What gives with Stillwater/OSU?

[kylieosu]

I was going to say the same thing.  I stayed in Hays KS over night (not really telling) but I can't see how it would fare better over Boulder or Manhattan, both of which I've been to for extended stays.

Also definitely agree. I used to date a guy who was going to school in Hays...if they are referring to "college 'party' towns" I can see that being on a top ten list, because that's pretty much absolutely all there was to do there, not to mention it's totally in the middle of nowhere.

[TheArtist]

 I understand the regents not wanting to duplicate programs at OSU Stillwater and OSU Tulsa. For one thing it would cost more money, and another,that Tulsa program could indeed compete with Stillwater.

I would guess that a good recourse might be that any new program offerings OSU decides to add could go to OSU Tulsa, while still expanding and growing what OSU Stillwater has. Plus expanding and growing the programs that OSU Tulsa already has, especially on the engineering, nanotech and technology fronts. But there again, its frustrating to see new programs and programs that Tulsa has a focus on, being started and expanded in Stillwater.... they can of course then go "well we dont want to spend money or replicate that in Tulsa causing a duplicate program".

As for OSU Stillwaters student population increasing. Dont know what its been these last couple years. But last time I looked on their websites I noticed that OSU Stillwaters website stated that "OSU's" student population had increased a certain amount, but on the OSU Tulsa site they put how many students that particular campus had increased. Basically most of the increase was at the Tulsa campus, not the Stillwater one. That specific campus info conveniently wasnt on the OSU Stillwater site. But during that time hundreds of millions of dollars hav been spent at Stillwater, and precious little in Tulsa. Yet it was Tulsa's student population that was growing the fastest, not Stillwaters.

[mjchamplin]

My understanding was that the degree program limitations had more to do with Langston than OSU-Stillwater. But I don't know details, and I'm having trouble finding any. Dr. Trennepohl was hesitant to say too much, of course, but that's the impression he gave.

And it's fair to note that OSU-Tulsa isn't getting completely left out to dry. They did just complete the new technology center, which is apparently an impressive state-of-the-art facility. So there's certainly an interest. I'd like to know what's next.

[TheArtist]

My understanding was that the degree program limitations had more to do with Langston than OSU-Stillwater. But I don't know details, and I'm having trouble finding any. Dr. Trennepohl was hesitant to say too much, of course, but that's the impression he gave.

And it's fair to note that OSU-Tulsa isn't getting completely left out to dry. They did just complete the new technology center, which is apparently an impressive state-of-the-art facility. So there's certainly an interest. I'd like to know what's next.

If a program is at OSU Tulsa or Langston Tulsa, its fine with me. But thats not whats holding things back here. They still have the same number of programs even though Langston finally finished their new building. And remember, look at how much Tulsa itself funds TCC, Tulsa Vo-Tech, new campus buildings and such on all the campuses through Vision 2025 (like the research center and Langston building), and Tulsa donors (whose names are on so many Tulsa campus buildings, endowments, etc. The state taxes us to pay for the state universities, then on top of that we tax ourselves more to try and get the basics here that we know we sorely need. I am very glad we have chosen to do that. Though not as flashy as some MAPS brick-town canal, Tulsas decision to invest in Colleges will pay off handsomely. I just feel that the states money could be used more wisely with a little more going to Tulsa than to Stillwater at this time. NOT saying put Stillwater on the backburner or focus soley on Tulsa, but shift to a more "wisely" equitable emphasis. 

[SXSW]

I'd still like to see a unified, independent 'state' university instead of a satellite campus of OSU which is what we have now.  Combine Langston and OSU into Tulsa State and be done with it.  It can still be controlled by the OSU Board of Regents but then you won't have the issues we see currently with Langston and Stillwater making things difficult.  I'd like to see the City of Tulsa take a bigger step in advancing this university as well, maybe even a MAPS-like initiative to build new buildings on campus and update the infrastructure around it (bury I-244, increase connectivity to Brady, etc.)

[mjchamplin]

...I'd like to see the City of Tulsa take a bigger step in advancing this university as well, maybe even a MAPS-like initiative to build new buildings on campus and update the infrastructure around it (bury I-244, increase connectivity to Brady, etc.)

I completely agree. Though the campus has great proximity to downtown Tulsa, 244 creates such a barrier, both physically and visually. The only great views of downtown are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, all you see from the ground is a big, looming wall. Elgin provides a link, but only under a dark underpass littered with junk and often populated with homeless people. It would be awesome if a student could walk safely from, say, the blue dome district to campus. Having said that, I'm sure having the ballpark there will address some of the pedestrian issues.

[SXSW]

I completely agree. Though the campus has great proximity to downtown Tulsa, 244 creates such a barrier, both physically and visually. The only great views of downtown are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, all you see from the ground is a big, looming wall. Elgin provides a link, but only under a dark underpass littered with junk and often populated with homeless people. It would be awesome if a student could walk safely from, say, the blue dome district to campus. Having said that, I'm sure having the ballpark there will address some of the pedestrian issues.

The ballpark and streetscape, and eventual mixed-use development along Elgin between Blue Dome and 244 should greatly improve the connection to downtown.  Burying 244 should be a long range priority though.  Creating a east-west corridor that connects Brady to the campus could be achieved if 244 was no longer a barrier.  I would favor seeing a 'new' 244 go below grade in between Easton and Fairview between roughly Denver and Elgin.  Easton could then run along the southside of the buried highway with student housing on the north and south sides from Boulder into campus just north of the church.  John Hope Franklin Park could then be extended north with 244 going underneath the park which could become a focal point for new campus development around it in Brady.  I'd like to see the campus expand and densify further west and south to connect with the urban fabric of Brady, and keep the parking etc. on the eastside of campus by the tracks.