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President Roberts
launches Adopt-A-Student drive
By Tia Peterson
 This
semester, ORU launched an Adopt-A-Student program in order to raise
money to bridge the gap between
what students pay and what it actually costs to run the University.
Dr. Jeff Ogle, Vice President for Student
Services, said, "The Lord spoke to President Roberts and impressed
upon him a figure of $780 per student." At 5400 students strong,
the difference between what students pay and the cost of running
the University is over $4.2 million.
In response to the Lord's leading, President Roberts has asked for
5400 people to pledge their support to the University and "Adopt-A-Student."
Jan. 28, President Roberts first spoke about the drive on the "Something
Good Tonight: the Hour of Healing" TV program.
According to Dr. Ogle, the Adopt-A-Student program is targeted at
friends and partners of Oral Roberts Ministries. This group includes
alumni, other ministries, para-church organizations and people from
all walks of life. "The Lord is directing President Roberts," Dr.
Ogle said, and he's communicating with friends via letter and television
to make them aware of the need. There is also a form available online
for anyone who wishes to donate to the drive which can be found
on ORU's web-page at www.oru.edu.
Friends and partners of Oral Roberts Ministries are not being asked
to actually take on the financial burdens of a particular student,
thereby "adopting" students, but instead they are being asked to
"link arms to help" close the financial gap which the University
is currently facing, according to Dr. Ogle.
This is not the first Adopt-A-Student program ORU has launched.
Several similar programs have been held in years past to raise money
for ORU.
"Historically, the University is priced in the middle of the road,"
Dr. Ogle said. He explained the benefit of the modest price is that
more students are able to attend ORU.
He explained the downside of this is that the University is then
presented with two options for making up the difference between
tuition and board and the actual cost to the University. ORU can
sacrifice some options at the risk of offering an inferior academic
experience, or the University can make a strong stand of faith and
believe God for the finances.
ORU has chosen the latter option.
Other fundraising programs are now in place under the direction
of George Fisher, Vice President for University Relations. The development
officers stay in contact with major donors for the purpose of raising
money for ORU.
Dr. Ogle is not aware of any other colleges doing an Adopt-A-Student
campaign, but he explained that "it's not uncommon, especially at
private schools, for there to be a gap" in the cost to the college
and the cost to students.
But, "compared to many private schools with endowments, we are very
young," Dr. Ogle explained. "Other schools have had years to build
endowments," and ORU has not. "Until that day, it's a walk of faith."
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