Officials at Oral Roberts University say the fall semester student count shows that confidence in the school is still strong, in spite of last year's scandal involving alleged financial improprieties.
Oral Roberts University (ORU) officials say total undergraduate and graduate student enrollment numbers for the Fall 2008 semester represent a decline of less than 100 students from last year's fall semester. Last November, Richard Roberts, son of televangelist Oral Roberts, resigned as university president amid allegations that he and his wife misused university funds for personal items such as shopping sprees, home improvements, and a stable of horses –- all that at a time when ORU was more than $50 million in debt. Since Roberts stepped down, Oklahoma businessman Mart Green donated tens of millions of dollars and instituted new structures in governance and leadership. Dr. Ralph Fagin, ORU's interim president, says the enrollment figures show that students are confident about the changes. "We're having a governance makeover with the board of trustees, the faculty governance area," Fagin explains. "We're trying to get the students involved so our governance process is fully informed by their input, but all of the areas are working on their areas responsibly." Fagin points out that more than 100 candidates have expressed interest for the position of university president.
Oral Roberts University (ORU) officials say total undergraduate and graduate student enrollment numbers for the Fall 2008 semester represent a decline of less than 100 students from last year's fall semester. Last November, Richard Roberts, son of televangelist Oral Roberts, resigned as university president amid allegations that he and his wife misused university funds for personal items such as shopping sprees, home improvements, and a stable of horses –- all that at a time when ORU was more than $50 million in debt. Since Roberts stepped down, Oklahoma businessman Mart Green donated tens of millions of dollars and instituted new structures in governance and leadership.
Dr. Ralph Fagin, ORU's interim president, says the enrollment figures show that students are confident about the changes. "We're having a governance makeover with the board of trustees, the faculty governance area," Fagin explains. "We're trying to get the students involved so our governance process is fully informed by their input, but all of the areas are working on their areas responsibly." Fagin points out that more than 100 candidates have expressed interest for the position of university president.
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