Gift to fund OU projects

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma will receive $12.5 million from Aubrey and Kathleen McClendon to fund new student housing, endow the Honors College and help build a boathouse for OU rowing teams.

OU President David Boren announced the commitment, along with a $2.5 million pledge from Chesapeake Energy Corp., Thursday during an OU Board of Regents meeting.

Aubrey McClendon is Chesapeake's chairman and chief executive officer.

"Katie and I are pleased to be able to lend support to these various initiatives at the University of Oklahoma,” he said in a statement. "We are very supportive of President Boren's drive to continue improving OU both academically and athletically.”

Of the McClendons' personal gift, $5.5 million will go to the Honors College to endow study-abroad scholarships, the OU debate team, and a faculty chair for energy policy.

It also will endow three faculty chairs in a new institute that focuses on the U.S. Constitution and history of government.

Boren said that in recognition, the Honors College will be named for Aubrey McClendon's parents, Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon.

Another $5 million will go toward student housing to replace the Jefferson, Gomer Jones and Bud Wilkinson houses. The entire Sooner Center housing project is expected to cost at least $50 million, Boren said.

The remaining $2 million will help build the OU Boathouse along the Oklahoma River, just south of downtown Oklahoma City.

The Chesapeake donation will endow two faculty chairs in the School of Meteorology and include $1 million for renovating the student lounge and advising center in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.