OKLAHOMA CITY - Regents who govern Cameron University have approved two new associate degree programs along with construction contracts for two major on-campus projects and the university’s updated strategic plan.
Meeting on the University of Oklahoma’s Health Sciences campus last week, the OU Board of Regents unanimously approved the addition of associate of applied science degrees in Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physical Therapy Assistant.
Cameron University President Shane Hunt has said the degree programs will help answer a growing workforce issue in Southwest Oklahoma. He said graduates of the two programs will have starting annual salaries of between $67,000 and $70,000.
University officials have said 14 new courses will be added for the Occupational Therapy Program and 10 for the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Both programs will be offered in conjunction with Caddo Kiowa Technology Center in Fort Cobb, through an articulation agreement. Cameron asked for no additional funds to create either program.
“Every one of our hospitals in Southwest Oklahoma have said to me, ‘We will take every graduate/” Hunt said.
In addition to adding the two degree programs, Cameron will drop an associate degree it currently offers in Strategic Communication, citing a failure to meet minimum productivity standards. The university said the 10 students currently enrolled in the program would be given until summer 2028 to complete degree requirements.
Regents also approved construction contracts for renovation projects on two campus buildings, Howell Hall and Shepler Hall.
Howell Hall, which sits across from Aggie Gym on the north side of the Cameron campus, serves as the home to the university’s Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. Plans call for a remodel of offices, classrooms and laboratory spaces currently allocated to the Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, as well as for space previously allocated to the university’s distance learning program.
Hunt said a lot of the demolition work will be done internally.
Shepler Hall, located on the campus’ south edge, was built in 1969 to provide dormitory-style housing for students. The renovation scope for Shepler Hall will include a complete redesign of the dorm rooms to convert them from double-occupancy to single-occupancy spaces on nine floors. In addition, the bathroom facilities will be renovated to include modern fixtures and enhanced privacy features. Hunt said the Shepler Hall project would help solve “a problem we haven’t had here in a long time,” because of the university’s rising enrollment.
On Tuesday, Hunt asked regents to authorize him to contract and make payments not to exceed $2.75 million for the Howell Hall project and $5 million for the Shepler Hall project. Funds for the projects, Hunt said, will come from Cameron’s share of deferred maintenance projects allocated by the state Legislature, as well as from a special $10 million allocation the university received last year from the Legislature.
Oklahoma City-based FSB Architects has prepared construction drawings and documents for both projects.
Cameron’s updated strategic plan, “Go For Gold 2030,” also received approval from the regents. It’s been in development since September 2025 with input from university constituencies including faculty, staff, students, alumni, tribal partners and members of the Lawton and Duncan communities.
Hunt said the goal of the strategic plan is to “amplify the Cameron experience.... The best version of Southwest Oklahoma can only be achieved with the best version of Cameron University.”
Murray Evans has reported in Oklahomafor nearly 40 years, covering subjects including education, tribal affairs, energy and sports. Previously working for The Oklahoman and The Associated Press, Evans has travelled the state to tell the stories of Oklahomans, winning multiple awards in sports and news writing along the way.
He can be reached at murray. evans@wsoknews.com. mailto:evans@wsoknews.com