OPSU was created by an act of the Oklahoma
State Legislature in 1909 as Pan-Handle Agricultural Institute offering
secondary agricultural education for the Panhandle area. In 1921,
the legislature authorized the school to offer a two-year college
curriculum, and the name was changed to Panhandle Agricultural and
Mechanical College. In 1925, the State Board of Agriculture authorized
upper division college courses, and in the summer of 1926, junior
and senior level courses were added to the curriculum. Two additional
name changes have been ordered by the legislature: in 1967, Oklahoma
Panhandle State College of Agriculture and Applied Science; in 1974,
Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
OPSU is a baccalaureate degree granting
institution. General governance of the institution is in the
hands for the Board of Regents of the Oklahoma Agricultural and
Mechanical Colleges. Academic programs and financial support are
authorized and coordinated through the Oklahoma State Regents for
Higher Education.
The mission of OPSU is to provide
higher education primarily for people of the Oklahoma Panhandle
and surrounding areas through academic programs, cultural enrichment,
life-long learning experiences, and public service activities.
Educational experiences are designed to enrich the personal lives
of students and to prepare them for roles in agriculture, business,
education, government and industry.
OPSU is organized into five academic
schools: Agriculture; Business and Technology; Education; Liberal
Arts; and Science, Mathematics, and Nursing. To implement its mission
within the academic schools and administrative structure, the University,
*accepts people with diverse educational
backgrounds;
*provides, through the institution's
general education program, academic experiences in liberal arts and
sciences;
*provides a variety of academic programs
leading to associate and baccalaureate degrees;
*provides professional teacher education
programs at the baccalaureate level;
*provides pre-professional education
in selected fields;
*provides life-long learning experiences
designed to meet the individual's personal, vocational, and leisure-time
needs;
*provides public service through academic,
agricultural, cultural, and social events;
*strives to enrich its students' lives
educationally, personally, and socially;
*assesses all programs, experiences,
and activities to ensure that student learning occurs;
*expects faculty to remain active
in their fields of study. This may be accomplished by pursing advanced
courses or degrees, continuing education, research or obtaining
special license or certification. Faculty are encouraged to attend
and make presentations at professional meetings.
