Langston University to make $12M in improvements across state campuses
LANGSTON, Okla. (KFOR) — Oklahoma's only historically black college is taking strides in improving its campuses with the help of federal and state dollars.
Dr. Ruth Jackson, President of Langston University, told News 4, "Our campus is beautiful largely because of its historic nature, but what also accompanies that is aging infrastructure problems with electricity and plumbing."
The $12M funding will be split among projects across the three campuses in Langston, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa.
"It definitely does mean a lot. Me being a senior, I was able to see a lot of improvement over the years," Ashton Wright, a student at the university, said.
Dr. Jackson said their goal is to modernize campus without hiking tuition for students.
"We recognize that the majority of our students rely on some portion of financial aid to assist them," Dr. Jackson said.
A big chunk of the funds will be used to make improvements in their residential and academic spaces.
This includes tossing their older window units to make way for new air conditioning systems, as well as a new elevator in Sanford Hall.
The projects are being paid with federal dollars from pandemic Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, and money set aside by the state of Oklahoma.
"We owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Chuck Hall, who represents the Langston area, because he's been an advocate for funding across the state for state institutions," Dr. Jackson said.
Students around campus also expressed gratitude for the improvements.
Another student, Devon Hall, told News 4, "Knowing that a very strong black institution is still striving to this day and still evolving into modern society, it's just awesome."
Langston's Oklahoma City campus will also be getting a new roof after being damaged in a storm last year.
Housing H-VAC units will be up and running by December, with other projects finished by August 2026.