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62-473: Originally operating as a traveling revival with claims of curing the sick, in 1963 Oral Roberts University was founded by the ministry. In 2007 following a lawsuit involving Roberts, the school and the association's finances were separated. According to Oral Roberts, his ministry began when God spoke to him and he was healed of both tuberculosis and stuttering. In 1947, he conducted his first healing service in downtown Enid, Oklahoma where Oral's healing ministry

124-546: A visitor center . The Mabee Center is an 11,000-seat arena on the southwestern edge of campus and is used for basketball games, concerts, church services and satellite television productions. Timko-Barton Hall houses musical and theatrical performance halls as well as classrooms devoted to the university's programs in the performing arts. The building's performance halls are often the scene of concerts and recitals by performing arts students. The Kenneth H. Cooper Aerobics Center houses basketball courts, an elevated running track,

186-589: A class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, seeking to strike down a religious exemption provision in U.S. civil rights law that allows ORU and other schools to receive federal funds despite such discriminatory policies. The lawsuit contends it is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and of the students' equal protection rights. On January 31, 2013, ORU announced that William "Billy" Wilson , executive director of

248-405: A free-weights and exercise room, a swimming pool and classrooms for students who are enrolled in health fitness courses (a requirement for all students). J.L. Johnson Stadium is a 2,200 seat baseball stadium located on the north of the campus. The Armand Hammer Alumni-Student Center was designed by KSQ Architects, PC, and constructed and completed in 2013. It is the first building to be built on

310-514: A missions offering, special music, and a sermon , typically from President William Wilson , as well as special guests, including some of the world's biggest and most well-known pastors, evangelists, and spiritual leaders. Attendance at Chapel is mandatory and attendance is taken by student leadership. ORU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission . Some colleges and programs are accredited by specialized accreditors, including

372-641: A place for prayer. ORU opened its Global Learning Center and the ONEOK Sports Complex, a track stadium with tennis courts in 2017. The campus added its first student housing since 1976, the Niko Njotorahardjo Residence Hall, in 2019. It also started a $ 75 million fund for scholarships and campus expansion. The front entrance onto campus is a divided, landscaped roadway, originally called The Avenue of Flags and now renamed Billy Joe Daugherty circle, lined with lighted flags representing

434-432: A program focusing on making ORU a "maximum global impact" by 2030. A component of achieving this global impact will be ORU's goal of educating students from 195 nations. Fundraising this campaign is due to span over three years and be divided as such: $ 60 million for buildings, $ 10 million for international scholarships in order to enroll at least one student from every country around the world, and $ 5 million for reconverting

496-514: A university on God's authority and the Holy Spirit . God's commission to Oral Roberts was to 'Raise up your students to hear My voice, to go where My light is dim, where My voice is heard small, and My healing power is not known, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth. Their work will exceed yours, and in this I am well pleased'." Roberts placed special importance on the Prayer Tower , even though

558-679: A woman, and two days later she was informed she was not welcome back on campus. In March 2006 eight peaceful protesters were arrested while rallying across the street from ORU's main entrance. Ronnie Roberts, the son of Oral Roberts, came out as gay to the Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, in the early 1980s. Six months later, Ronnie Roberts committed suicide. As of December 7, 2021, an online petition to "Tell Oral Roberts University: Change your anti-LGBTQ honor code" had gained over 10,000 signatures. In March 2021,

620-518: Is a private evangelical university in Tulsa, Oklahoma . Founded in 1963, the university is named after its founder, Charismatic Christian preacher Oral Roberts . Sitting on a 385-acre (1.56 km ) campus, ORU offers over 70 undergraduate degree programs along with 20 graduate programs across six colleges. ORU is classified among "Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs". The university enrolls approximately 5,000 students. Ground

682-476: Is a gold, Buckminster Fuller -style geodesic dome used for movies, theatre productions, classes and seminars. Biweekly university chapel services are held in Christ's Chapel, a 3,500-seat building constructed in drape-like fashion as an echo of Oral Roberts's early tent revivals . The Googie style Prayer Tower at the center of campus was intended to resemble "an abstract cross and Crown of Thorns " and also houses

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744-410: Is a mandatory Hall Meeting at which announcements are made by dorm leadership. All students are required to sign a pledge stating they will live according to the university's honor code . Prohibited activities include lying , cursing , smoking , drinking , and a range of sexual acts , including homosexual behavior and sex outside marriage. In early 2003, the student dress code was relaxed for

806-838: Is also accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada . During the first decade of the school's existence many of the campus's iconic structures were completed, such as the Howard Auditorium, the Graduate Center, the Mabee Center, and Christ's Chapel. The O. W. Coburn School of Law opened in 1979. In 1986 the university "shut down its ailing law school and sent its library to Pat Robertson 's Bible-based college in Virginia", which subsequently founded

868-550: Is ranked among the "Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth" by Campus Pride . ORU and G12 Vision announced in 2019 they had reached an agreement over a partnership. It was hoped that the agreement would make ORU's theological education more accessible worldwide. ORU moved to virtual classes for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States . In fall 2020, students were required to get tested for COVID-19 before moving into

930-492: Is strictly for the use and enjoyment of the student body. The Hamill Student Center is between Ellis Melvin Roberts and Claudius Priscilla Roberts Halls and houses restaurants on its lower level. Zoppelt Auditorium is on the ground level and is often used as a lecture hall for classes, forums and special events. Campus Security and the "Fireside Room" are also on ground level with the university cafeteria (called "Saga" by students) on

992-739: Is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body , inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks (such as certification, inspection and testing). Accreditation bodies are established in many economies with the primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body. Accreditation bodies, that have been peer evaluated as competent, sign regional and international arrangements to demonstrate their competence. These accreditation bodies then assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies to

1054-866: Is the largest accreditation body in the Middle East, whereas in South Asia the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Quality Council of India (QCI) are the largest. In East Asia, the China National Accreditation Board is the largest, while the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the largest in Europe. The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and

1116-490: The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs , National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education , Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology , Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education , and Council on Social Work Education . In addition to its undergraduate programs, the university also has a graduate seminary and graduate programs in business, education, computer science, and data science. ORU has signed an early assurance program with

1178-763: The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) being the largest in the Oceania region, with the South African National Accreditation System being the largest in Africa. For most of the accreditation schemes, international standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are used. Accreditation processes are used in a wide variety of fields: Many accreditation bodies, such as

1240-490: The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in 2011, allowing high achieving students to receive conditional admission to OSU's osteopathic medical school program. From its founding, ORU has placed emphasis on Charismatic doctrines of Christianity ; its initial presidential leadership, including Oral Roberts and his son Richard Roberts, also espoused the doctrine of seed faith . This belief

1302-494: The Oral Roberts University . In 1980, Oral's son, Richard Roberts , began his own healing ministry and became President of Oral Roberts Ministries. Richard currently holds healing rallies in the United States and nations around the world. Richard also hosts a nightly television program The Place for Miracles and Richard's wife Lindsay hosts a daily half-hour program Make Your Day Count that ministers especially to

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1364-703: The Regent University School of Law . The university built the City of Faith Medical and Research Center hospital in 1981 and started the Oral Roberts University School of Medicine in 1978. Severe financial difficulties with both of these institutions led to their closure in 1989. Oral Roberts's son Richard was named president in 1993. In January 1996, Golden Eagle Broadcasting , a small digital satellite Christian and family programming television network owned and operated by Oral Roberts University,

1426-427: The "less visible, but no less damaging, consequences of institutionalized shame, fear, anxiety, and loneliness." On November 1, 2017, president Billy Wilson preached a chapel service entitled, "Holy Sex" and quoted Leviticus 20:13: "If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable, they are put to death." Within three months of graduation, Andrew Hartzler joined

1488-489: The 1963 master plan, but most of the buildings were designed by Tulsa architect Frank Wallace. In 1981, the City of Faith Medical and Research Center opened. The buildings were south of the ORU campus, and were originally built as a 60-story clinic, a 30-story hospital, and a 20-story research center. The original tenants left in 1989 because of financial problems and a lack of demand for medical services. As of 2007, some floors (in

1550-461: The 20-story building) have never been leased. The facility is now mostly leased out as commercial office space under the name CityPlex Towers . A 60 ft (18.2 m), 30 ton bronze sculpture Healing Hands , by sculptor Leonard McMurray (cast in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico in 1980) and originally in front of the towers, was moved to the ORU campus entrance in the summer of 1991. By 2007, the campus

1612-415: The 2008 summer campus renovations, as well as scholarships provided by the university. During the summer of 2008, $ 10 million went to campus upgrades and deferred maintenance. Many dormitories were extensively renovated and most other buildings received restoration and upgrades. In January 2009, the university's presidential search committee recommended Mark Rutland , President of Southeastern University of

1674-654: The Assemblies of God in Florida, to succeed Richard Roberts, which the trustees approved. On January 14, Rutland confirmed that he had been offered the position and intended to accept it. The university began to implement the employment reduction plans, laying off 53 employees and cutting about 40 unfilled positions. On January 29, 2009, the Green family committed $ 10.4 million to additional campus renovations and upgrades to take place during summer 2009. Following Mart Green's contribution,

1736-596: The Gospel of Jesus Christ in the United States and throughout the world. These programs reach an estimated 800,000 people per week." In 2010, the OREA's 990 showed Richard Roberts was paid $ 496,088 plus $ 95,150. He also received $ 202,402 in compensation from Oral Roberts University, which listed him as "former president." His wife, Linda Salem Roberts, is paid $ 75,255 plus $ 150,700 and D. Michael Bernard earned $ 175,228. Oral Roberts University Oral Roberts University ( ORU )

1798-486: The International Center for Spiritual Renewal and vice-chair of the ORU board of trustees, had been selected to succeed Rutland as president, effective July 1, 2013. A day earlier, the ORU student newspaper had briefly posted an erroneous report on its website, mistakenly identifying someone else as the new president. Rutland criticized the report at a student assembly and the newspaper's longtime faculty adviser left

1860-518: The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference to open a bilingual Hispanic Center on campus. The goals of this partnership include targeting a 25% Hispanic population within the student body and to reduce the approximately 50% high school dropout rate among Hispanic students. ORU was granted an exception to Title IX in 2017 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons. It

1922-506: The ORU campus in decades. It totes the largest TV in Oklahoma, a "living room" for students, a gaming center equipped with Wiis and Xbox es, pool tables, ping pong, and more. The building is a modern design fitting for the campus. Students also enjoy addition restaurants and a coffee shop. The Armand Hammer Student-Alumni Center also houses student government offices as well as board rooms for special meetings. No classes meet in this building; it

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1984-650: The Religious Exemption Accountability Project, or REAP, filed a class action lawsuit, Hunter v. the U.S. Department of Education , on March 26, 2021, against this campus and other named campuses citing the abuses that thousands of LGBTQ+ students endured at these colleges and universities over the years. LGBTQ+ students document their own direct discrimination, harassment and negative harms in the filing. Those abuses include "conversion therapy, expulsion, denial of housing and health care, sexual and physical abuse and harassment." The abuses also include

2046-457: The Tulsa area. Men and women are housed in separate dormitory facilities on campus with student access to housing of the opposite sex largely restricted. In addition to having a chaplain on every wing of each dormitory, there are also residential advisers for each floor, who enforce curfew, take attendance at Chapel services, and serve as "go-to persons" for students on their floors. Every Monday night

2108-531: The activists entrance to the campus, which resulted in several activists being arrested after they entered despite the university administration's decision. Soulforce members objected to the university's honor code pledge's ban on homosexual activity. All students are required to sign and abide by the honor code which places the same restriction on all sexual activity outside "traditional marriage of one man and one woman." In February 2007, ORU announced that it would offer new art degrees. In 2010, ORU teamed up with

2170-609: The board of regents on November 23. Pearsons said the university planned to separate its finances and leadership from the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, to the apparent relief of many students and faculty members. On January 10, 2008, ORU settled with plaintiff John Swails, who was reinstated to his previous teaching position. The school also announced a formal search committee for a new president, to be headed by board of regents member and Tulsa resident Glenda Payas. Tulsa evangelist Billy Joe Daugherty

2232-444: The concept of a building specifically dedicated to prayer at the center of the campus caused considerable tension, as some academic leaders were afraid the school would be unable to receive accreditation with such a building. But the tower, designed by architect Frank Wallace, was completed in 1967 at a cost of $ 2 million, a further source of contention. After its completion, Roberts called for a three-day period of prayer and fasting. At

2294-500: The dorms. All students and staff were required to wear masks on campus at all times. The university also rearranged class schedules in order for the semester to end early. In 2021, the university expanded its campus through the addition of 3 new buildings: a welcome center (which broke ground in April), Media Arts Center, and library. The expansion was part of ORU's $ 75 million campaign, which allocated $ 60 million to these new structures with

2356-498: The events, which differed from what those attending services at the mosque reported. On February 7, 1997, the Islamic Society of Tulsa received a formal apology from Reverend Bill Shuler, who led religious services on campus. Due to alleged discrimination against LGBT students at ORU, Soulforce placed the university on its 2006 Equality Ride route, with a rally taking place on March 20, 2006. University administration refused

2418-549: The first time in 40 years and described as business casual . For most of the school's history, men were required to wear collared shirts and ties and women were required to wear skirts (an exception for winter months was added in 2000). In 2006, campus-wide dress code rules were eased further, allowing students to wear jeans to class and dress more casually in non-academic settings. Since 2009, men are allowed to have neatly trimmed facial hair. Restrictions on men's hair length were relaxed in 2013. Accreditation Accreditation

2480-504: The many unique but aging buildings, structures, and architectural details on campus was cited as a growing problem for the university. In 2008, $ 10 million was set aside from Green family donations for long-deferred maintenance on many campus buildings, along with the Prayer Tower. The Green family donated another $ 10 million for work during the summer of 2009. In 2011, the Prayer Tower was renovated and returned to its original function as

2542-451: The more than 60 nations from which ORU students have come. The main academic building is the John D. Messick Learning Resource Center / Marajen Chinigo Graduate Center, an immense 900,000 square foot (80,000 m ) facility with many pylon-like columns, gold-tinted windows and a lozenge -shaped footprint that university publicity says was styled after King Solomon's Temple . The Howard Auditorium

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2604-551: The needs of women. In 2007 it earned $ 12,952,755, but spent $ 14,966,687 leaving a deficit of $ -2,013,932. In addition, it Net Assets $ -15,261,450. In that time, Richard earned $ 477,122 a year as president and CEO, his wife Lindsay earned $ 196,818 a year as executive vice president, and his late father Oral earned $ 161,872 a year as a trustee. Charity Navigator gives OREA an overall efficiency rating of 1 out of 4 stars. GuideStar reports it "produces 52 weekly television and radio programs, and 260 daily television programs to help spread

2666-478: The relevant standards. An authoritative body that performs accreditation is called an ' accreditation body '. The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) provide international recognitions to accreditation bodies. There are many internationally recognized accreditation bodies approved by the IAF and ILAC. The Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC)

2728-618: The remainder going towards student scholarships. ORU also announced in April 2021 the development of the Mike Carter Athletic Center, which is expected to be over 40,000 square feet, and renovation of the Mabee Center. In October 2007, three former professors filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against ORU in Tulsa County. The professors also alleged university president Richard Roberts misused university assets and illegally ordered

2790-496: The school the next day. In 2018, the university announced that it would retain Wilson as president for 10 years or at least until 2028. Under Wilson's presidency, ORU completed a $ 50 million developmental campaign, which helped construct its Global Learning Center and ONEOK Sports Complex. Student enrollment rose from approximately 3,000 in 2008 to over 4,100 in 2019. In 2020, the university began its $ 75 million Impact 2030 campaign,

2852-572: The school was debt-free. The announcement was made two days before Rutland's September 25, 2009 inauguration ceremony, held at the Mabee Center . In December 2010, ORU announced that the Green family would make another $ 10 million gift in 2011, to be used for renovations and technology improvements. The gift raised the Greens' total donations to $ 110 million. On August 25, 2015, ORU Administration learned of student Sabrina Bradford's recent marriage to

2914-469: The university to participate in Republican candidate Randi Miller's political campaign for Tulsa mayor. Lindsay Roberts, the wife of Richard Roberts, was accused of spending university funds on clothes, awarding nonacademic scholarships to the children of family friends and sending text messages on university-issued cell phones to "underage males." The lawsuit also alleged a longtime maintenance employee

2976-508: The university website. In February 2008, the Renewing the Vision campaign was initiated in an effort to erase this debt. To free the university from its burgeoning debt, the board of trustees announced plans for a $ 25 million matching campaign, in which the board agreed to match dollar-for-dollar all donations. In addition to eliminating debt, funds from the Renewing the Vision campaign contributed to

3038-462: The university's current library into the Center for Global Leadership. The David Green family has promised to match every campaign gift up to $ 45 million with a 3-to-1 match. The campus began construction in 1963 with a futuristic look and architecture, which historian Margaret Grubiak noted as being inspired by the 1933 Chicago World's Fair . Architects Stanfield, Imel & Walton of Tulsa designed

3100-477: The university's debt was reduced to $ 25 million. On April 15, 2009, Chairman of the Armand Hammer Foundation and university trustee Michael Armand Hammer made a $ 1 million donation to the school's Whole Person Scholarship. As of June 3, 2009, donations and pledges had reduced the university's debt to $ 720,000. On September 23, 2009, it was announced at the end of the university's chapel service that

3162-471: The university's dedication ceremony in 1967, the evangelist Billy Graham was the keynote speaker. The first partial graduation took place in 1968 and the first full graduation in 1969. In 1971, Oral Roberts University was accredited by the North Central Association. ORU was accredited in 1971 by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It

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3224-419: The university's financial comptroller and "voluminous materials and documents were shredded and destroyed, constituting spoliation of evidence." The filing also alleged Lindsay Roberts had spent nights in the ORU guest house with a 16-year-old male who also was allowed to live in the Roberts family residence on campus. On October 17, 2007, Richard Roberts announced a "temporary leave of absence" as president of

3286-547: The university's governing board. In October of that year, an ORU spokesman said the university was still $ 52.5 million in debt. The school accepted an additional $ 8 million from the Greens in November. Of the $ 82 million given to Oral Roberts University, approximately half went toward eliminating its debt. The remaining half was allocated to "campus renovations, technology upgrades, academic enhancement, financial aid for new and returning students, marketing and operations", according to

3348-667: The university, citing the "toll" the lawsuit and attendant allegations had taken on him and his family. Billy Joe Daugherty became Executive Regent of the Board of Regents and Interim President. Chairman of the Board George Pearsons noted the temporary resignation was not an admission of guilt. In November 2007, the tenured faculty of Oral Roberts University approved by a simple majority a non-binding vote of no confidence in Richard Roberts. Roberts tendered his letter of resignation to

3410-489: The upper level. There are eight residence halls on campus. The university has strict guidelines concerning student access to the upper floors of residence halls by members of the opposite sex, which is limited to designated occasions called "Open Dorms." The university has weekly chapel services in Christ's Chapel, which are recorded and broadcast live through the university's television station and also via satellite. A typical chapel service features contemporary worship ,

3472-532: Was closely connected to fundraising efforts by both Oral and Richard. While the majority of ORU staff were happy with including other doctrines of faith, some such as Charles Farah have disagreed publicly, indirectly leading to the publishing of a PhD thesis from a student a number of years later about his opinions on seed faith . The university's residential policy requires all unmarried undergraduate students younger than 23 to live on campus, although exceptions are made for students who live with their parents in

3534-579: Was described as "a perfect representation of the popular modernistic architecture of the time... the set of The Jetsons " but also "shabby" and "dated, like Disney's Tomorrowland ." Interviewed in 2010, Wallace characterized his ORU buildings as "sculptures", noting that an inspiration for his artistic sensibility was "whittling since I was a kid". It has also been suggested that the buildings may have been inspired by Tulsa's art deco architectural heritage, along with Bruce Goff 's individualistic style and creative use of new materials. Maintenance of

3596-399: Was fired for the purpose of giving the job to an underage male friend of Lindsay Roberts. The plaintiffs filed an amended lawsuit adding the university's Board of Regents (Oral and Richard Roberts, along with George Pearsons, Kenneth Copeland , Creflo Dollar , Michael A. Hammer , John Hagee , Marilyn Hickey , Jerry Savelle and Charles Watson) to the suit and alleged that Roberts fired

3658-454: Was founded. On February 5, 1997, several ORU students reportedly disrupted services at a mosque near the University of Tulsa . The students mistakenly thought it was the 27th night of Ramadan when it was actually the 28th day of Ramadan. A university spokesman indicated that the students would not be disciplined and that university officials were discussing with the students their accounts of

3720-490: Was launched. He then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he began to hold tent meetings. During the 1950s, Oral expanded his ministry through literature that was printed and distributed to people around the world, and through the launching of his television ministry. He founded the Abundant Life Prayer Group in 1958 and soon phone calls for prayer were coming in from people worldwide. And in 1962, Oral broke ground for

3782-516: Was named interim President and executive regent. The same month, the school was reportedly "struggling financially" with over $ 50 million in debt. ORU's operating budget for 2007-08 was over $ 82 million. On January 14, 2008, ORU's board of regents voted unanimously to accept $ 62 million from the Mart Green family, the owners of Oklahoma City -based Hobby Lobby , Mardel educational, and various Christian supply stores, an offer which included changes to

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3844-455: Was officially broken for Oral Roberts University in 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The university received its charter the following year from the State of Oklahoma and Oral Roberts University officially opened in 1965 with an enrollment of 300 students and seven major completed buildings. The university was founded by Oral Roberts "as a result of the evangelist Oral Roberts' obeying God's mandate to build

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