Oral Roberts University Holds Groundbreaking For New Welcome Center

Oral Roberts University broke ground on their new Welcome Center on Wednesday. 

ORU administrators say they wanted this welcome center to be right beside the healing hands, as a way to welcome new students to the university.

"One of the most important decisions you ever make in life is where you're going to college," ORU president Dr. William Wilson said. "It will form you and will give you the foundation needed for the rest of your life. So those life-changing decisions are going to be made right on this location."

The new Welcome Center will be the first of four projects being built in the university's Whole Leaders for the Whole World Campaign. ORU President Dr. William Wilson says the goal of that campaign is to attract more students from all over the world to come to school here.

"We are focusing our energies and attention in helping build leaders that will make an impact all over the world for god's kingdom and for Jesus Christ," Wilson said. 

The school's admissions team will be housed inside the new Welcome Center.

It will also have a veteran's experience office that will help US veterans find a path to earning a degree and adjusting to campus life.

ORU Board of Trustees Chairman Mike Rakes says first impressions matter when students are choosing a college.

He hopes their impression of the Welcome Center will be a lasting one.

"In that moment that blink or that nudge of the spirit, they will sense, feel, or maybe even some of them hear the voice of the spirit and say, this is the place for you," Rakes said. 

Administrators say construction of the welcome center starts this June and is expected to be finished in June 2022.