New STEM Building Honors Betz

UCO’s newest building has been named the Donald Betz STEM Research and Learning Center, in honor of UCO President Don Betz, who will be retiring June 30.

The Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) board of regents approved the naming in September, recognizing Betz’s 48 years of contributions to higher education and his service to UCO as president since 2011.

The STEM building added 56,000 square feet of learning space for the campus and for the highly-sought STEM majors. The new space is expected to allow increased STEM enrollment, following its recent opening in November.

In August, President Betz received the Oklahoma Political Science Association’s lifetime achievement award in honor of his lasting contributions in leadership, research and mentorship – specifically his outstanding contributions to political science and his distinguished record of public service.

RUSO is currently conducting a national search for the university’s next president.

Who’s Reading What on Campus

For the fall semester, the Department Chairs’ book group is reading “The Undergraduate Experience.” The E4E (Empowerment for Excellence) book clubs have been reading “Big Magic” and “The Influential Mind.” Members of the 21st Century Pedagogy Institute (all faculty) have been studying all the books shown except “Big Magic” and “The Undergraduate Experience.”