ExxonMobil Corporation announced today that $2 million has been contributed in departmental grants to 85 colleges and universities throughout the country to support various academic programs. Through this program, Oklahoma State University will receive $44,500 from ExxonMobil, which will be directed toward areas in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, and Spears School of Business.

The unrestricted grant allows selected academic departments to allocate money for various educational purposes including scholarships, field trips, visiting speakers, equipment purchases, student and faculty travel to academic-related activities, and other educational projects. 

“Supporting higher education has always been a strong priority for ExxonMobil,” said Kirsteen Butler, global recruiting organization, ExxonMobil. “This program enables us to provide funding to colleges and universities who play a pivotal role in preparing students to enter the workforce. ExxonMobil is proud to provide support to Oklahoma State University, which will help to enhance departments whose academic focus aligns with the workforce needs of ExxonMobil."
ExxonMobil awards the grants based on schools that offer degrees in subjects from which it recruits employees. The amount of the grant is based on several factors, including the number and performance of employees from the specific university working with ExxonMobil.

“We are extremely grateful for this gift, which will help us continue our pursuit of academic excellence at Oklahoma State University,” said OSU President Burns Hargis.  “ExxonMobil is a valuable partner and is to be commended for everything it does for higher education.”

ExxonMobil was the university’s largest corporate matching donor last year, and the corporation has donated nearly $5.5 million to a variety of OSU programs and scholarships for more than three decades.

OSU departments benefitting from the gift include industrial engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, accounting, business administration and computer science.

The Department Grants Program represents only a portion of the ExxonMobil's overall support of education. In 2008, ExxonMobil Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided $89 million in contributions to educational initiatives worldwide.

The OSU Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world.