David L. Boren College of International Studies Marker

David L. Boren College of International Studies Marker. . , The Boren College of International Studies is named in honor of President David L. Boren and his founding and strong support of the college and his visionary leadership in helping internationalize the university's curriculum. , In the fall 1996, President Boren founded the International Program Center to coordinate and promote international activities and programs, enhance the international curriculum, and dramatically increase the study abroad for OU students. In 2011, the International Program Center was elevated to college status and became the Boren College of International Studies, established as a reflection of President Boren's vision of the importance of equipping OU students to be members of the global community. , Nationally, Boren was deeply involved in international affairs when he served in the U.S. Senate. He was the longest-serving Chair of the Senate Committee on Intelligence. He authored the National Security Education Act, which established the largest study abroad program for American students since the Fulbright program. , With two years remaining in his term, United States Senator David L. Boren returned home to the University of Oklahoma to become the university's thirteenth president. , During the Boren years, the University of Oklahoma developed and emerged as a pacesetter university in American public higher education. Becuase [sic] of his tireless work, more than 35 new programs were established, access to higher education became more accessible because of the scholarships created, and the number [of] endowed faculty positions grew to over 550. , President Boren has emphasized putting students first. No university president in the country is more committed to students. He taught a freshman-level course in political science each semester. President Boren and his wife, Molly Shi Boren, have had a profound and lasting impact on this institution. , The number of new facilities constructed or renovated on the Norman campus during the Boren years exceeded 35, matching growth in new programs. In addition, major new facilities were provided at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and on the campus of OU-Tulsa. From 1994 until his retirement over $1 billion in construction projects were completed on OU's three campuses. Among the projects on the Norman campus was the renovation to Hester Hall, which became Farzaneh Hall in 2016.