Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City University , often referred to as OCU , and OKCU is a coeducational , urban , private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church . It is located in the midtown district of Oklahoma City , in the U . S . state of Oklahoma . The university offers undergraduate bachelor ' s degree s , graduate master ' s degree s and doctoral degree s , organized into eight colleges and schools and one Methodist seminary . Students can major in more than 70 undergraduate majors , 17 graduate degrees , including a JD , MBA and PhD in Nursing , and an Adult Studies Program for working adults to earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree . The university has approximately 4 , 000 students , including 1 , 600 graduate students . OCU has a large student life network including athletics , honor societies , clubs and student organizations , and fraternities and sororities . The official school and athletic colors are blue and white . Alumni and former students have gone on to prominent careers in government and law , business , education , sports , arts , and entertainment . History . Early history . Oklahoma City University began as Epworth University by local developer Anton Classen in the early 1900s . Classen was looking to begin a Methodist university in conjunction with other development projects he worked on . Construction of the school began in 1902 and it opened in 1904 with 100 students . Anton Classen was heavily involved with development of early Oklahoma City and advanced the idea of a Methodist university in Oklahoma and helped spark the ideas of the Methodist Church to establish a Methodist university in Oklahoma . Construction began in 1902 and classes started in 1904 with enrollment growing by almost 100 students during that first year . Epworth closed in 1911 after the school ran into financial difficulties . At the same time the church formed Oklahoma Methodist University in Guthrie , Oklahoma . After a few years the school ' s trustees developed a plan to close the school in Guthrie and relocate to Oklahoma City . The school opened in Oklahoma City as Oklahoma City College in 1922 from funding from the Methodist congregations , and some faculty from the defunct Fort Worth University . After the college opened it experienced rapid growth and changed its name to Oklahoma City University in 1924 . Despite the success and growth of the university in the 1920s , OCU again fell on hard times during the Great Depression . Post war era . Dr . Cluster Smith became president of Oklahoma City University after the Great Depression . At the same time the United States entered World War II creating new challenges for the university , especially the university ' s mounting debt and need for new facilities . The War created a decline in the student body , especially in males who left school to enlist in the military . By 1942 the student body was 75 percent female . This created a shortage of players and funds causing many of the athletic programs , such as the football team , to end operations . Following the war enrollment increased dramatically and the university began a period of rapid development through the remainder of the 1940s . In the 1950s OCU received accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools . The University then took control of the Oklahoma City College of Law and began a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to elevate the academics and the quality of education . The Bishop W . Angie Smith Chapel was dedicated in 1968 as part of a plan to expand OCU ' s spiritual life . In the mid 1970s after nearly 25 years of steady growth the university again fell on hard times . In 1976 Methodist Bishop Paul Milhouse discussed the school ' s issues to the Annual Conference of Oklahoma Methodist churches in Tulsa . After requesting that people direct their prayers and pledges to the University by 1980 the Methodist Church had raised more than $ 3 million . Jerald Walker , an OCU alumnus became president in 1979 and continued the university ' s growth stemming from the financial support from the Church . During his tenure as president facilities were improved , new academic programs were started and enrollment increased again . In 1981 it was announced that the university was out of debt and turned a profit for the first time since 1975 . The university added the School of Religion and the nursing program during the 1980s . Recent history . In the 1990s the university upgraded and renovated campus facilities . Stephen Jennings became president in 1998 and began focusing on the university ' s centennial celebration and position the university for the future . Under Jennings the athletic name was changed from the Chiefs to the Stars and the university expanded student life , including the Distinguished Speakers Series . Tom McDaniel became president in 2001 and drastically altered the look of the OCU campus from an influx of donations . New additions to the campus included The Ann Lacy Visitor and Admissions Center , the Norick Art Center , the Edith Kinney Gaylord Center , the Wanda L . Bass School of Music , Meinders School of Business , and a new residence hall . Robert Harlan Henry , chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit , became the university ' s 17th president in July 2010 , succeeding Tom McDaniel . Campus . The campus lies immediately west of the Asia District . It is located near the on Oklahoma State Capitol in central Oklahoma City , The Plaza District , the Paseo Arts District , and the LGBT district . Prominent campus buildings include the Gold Star Memorial Building ( law library ) , Clara Jones Administration Building , Bishop W . Angie Smith Chapel , Sarkeys Law Center , Edith Kinney Gaylord Center ( housing the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management ) , Kirkpatrick Fines Arts Building , Dulaney - Browne Library , McDaniel University Center , Meinders School of Business and Henry K . Freede Wellness and Activity Center . The 38 million dollar state - of - the - art Wanda L . Bass Music Center was opened in April , 2006 . OCU opened a addition to the Kramer School of Nursing in January 2011 , the addition quadruples the size of the nursing school . The Kerr - McGee Centennial Plaza on the southeast corner of the campus was constructed in 2004 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of OCU . The plaza features a bronze statue honoring OCU ' s three Miss America pageant winners . In the first decade of the 21st century , OCU completed more than $ 100 million in new campus construction . Housing . Housing options on the campus of Oklahoma City University include single - gender and coed dormitories , and apartments . There are also various off - campus ranging from boarding houses and flats in the Asia District and 39th Street , to apartment complexes and rental houses in Uptown and the Plaza District . Oklahoma United Methodist Hall ( formerly Centennial Hall ) is a coed facility for freshmen and upper - class students , and includes an underground parking structure . Banning Hall provides coed housing for freshmen and upper - class honors students . Smith Hall houses only men and Walker Hall , OCU ’ s only high - rise dorm at seven stories , offers housing for freshmen and upperclass women . Draper Hall is OCU ' s coed law and graduate hall , offering private rooms and an optional meal plan . There are two apartment complexes on campus available to upperclass students only . A small number of students live in the two fraternity houses located just off campus . University Manor consists of one - bedroom units with single or double occupancy . Cokesbury Court offers residential hall - type living in separate apartment units . Campus safety . OCU maintains a full - time on - campus police force in order to ensure a safe campus . In addition to normal duties and patrols , OCUPD are available to escort any student after dark . In addition 18 emergency call stations are strategically scattered throughout the campus providing immediate access to campus security . Academics . The university is classified as a Master ’ s college and university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education . OCU is the only Oklahoma institution listed in the top tier of the master level university category by " U . S . News and World Report " Magazine ' s " America ' s Best Colleges " issue . It is currently ranked 23rd among Master ' s Universities in the West region . OCU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools . In addition the nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission , Music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music , montessori education program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education , and the law school accredited by the American Bar Association . Degree programs . OCU offers more than 70 undergraduate majors ; 17 graduate degrees , including a law degree and the M . B . A . ) , two Ph . D . programs in nursing , and the Adult Studies Program for working adults to earn a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree . The school also offers numerous pre - professional degrees , one such degree track is the Oxford Plan ; successful participants qualify for preferred admission to the School of Law and participants with an LSAT score of 155 or higher and an undergraduate GPA of 3 . 5 or higher are guaranteed admission to the School of Law . In 2009 OCU launched its first doctoral programs in the university ' s history . OCU offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice and the Ph . D . in Nursing through the Kramer School of Nursing . OCU also provides opportunities for further education with service learning components across the curriculum ; a University Honors Program ; OCULEADS , a freshman scholarship and leadership development program ; a partnership with The Oklahoma Scholar - Leadership Enrichment Program ( OSLEP ) , an intercollegiate , interdisciplinary program ; a Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature ; and numerous study abroad programs . Great Wall MBA Program . In 1986 OCU instituted the Great Wall MBA Program in conjunction with Tianjin University of Finance & Economics or TUFE , in Tianjin China . The GW MBA Program was one of the first programs of its kind in the country and has graduated over 700 students since its inception . As a joint program , it has been recognized for excellence by the Degree Committee of the State Council and the Chinese Government . While started primarily as a program for Chinese students , in 2006 OCU inducted the first international class consisting of Chinese and American students . The following year saw the addition of Korean students and by 2008 the student body consisted of participants from the US , China , Korea , Italy and Canada . Faculty . More than 78 percent of OCU faculty members hold terminal degrees in their fields . All classes are taught by professors , and not graduate assistants . Student to faculty ratio is 13 : 1 and the average class size is 16 for freshmen and 12 for upperclassmen . Notable faculty include : Florence Birdwell , renowned professor of voice ; composer Dr Edward Knight ; Marvel Williamson ; Fritz Kiersch , the director of the film Children of the Corn , and Paul William Milhouse , Bishop in Residence , 1980 – 91 . In 2012 , Kevin Patrick Hardy ( Class of 2013 ) , became OCU ' s first national champion in wrestling , capturing the national title at 165 pounds . Hardy was a Division 1 three time state champion for Solon High School in Ohio . = = Athletics = = Oklahoma City ( OCU ) teams , nicknamed athletically as the Stars , are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) , primarily competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference ( SAC ) . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , golf , rowing , soccer , track & field and wrestling ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cross country , golf , rowing , soccer , softball , track & field , volleyball and wrestling . Both men ' s and women ' s teams are nicknamed the Stars , formerly known as the Goldbugs prior to 1944 , the Chiefs from 1944 until 1999 , and the Methodists prior to 1921 . Under McDaniel the number of athletic teams doubled to 22 . OCU is represented by " Starsky " the Ram ; " Starsky " is inspired by the celestial lore surrounding the creation of OCU . OCU teams have won 46 National Championships since 1988 . A member of the NCAA until 1984 - 1985 , OCU made the NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Championship tournament 11 times and the National Invitation Tournament twice as an independent , making OCU the most successful basketball program to no longer compete at the Division I level . In 1984 - 1985 OCU won the Midwestern City Conference baseball championship and made NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament before moving to the NAIA the next year . Its tradition spans the glory days of legendary coaches Abe Lemons , Paul Hansen , and Doyle Parrack to the most recent 2012 National Championships in Women ' s wrestling . OCU has been ranked in the top 10 in the NACDA Director ' s Cup rankings from 1997 through 2011 , including a top finish in 2001 - 02 . More than 300 , 000 people attend athletic or other events hosted by OCU Athletics each year including more than 50 , 000 who attend the OCU Head of the Oklahoma Regatta , the largest rowing event of its kind in the region . Campus life . Opportunities for cultural enrichment and entertainment on the OCU campus include concerts , play performances , operas , films , sporting events , and seminars by world - renowned speakers and business leaders . Guest speakers at OCU have included Archbishop Desmond Tutu , Nobel prize winner Elie Wiesel , author Kurt Vonnegut , playwright Edward Albee , researcher Jane Goodall , Rabbi Harold Kushner , Sister Helen Prejean , educator and author Jonathan Kozol , Poets Laureate Ted Kooser and Billy Collins , civil rights attorney Morris Dees , journalists Helen Thomas and George Will , U . S . Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O ' Connor , environmental activist Robert F . Kennedy Jr . and politician Karen Hughes . A Wellness Program and Outdoor Adventures Program provide numerous opportunities for student activity such as pilates , yoga , traditional aerobics classes and self - defense , as well as hiking , bicycling , camping , horseback riding and sailing . A resource center and gear checkout are provided on campus . Intramural sports are a popular activity , with over 35 different sports available in league and tournament play and both coed and single gender teams . Students have access to a full size exercise facility , the Aduddell Center , located next to Centennial Hall . The university ' s high number of international students add to a culture of diversity . The Office of Multicultural Affairs maintains organizations such as : Black Student Association , Hispanic Student Association , Native American Society , and the Asian American Student Association . The office also maintains foreign student associations such as the Indian Student Association , Korean Student Association , Chinese Student Association . The student body is represented by the Student Government Association , or SGA ( formerly Student Senate ) . The OCU SGA consists of the Executive Branch , which includes the president and his staff and manages SGA ; the Student Senate , which allots monies to student organizations and hears legislation ; the Student Activities Committee , which oversees Homecoming and special events ; the Judicial Branch , which deal with student disciplinary issues . The elections for SGA are held in April with special elections for freshman in the fall . Oklahoma City University has nearly 60 active student organizations . Focuses of these organizations range from ethnic to political , religious to special interests . Organizations often have office space inside the Student Government Association Office in the Union . The list below is only a selection of campus organizations . The " Oklahoma City University Film Institute " offers the campus and Oklahoma City community the opportunity to view eight to ten classic international films per year . Written materials on the theme and films is available at each screening and the screenings are followed by a discussion of the film . The film series has been presented each year since 1982 . Traditions . OCU is a school full of traditions , the largest being Homecoming in the fall . Homecoming , which is a week long celebration , includes philanthropy events , concerts , floats and sporting events . More solemn traditions include Matriculation , where students are officially welcomed to OCU , freshman begin in the Administration Building where they touch a gold star they will again rub at commencement . Light the Campus is popular OCU event that community is invited to join in . The two part event includes fun activities for young children , food and singing ; the next part of the event is a processional to the chapel for a formal service and the official lighting of the Christmas decorations and the Advent candle . Newspapers , magazines and other media . " The Campus " is the official student newspaper of Oklahoma City University , published weekly on Wednesdays , and updated more often at " The Campus Online " . It has served the students since 1907 , and has won numerous awards . It is produced by Student Publications , a part of the school ' s mass communications department . The Constellation is the award - winning yearbook produced by Student Publications . " The Scarab " is a student anthology of writing and art , including non - fiction , fiction , poetry , and photography , published by OCU ’ s chapter of the international English honor society Sigma Tau Delta and winner of the society ’ s 2003 - 2004 award for Literary Arts Journal of the year . The Mass Communications department also operates OCU Channel 22 , which airs to on campus residents through Cox Cable ; programming consists of volunteer newscasts , and material from broadcast courses . Students may also submit research to the undergraduate research journal Stellar . Greek life . Oklahoma City University ' s Greek life system constitutes approximately 20 percent of the undergraduate student population . Both of the IFC fraternities have small houses , however most members live in traditional on - campus housing . The university is home to various fraternities and sororities including Alpha Chi Omega , Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Phi , Gamma Phi Beta ) sororities ; Kappa Sigma , Lambda Chi Alpha , Phi Gamma Delta fraternities . OCU is also home to many other non - traditional Greek organizations such as two National Interfraternity Music Council organizations , Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia ; One local Christian fraternity , Delta Alpha Chi ; and Kappa Phi , a national Christian women ' s organization . OCU also has numerous professional fraternities and sororities such as Phi Alpha Delta , and the original chapter of Beta Beta Beta .