Allen Chapman Student Union: A Hub of University Life at The University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa (TU), a private, comprehensive doctoral-degree-granting institution, provides education of the highest quality in various fields. The Allen Chapman Student Union stands as a testament to the university's commitment to fostering a vibrant campus community. Named in honor of H.A. Chapman's generosity, this central hub plays a vital role in student life, offering a wide array of services, amenities, and gathering spaces.
The University of Tulsa: An Overview
The University of Tulsa is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities and participates in the NCAA Division IA as a member of the American Athletic Conference. In the fall of 2019, the university's total enrollment was 4,380 students, comprising 3,269 undergraduates and 1,111 graduate and law students. The student body is diverse, with a 54:46 ratio of men to women and 33% multicultural students.
TU seeks students with a strong academic background, demonstrated by their performance in high school college-preparatory subjects and scores on the SAT or ACT. The university employs a holistic review process, considering counselor recommendations, extracurricular activities, and indicators of leadership, creativity, and focus. TU offers a non-binding Early Action freshman admission plan with an application deadline of November 1.
The estimated cost for students living on campus during the 2020-21 academic year was $55,012, including $42,950 for tuition, $12,062 for room and board, and $1,035 in fees. TU demonstrates its commitment to accessibility by investing significantly in scholarships, with over $21,000,000 awarded to the freshman class of 2017.
Academic Excellence and Student Experience
The Tulsa Curriculum emphasizes a broad, humanities-based core and writing across all disciplines, ensuring a personalized and well-rounded education for all students. The Honors Program provides students with a critical examination of Western thought and culture through the study of primary texts, while the Global Scholars Program engages students in global issues from the perspective of their chosen major.
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TU boasts a strong engineering school, particularly within the energy sector, preparing students for industry careers. Small class sizes foster close relationships between students and faculty, who are knowledgeable, passionate, and accessible resources for internships and real-world advice.
The Kendall College of Arts and Sciences, the Collins College of Business, the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and the Oxley College of Health Sciences offer a wide range of undergraduate degree programs.
With over 200 student organizations and societies, TU caters to a diverse range of student interests, from professional to recreational. The student body is known for being friendly and inclusive, with students from various economic, academic, religious, political, and ethnic backgrounds. Students are committed to academic success and actively involved in campus life, including Greek life, athletics, music, and research.
The Allen Chapman Legacy
James A. Chapman and his wife, Leta, were exceptionally private and modest individuals who amassed a great fortune through oil and cattle ventures. They became two of The University of Tulsa’s most beneficent donors, touching nearly every corner and every aspect of the institution including endowed professorships, scholarships and buildings. Without the Chapmans’ assistance, former TU president Ben Henneke said TU “might have become Tulsa State University,” forced to become a public school for lack of funding.
The couple had donated to causes since the early 1930s with the proviso that absolutely no publicity be given to the gifts. By his late 60s, he grew concerned about his estate because he didn’t want to give it to the government. So in 1949, the couple created their first trust - The J.A. Chapman and Leta M. Chapman Trust - to assure the wealth they had acquired would instead go to good causes. Three other trusts followed: the J.A. Chapman and Leta M. Chapman Charitable Trust in 1966; the Leta McFarlin Chapman Memorial Trust in 1974; and the Pauline McFarlin Walter Memorial Trust in 1980, which was created by Leta’s sister.
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James’ and Leta’s son, Harry Allen Chapman, and his wife, Mary Kathryn Chapman, gave generously to TU through their own foundations - the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust and the Mary K. Chapman Foundation. Their gifts include a 1968 contribution to establish the School of Nursing, and a 1971 gift to finance the construction of TU’s Mabee Speech and Hearing Clinic, which was renamed the Mary K.
The Allen Chapman Student Union: A Central Hub
The Allen Chapman Student Union stands as a testament to the Chapman family's commitment to TU and its students. Named in honor of H.A. Chapman's generosity, the student union serves as a central hub for campus life, offering a wide range of services and amenities.
Renovated in 2014, the Allen Chapman Student Union includes a food court with nine eateries and a convenience store, providing students with diverse dining options and convenient access to essential items. The student union also houses meeting rooms, lounges, and event spaces, fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for students to connect and collaborate.
The H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust also provided generous funding to upgrade TU’s stadium, now called the H.A. Chapman Stadium, and to develop Chapman Commons as part of a welcoming entrance along Eleventh Street. In an effort to unlock the undiscovered resources of the Gilcrease Museum documents archive, the trust also sponsored the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Digitization Lab at the Helmerich Center for American Research.
Campus Life and Activities
TU's 216-acre residential campus is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city with prominent industries such as energy, telecommunications, high technology, manufacturing, health care, aerospace, and education. This location provides students with numerous opportunities for internships and employment after graduation.
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The university strongly supports studying abroad, and the Center for Global Engagement helps students locate the perfect program, whether it is for TU credit or as an intern/volunteer. While University of Tulsa undergrads say that "a good portion of [their] time is…spent studying," there's still plenty of fun to be had outside the confines of the library and/or classroom. For example, "there are a ton of active student organizations" and you can always find "an event to attend or free food to eat." Popular options include "homecoming…dog petting days, bowling, [and] carnivals." One excited student adds, "TU is good about providing events bi-weekly, like s'mores at the Student Union, an outdoor movie, or a play." If the Greek scene interests you, you'll be happy to learn that "the fraternities on campus…usually [host] events Thursday through Saturday." A number of undergrads also love to relax on the "many [beautiful] lawns" on the TU campus.
Financial Aid and Career Opportunities
In 2019, 96 percent of entering students received some form of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. TU offers a limited number of highly competitive Presidential Scholarships that cover full tuition, room, and board. All applicants may be considered for a range of university scholarships based on academic merit.
The university's Career Services department hosts multiple industry-specific job fairs and internship workshops in both the fall and spring semesters. There are a “vast amount of research opportunities” to stock résumés, and career prep programs take place (often with free lunches) almost daily throughout the week.
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