May 26, 2020
Dear Students,
I hope this finds you well, healthy, and safe. We are eagerly anticipating the fall when we plan to once again be together. Through our planning initiatives like Clean and Green and the Safe and Resilient Instructional Plan, we are working diligently, making every effort to ensure our return to the in-person OU experience is safe and rewarding.
I’m pleased to write you today with the news that for the third straight year there will be no tuition or mandatory fee increases for Norman campus programs. Additionally, no online fees will apply for courses that have been moved online due to COVID-19.
We understand the importance of our role as an outstanding public university to provide academic excellence while remaining affordable and accessible. We are committed to our purpose and our decisions are based upon it. Even in the wake of transitioning to online learning this spring – which increased our instructional costs – we were able to control the financial impact, not passing on any additional burden to our students. We were able to do this while also providing appropriate refunds for housing and food costs and allocating resources toward student support through Sooners Helping Sooners.
While I trust the news that we are again holding tuition and fees flat for the coming year comes as a welcome piece of information, I also understand the financial needs many of our students continue to have. Our professionals in the Student Financial Center stand ready to help as you seek financial aid and create a plan to fund the upcoming year. I encourage you to reach out to them and schedule a virtual appointment as you plan your return to OU. They can also support you as you apply for CARES Act emergency financial assistance. In addition to financial stressors, I know there are also students experiencing significant mental health challenges as a result of the pandemic. Please remember, OU’s counseling center remains open and can provide services by phone or Zoom. Counselors can be reached at (405) 325-2911 (Norman), (405) 271-7336 (HSC), or (918) 660-3109 (Tulsa) to make an appointment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a range of uncertainty to us all, particularly financially, and we know you and your families are not immune to its effects. It’s through these steps that we hope we are able to provide some clarity as it relates to your OU education.
Sincerely,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
