Fostering Academic Excellence and Cultural Heritage in a Faith-Based Environment

Over the past decade, ORU has witnessed significant growth in Hispanic and Latino student enrollment, reflecting both demographic shifts in Oklahoma and intentional outreach efforts. Currently, Hispanic and Latino students represent approximately 15% of the student body, a figure that has nearly doubled since 2015. This growth isn't accidental—it's the result of strategic initiatives designed to remove barriers and create welcoming pathways to higher education.

"Our Hispanic and Latino students bring extraordinary gifts to ORU—not just cultural perspectives, but innovative thinking, and a deep commitment to family and community that strengthens everything we do. We believe in these young leaders who will impact the next generation of business, ministry, healthcare, and education across America. Their success is our success, and their bold visions will become the foundation for transforming entire communities."— President William M. Wilson.

ORU’s recruitment strategy emphasizes building authentic relationships with Hispanic communities. ORU partners with local churches, community organizations, and high schools with significant Hispanic/Latino populations to share information about college opportunities and financial aid. Bilingual admissions counselors work closely with families, understanding that the decision to pursue higher education often involves the entire family—a cultural value which ORU deeply respects and supports.

“Oral Roberts University's emergence as a Hispanic Serving Institution is a pivotal moment for Christian higher education. The Hispanic community represents the future of American Christianity, and ORU's commitment to supporting Latino students with Spirit-empowered education positions them to raise up the next generation of transformative leaders. This isn't just about enrollment numbers—it's about Kingdom impact. When we invest in Hispanic students at this level, we're investing in leaders who will shape the church and society for decades to come. ORU understands this calling, and we celebrate their dedication to this vital mission.”—Samuel Rodriguez, Board of Trustees Member.

Comprehensive Support from Day One

Recognizing that enrollment is just the beginning, ORU has developed a multi-tiered support system that addresses the unique challenges Hispanic and Latino students may face. ORU’s Program for Academic Vision & Empowerment (PAVE) is designed for first-semester freshmen college students—many of whom are Hispanic and Latino—to support and empower them with the skills needed to excel in college and beyond.Through PAVE, students develop habits, skills, and qualities necessary to reach their full potential.

The program offers students an environment that is conducive to studying, completing assignments, seeking academic support, and receiving tutoring. Through each objective, PAVE encourages students to take responsibility for their personal success and develop discipline and successful study habits. ORU provides networking and access to support services, including peer support, and increases scholarship opportunities for excelling students. ORU has found that when students understand the resources available to them, they feel more confident in their academic journey.

Academic support continues during the college experience through the Student Success Office, which works with students to ensure their academic success and helps create solutions that enable them to thrive and remain on campus. Students are assigned a personal Student Success Coach who provides a space for connection, support, helpful resources, mentorship, and strategy. An additional resource is the Peer Success Program, which offers tutoring services, study groups, and academic coaching to students as they navigate their first year at ORU, both in the classroom and in day-to-day student life.

“When I arrived on campus, I thought, ‘These are my people.’ Through my experiences on campus, God is feeding me. Every day at ORU gives me an inch of faith, and with each inch, I can accomplish the things I need to do. Here, faith connects everyone, and you can’t find that experience anywhere else.”—Vanessa Campos, Business, ORU Golf.

According to federally reported IPEDS data, ORU’s Hispanic student retention rates increased by 11% from 2018 to 2023. Building on this progress, ORU is expanding dual enrollment partnerships with high schools serving large Hispanic populations, launching a Hispanic alumni mentorship network, and developing specialized career services programs in fields where Hispanic representation remains low but opportunity is high. These efforts reflect ORU’s campus-wide commitment to inclusive excellence and long-term student success.

Faculty Diversity and Culturally Responsive Teaching

ORU has made intentional investments in recruiting Hispanic and Latino faculty members across various disciplines. Currently, 8% of full-time faculty identify as Hispanic or Latino, and these educators serve as both academic instructors and cultural bridges for students.

“At ORU, diversity is not simply a statistic—it’s part of our vision to raise up Spirit-empowered leaders who will impact every nation. As a Latino professor, I see firsthand the power of representation and cultural connection in the classroom. I know that students are strengthened when they see leaders who reflect their background and inspire them to carry Christ’s light into their own communities and the world. I strive to model this through culturally responsive teaching, helping students feel valued, seen, and empowered to live out their calling with excellence and integrity. Diversity here isn’t just acknowledged; it’s celebrated as a reflection of God’s Kingdom.” —Dr. Rafael Duarte, Assistant Professor of Business Decision Science and Finance.

ORU has established faculty development programs, including training on culturally responsive teaching methods, to help all instructors better serve diverse student populations. This includes understanding different communication styles, incorporating diverse perspectives into curriculum content, and creating classroom environments where all students feel valued and heard.

“At the start of every class, my professor takes five minutes to reflect on our day and ask what we need. That experience helped me realize the importance of being relational in the classroom. As a teacher-in-training, my philosophy of education is to connect with my students and take extra steps to be there for them. For me, teaching is about showing love. Even if I’m in a classroom where I can’t name Jesus, I can still connect with the students and share Jesus’ love.”  —Johnavon Carpio, Education.

Addressing Financial Barriers

Financial concerns remain one of the most significant barriers to student success in higher education. ORU has responded with scholarship programs, including:

-    Quest Whole Leader Scholarship, which seeks to assist and recognize exceptional students who are on a quest for wholeness. Since its debut in 2009, ORU has awarded scholarships to over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, including those from Hispanic and Latino backgrounds.

-    The International Quest Whole Leader Scholarship is a fund created to support new or current international students as they pursue their degrees at ORU.

-    ORU’s Quest First Scholarship is offered to first-generation students who are blazing a trail in pursuit of a college degree.

With work-study opportunities, ORU creates on-campus positions that accommodate class schedules while providing valuable professional experience. Many of these positions, particularly in the Community Engagement office and international programs, specifically value bilingual skills and cultural competency.

Celebrating Culture While Building Community

ORU's approach to diversity celebrates Hispanic culture as an asset to the community. The annual Culture Fest event attracts large crowds of participants with food, music, dance, fashion shows, and academic presentations that highlight Hispanic contributions to various fields. This event is ORU’s biggest international event of the year. Culture Fest is a vibrant celebration of the diverse cultures and global community at ORU. 

“Because ORU’s campus is so diverse, I can talk easily about Puerto Rico; I can talk about my childhood and my traditions. Here, more people understand me because so many students come from different places themselves. They’re interested in what makes me who I am, and I’m interested in what they’re passionate about. You can never learn enough about someone’s culture, and this type of learning is what makes ORU such a close community.” —Karysha Martinez Diaz, Finance.

Partnership with Local Communities

Understanding that student success extends beyond campus, ORU has developed partnerships with local Hispanic community organizations. The University works closely with the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tulsa's Latino Community Development Corporation, and various churches to create internship opportunities, provide community service-learning experiences, and establish career pipelines.

These partnerships also include family engagement initiatives. ORU’s Quest Days, a campus visit experience, helps parents and siblings understand university life, financial aid processes, and ways to support their student's academic journey. The event offers a comprehensive introduction to ORU, with opportunities for campus tours and engaging sessions focused on intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth. ORU knows that when families feel connected to the University, students are more likely to persist through challenges. 

A Commitment to Transformation

Oral Roberts University understands that supporting Hispanic and Latino students isn't just about institutional diversity—it's about preparing leaders who will transform their communities and industries. With over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more, ORU’s graduates go on to change the world, carrying both their education and their cultural heritage into spaces where representation matters.

“When I arrived on campus, I felt something different. I had never experienced it before. A lot of ORU students feel the same thing. It’s hard to put into words, but it felt like peace. It felt like home. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't applied to ORU. I was always surrounded by Jesus-loving people and professors. It’s an environment that shapes you so well for the outside world.” —Lynett Amaro, Social Work, Former Student Association President, Graduate.

True academic excellence isn't measured by a degree alone—it's proven when every student can achieve their highest potential while honoring the cultural foundation that shaped them. When Hispanic and Latino students graduate from ORU, they don't just graduate; they become catalysts for generational change. They return to their communities as doctors who speak their patients' language, as educators who understand their students' struggles, as business leaders who create opportunities where none existed before. This is how universities transform societies—one student, one family, one community at a time.

For more information about ORU's Hispanic student initiatives or to connect with our admissions team, visit oru.edu or contact our Office of Multicultural Learning at 918-495-6161.