Share this story.

Summer Renovations Recap 2008

---

Click Photo to Enlarge Every dorm room on campus has a micro-fridge.

Click Photo to Enlarge New plasma screens, used to broadcast campus announcements, were installed in Timko-Barton Hall.

Click Photo to Enlarge Zoppelt Auditorium has new AV equipment, new lecterns, an upgraded sound system, new carpet, new seating, a new stage, and freshly painted walls.

Transitions at ORU

Since the end of 2007, ORU has undergone a myriad of changes, both difficult and exciting. With a transition of leadership and the search for a new president underway, God's faithfulness has been evident as the university has moved forward and is working to renew its vision.

The Green family, founders of the successful chain stores Hobby Lobby and Mardel, gave a gift totaling $70 million to the university ($8 million in late November 2007 and $62 million in January 2008). A new Board of Trustees was established, which is chaired by Mart Green. The $62 million Green family gift was used to pay down ORU's debt (from $55 to $25 million) and $32 million was set aside for student recruitment and marketing, technology upgrades, scholarships, academic department upgrades, and campus renovations-including many deferred maintenance issues.

The Renewing the Vision Campaign

In February 2008, the Renewing the Vision $25 million matching campaign was launched, challenging alumni and friends of ORU to financially support the university. The Board of Trustees committed to match all gifts, dollar-for-dollar, up to $25 million. Gifts given by alumni and donors will go directly toward other deferred maintenance costs, increases in student scholarships, enhanced academics and more. The matching funds from the board will, in turn, go toward paying off the rest of the university's debt. The Renewing the Vision campaign will end April 30, 2009. Sometime near that date, ORU hopes to have a new president in place.

Totals for Renewing the Vision are updated daily via a "widget" on the ORU Web site, which can be accessed by clicking here. The ORU Student Blog also is host to many updates about renovations and photos of the progress made on campus. Visit the student blog by clicking here.

Campus Renovations and Upgrades

With $10.4 million invested in campus renovations over the summer of 2008, the students were welcomed back for the fall 2008 semester with a stunning volume of changes in the dorms and around campus. Along with campus renovations, many departmental and technological upgrades were made. Click here to see a list of completed projects.

Call to Action

There's still plenty of work to be done! Click here to make your Renewing the Vision gift today. Thank you!