic transcript of a deceased student to the executor/executrix of that individual’s estate upon receipt of a written and signed request accompanied by a copy of the court document of appointment. If the individual’s estate did not go through probate and there is no court-appointed executor/executrix, a copy of the academic transcript of the deceased student may be issued to the next of kin who possesses the state-issued death certificate upon receipt of a written and signed request accompanied by a copy of that certificate. Transcript copies issued under such circumstances will be clearly labeled as being the academic record of a deceased individual.

Note: Students desiring to share their records with their parents/guardians may declare such intentions by submitting a completed FERPA Release form at the Registrar’s Office in the Academic Center.