Adopt-A-Prof at the University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma has a program called Adopt-A-Prof, which was developed in 1999 by President David Boren. This program was designed for student organizations and faculty members to get to know each other on more personal levels outside of the classroom setting.

Assistant Student Life Director and Adopt-A-Prof coordinator, Koby Harrington says “The relationship is totally up to the student and faculty member. They may go out and have pizza one night or they may invite a faculty member to a formal dinner inside their chapter house.” The program is very personal and allows students and faculty members to get to know each other and build lasting relationships that will continue all through their OU careers and possibly after.

In order to be involved with this program, your organization must sign up by the deadline specified. The chapter and the faculty member are paired based upon their common interests or they can request each other. Both the chapter and the faculty member are given 100 dollars to spend on gifts for one another or to take the other out for a fun activity or even just for a nice dinner.

One professor in particular personally loves this generation of students and happens to be my sorority’s adopted professor. His name is General Jerry Holmes and he is teaches in the College of Engineering. He is retired from the United States Air Force and now focuses on passing his knowledge on to this generation of students because he believes that we are the future. General Holmes says that this generation has the potential to make big changes and that it is definitely possible if we just put our minds to it. He says “When someone wants help, I help them.” He is a great candidate for this program because he wants to share his knowledge with his students and he exemplifies a true mentor. A former student of his, Sheriee Parnell, says that he cares more for others than himself and he is always willing to lend a hand when you need him.

The University of Iowa and San Diego State University have similar programs but they are more focused on academics as opposed to gaining personal relationships. What makes this program unique is that it is not common among many universities and it allows students to network and build actual relationships with professors.




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Holiday Crafts in the Union

On Friday night in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, the Union Programming Board hosted the Holiday Craft Factory.

OU students were invited out to go make crafts and decorations for their friends and family at the union. Participants were provided all of the supplies and even snacks including hot chocolate, cookies, fruit and lemonade. They had different stations set up with different supplies at each one and volunteers to assist.  The volunteers were dressed up in elf and Santa hats to get people in the holiday spirit along with music in the background.

Freshman volunteer Mikay Elliot said "We are always really happy with our turnouts." I asked her what kind of turnout she expected for their event and she said it would probably be really good. She said they also have other events for the holidays such as the Zombie 5k which was campus wide. They try to have these events during holidays for those who can't go home or are the only ones left when everyone else has gone home.


OU sophomore Ana Loza attended the event and said "This is a really convenient and fun thing to do when you are low on money and want to put your own personal touch on a gift." Another OU student, Stephanie Pryor says "I really like that they are getting everyone into the Christmas spirit."

Their next holiday craft event will take place on Valentine's day. They generally try to do these events for those holidays that people tend to feel lonely on. It gives people something to do and have fun at the same time.

PHOTO: Siobhan Weathers

PHOTO: Siobhan Weathers