What about class sizes?

President Boren recently announced that all freshman English composition classes will be limited to 19 students. The format of the class will depend on the nature of the subject matter and the method of presentation selected by the professor. Many classes are small: some such as language and Honors classes are around 20 students and many upper-division classes are around 40 students; whereas others combine a large lecture and small discussion groups. The average class size at OU is 35, and only 4 percent of our 2,885 classes offered Fall 2007 had more than 100 students! As a freshman, your son or daughter will probably have a mixture of classes in terms of size and format. In Fall 2006, only 4% of OU’s 2885 class sections taught had more than 100 students. OU also boasts a 18:1 student to professor ratio.

OU seems so big. How will my son/daughter keep from being lost in the shuffle?

Getting involved is an important way for students to feel at home. Volunteer opportunities in the Norman community abound and there are more than 300 campus organizations for students. In addition to a variety of academic and cultural support services, OU has everything from the African American Artists Association to the Society of Women Engineers. For a complete list of registered student organizations, go to http://studentlife.ou.edu.

Are there special courses for freshmen? What other academic support services are available?

OU recognizes that the transition from high school to college requires many adjustments, the University offers two special semester-long courses specifically designed for freshmen: Gateway to College Learning and Freshman Seminar. Other services include Project Threshold, which is an academic support program established in 1971. The primary goal of this program is to provide services and programs that will increase the persistence and graduation rates of students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The Housing Learning Center offers free tutoring in a variety of classes, and the Writing Center provides help with writing skills and assigned papers. Action Tutoring is also a great program in which student mentors tutor other students one-to-one in typical freshman classes...and it costs nothing! The center is even open in the evenings. Students also have access to test files and numerous workshops and success seminars throughout the year.

Will someone help students select classes?

Most degree programs require that students meet with an academic adviser before they are given permission to register for classes. This is certainly the case for all freshmen. One-on-one advising allows the student and his adviser to explore and to select the best course options.

Does OU allow freshmen to have cars on campus?

Yes. If students drive to campus, they need to purchase a parking permit from the Parking and Transit Office. If students don’t have cars, they can get around Norman using CART (Cleveland Area Rapid Transit), a public transportation system that serves the campus and the surrounding area.

What is OU’s enrollment commitment, and how is it paid?

If your son or daughter is a high school senior who has been admitted to the University of Oklahoma and is planning to attend Fall 2009, a $250 enrollment commitment due by May 1, 2009 is required to hold his or her place at OU. This commitment will cover the student’s housing advance payment and enrollment program fee and will be used to secure the student’s place at OU. If the student becomes exempt from University housing, the housing portion of the commitment will be applied to academic charges in the first semester at OU. This enrollment commitment is fully refundable if requested in writing prior to May 1, 2009. Admitted students with financial need will be considered for deferment upon written request. For more information, and to pay the enrollment commitment, your admitted student may visit the enrollment commitment Web site.

How safe is OU’s campus?

From a recent survey, students remarked that they overwhelmingly felt safe both in the residence halls, and across campus.

The OU Department of Public Safety’s police division patrols the parking lots and exterior grounds throughout the night and early morning hours. Residential floors within the towers and the quads are locked 24-hrs a day, seven days a week. This safety feature assists in ensuring that only those students assigned to live on particular floor gain access. Ground floor doors lock at 10 p.m, Sunday through Thursday, and at midnight on Friday and Saturday. All residents may access the ground floors of the towers with their student ID cards in order to use the computer labs and food services operations.

Resident Advisers are on nightly duty and conduct routine rounds throughout the residence halls. These staff members also provide safety programs for residents throughout the year.

For students who are studying or working on campus late at night, Housing and Food Services, along with the OU Police Department, sponsors a program called Safewalk, where volunteers escort students to their campus destination. This service is available free of charge from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.

Outdoor emergency telephones are also located throughout the academic and housing areas. These telephones are a push button system that automatically connects to the OU Police Department. For more safety information, visit www.ou.edu/oupd.

What if my student has not selected a major?

Don’t be alarmed if your student takes a semester or two to select a major or if he or she changes majors, as many students do. There are resources on campus to help students understand their interests, set career goals, and choose an appropriate major. University College provides computer-assisted career exploration, a professional and career library, and help in career and academic major selection. Academic advisers help students select classes that are appropriate for the majors the students are considering and suggest courses to help students explore various possibilities. Students also may find it  helpful to visit with faculty in their areas of interest.