University of Oklahoma - Sooner Medic Yearbook (Oklahoma City, OK)

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'!1 First Row, left to right: M. A. Nash, Oklahoma City, lohn H. Kane, Bartlesvilleg W. D. Little, Ada: Dial Currin, Shawnee: Guy H. Iames, Oklahoma City. Second Row: Wharton Mathies, Clayton: Clee O. Doggett, Cherokee: Frank Buttram, Oklahoma City, Iohn Rogers, Tulsa: Guy Harris, Ardmore. 1 1 x it a',u .'u 1 , ' I . . w -1 l Y ' 3 in ' v I s Q 1 E v I S-135 we im I ISSDKK stil let Coordinating all higher education in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education with offices in the Capitol building, Oklahoma City. This board was created by constitution amendment for the purpose of coordinating the work of state institutions of Higher Education. The amendment, known as Article XIII-A of the Oklahoma Constitution, provided the necessary ma- chinery to set up a coordinated system of higher education. Without vitalizing legislation, however, this action of the people was useless. So the same year the Regents were authorized, the Eighteenth Oklahoma Legislature enacted necessary laws. These were approved by the Governor on May ll, 1941, just two months after the amendment was adopted at the polls. As was intended, the State Regents have estab- lished standards of admission and graduation of stu- dents, recommended budget allocations to the State Legislature, eliminated unnecessary duplication in upper division program of state schools, made trans- fers of property from one institution to another, and in general increased the efficiency of higher educa- tion in Oklahoma. The Board's two main functions, however, have turned out to be the allocation of funds appropriated by the Legislature, and the adjustment of curriculum problems. llilllill l1llEi!lll'll!?l. l In fulfilling the former duty, the Regents in 1947 gave the University of Oklahoma its largest alloca- tion of funds in history. This was also the largest amount ever assigned to any college or university in the state. Each of the schools in the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education has its own controlling board to supervise the local administration. These local boards coordinate their activities through the state organi- zation. Coupled with administration of educational insti- tutions is the control of certain auxiliary divisions whose programs are not strictly teaching or directly educational in nature, but instead are services to local citizens, business and industry. Two of these organ- izations, the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the University Hospitals in Oklahoma City, have been attached to O. U. for administrative purposes. The State Board is composed of nine members whose nine-year terms are so arranged that one Regent retires each year. Appointments are made by the Governor and approved by the Senate. Besides working as coordinators, the Regents have also become the state's accrediting organization, In order to gain national recognition in this field, they have adopted standards equal if not superior to any in the country.

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The men who exercise final administrative control over all matters concerning the University of Okla- homa are the members of the Board of Regents. These are the men who hire presidents, fix salaries and in general see that the University is properly run. These are the men who in 1947 have received bids and let contracts for one of the largest building pro- grams in the history of O. U. These are the men who decided that students could take an unscheduled holiday only if the foot- ball or basketball team won a Big Six or national crown. The Board of Regents was established in 1890, and until December of 1907 consisted of the Gov- ernor, ex officio, and five members appointed by him. In 1907, however, the first State Legislature acted and increased the number of members to nine. That arrangement lasted until 1911 when control of the University was placed in the hands of the State Board of Education. In 1919, the Legislature reversed its stand and re- turned University government to the Board of Re- gents. At that time, membership was cut to seven, and all were appointed by the Governor. lt wasn't until Iuly 11, 19414, by constitutional amendment, that the Board of Regents became a con- stitutional organization. Today, there is a seven-man Board, appointed by the Governor and approved by the State Senate. The term of one Regent expires each year, ln addition to the University proper, the Board of Regents is the controlling organization for the Uni- versity of Oklahoma Geological Survey in Norman, the University School of Medicine, the University School of Nursing and the University and Crippled Childrens Hospitals in Oklahoma City. Officers of the Board for the year 1947-48 are Lloyd Noble, President: Erl Deacon, ViceHPresident, and Emil R. Kraettli, Secretary. First Row, left to right: T. R. Benedum, Norman: Lloyd Noble, Ardmore, Erl Deacon, Tulsa, Don Emery, Bartlesville. Second Row: Ioe McBride, Anadarkog Ned Shepler, Lawton: Dr. Oscar White, Oklahoma City.