Tulsa World: New ORU president named

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New ORU president named
Mark Rutland will start in July. Friends say he has a history of fixing struggling institutions.

Mark Rutland speaks Wednesday at a press conference at which he was named president of Oral Roberts University. With him is ORU board Chairman Mart Green. MICHAEL WYKE/ Tulsa World

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 1/29/2009 2:45 AM
Last Modified: 1/29/2009 3:20 AM

View all the stories, documents, videos and slide shows about the ORU lawsuit.

Oral Roberts University took another step away from its troubled past Wednesday by formally announcing Mark Rutland as its new president.

The ORU board of trustees unanimously approved Rutland after a morning interview, board Chairman Mart Green said.

"It's a historic day for us," Green said.

Rutland, a former pastor and missionary, is leaving his job as president of Southeastern University, a Christian liberal arts college in Lakeland, Fla., that he led for 10 years.

His salary at ORU will be $275,000 a year, and the trustees can renew his annual contract.

Friends and former co-workers of Rutland's say he is uniquely qualified for the ORU position because of his history of turning around struggling institutions.

He is credited with renovating Southeastern into a regional leader in higher education and with boosting its enrollment.

Earlier in his career, he oversaw the financial stabilization of a megachurch that was $15 million in debt.

Rutland is the author of 13 books and the host of a syndicated 30-minute radio program called "Herald of Joy."

Rutland is succeeding Richard Roberts, who resigned in 2007 amid controversy and allegations that he and his wife, Lindsay Roberts, misspent university

money.

The claims, which Richard Roberts has repeatedly denied, came to light after former employees and students sued ORU, which then revealed that it was more than $55 million in debt.

The debt is now $13.2 million.

ORU has agreed to pay Roberts about $440,000 to finish his three-year contract.

Under the leadership of Green, whose family salvaged ORU with a $70 million donation, the university has spent the past year trying to remake itself with shared governance and financial transparency.

Green noted Wednesday that it was a year ago this week when ORU dissolved its board of regents in favor of a board of trustees and moved away from a policy of founder's governance.

Rutland's name was put forward by ORU's founder and namesake, Oral Roberts. Rutland's was not one of the more than 130 names suggested to the university, and he initially said he was not interested in the job.

Rutland said at a press conference Wednesday that at first he was concerned about coming to a university with recent troubles.

"But all of these issues — all of theses challenges — pale beside the opportunities I sense here," he said.

Rutland later said he gradually came to see where he could fit in at ORU.

"What happens is you begin to see the intersection of need and opportunity coming together," he said.

Rutland officially starts at ORU on July 1. Until then, interim President Ralph Fagin will continue in the top post and will return to his position as provost afterward.

Rutland said Wednesday that ORU already has begun moving ahead.

The university recently spent more than $10 million on renovations, including updating dormitory rooms and replacing roofs.

Two of the lawsuits filed against the university have been settled with confidential terms. The other has been partially dismissed, but its remaining charges are pending in court.

ORU laid off 53 employees and eliminated 40 unfilled positions this month as part of its effort to maintain financial stability.

Green said after Wednesday's press conference that ORU has found in Rutland an embodiment of its mission to educate the whole person.

Rutland's experience in higher education and noted public speaking ability will help ORU attract students and donations, Green said.

"By the end of the year, I think he'll have a real good handle on what needs to happen," he said.

Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com

Mark Rutland

Age: 61

Occupation: President of Southeastern University, Lakeland, Fla.

Native state: Texas

Universities attended: California Graduate School of Theology, doctorate; Candler School of Theology at Emory University; University of Maryland

Spouse: Alison

Children: A son and two daughters, plus five grandchildren

Previous jobs: Pastor, evangelist, author and missionary

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Greatnorthern, (1/29/2009 4:30:29 AM) Interesting to note that Mr. Rutland's salary is a lot higher than Richard Roberts'. The portion of Roberts' income for being president of ORU was a lot less. Roberts' other income listed was for Oral Roberts Ministries, & also for some of the management of Citi-Plex. This was listed on the Tax Returns that were printed in the Tulsa World. All that Mr. Rutland will be required to do is be the president, that's all. Much easier job than his predecessor had. I wish him well.
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/29/2009 7:21:44 AM) Whether ORU's hiring of Rutland is a "step away from its troubled past" remains to be seen. Rutland is first and foremost an evangelist, not an educator. "Rutland is the author of 13 books and the host of a syndicated 30-minute radio program called "Herald of Joy." "Rutland's name was put forward by ORU's founder and namesake, Oral Roberts. Rutland's was not one of the more than 130 names suggested to the university..." Does that sound like a break with the past to you?
	Report Comment GOODWORD, TULSA (1/29/2009 8:31:24 AM) I heard Dr. Rutland speak in Tulsa many years ago. I remember his compassion and his ability to communicate. His task is formidable but he is "Well Able". Peter
	Report Comment Idon'thateverything, (1/29/2009 8:32:48 AM) I am familiar with Rutland and I believe this is a great hire for the university. I have never been a fan of ORU but I now have more respect for the University.
	Report Comment Lunatk, (1/29/2009 9:27:14 AM) Liberals are always there with a comforting thought for the day. BOF's
	Report Comment Classics, (1/29/2009 9:33:42 AM) $275,000 is a little below the national average for salaries of university presidents. They would have had to throw in some extra perks in order to get the guy to leave sunny florida at a stable school where he's got a track record of success to take over a school with a troubled history in tulsa where he has no record of success.
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (1/29/2009 9:44:16 AM) Classics: I'm expecting one of those perks to be a wider audience for Rutland on radio and television. Which sells books...
	Report Comment Greatnorthern, (1/29/2009 10:53:13 AM) Classics, I agree that he salary is below the national average, way below, for a university of that size. Early on in the ORU mess, Roberts' salary for ORU president responsibilities was far less than Rutlands, at which time most of the posters on the TW articles thought Roberts' salary was outrageously high. We aren't supposed to notice the large increase in salary for Rutland. I do think that Mr. Rutland will likely do a good job for that school.
	Report Comment tulsaGuy, (1/29/2009 11:26:28 AM) I guess he "Named It and Claimed It." Particularly here in Tulsa, we need to be careful of any theology that is more presumption than faith.
	Report Comment Classics, (1/29/2009 11:40:15 AM) Graychin, I'm not a basher of all things Christian like some people on here, but no doubt a wider audience for Rutland's missions organization had to come up in the negotiations. Probably along with free housing in the presidential compound. I'm hopeful that Rutland's hire is a step in the right direction for ORU, but a change in culture and proper financial management among other things will be the only proof that will validate his hire.
	Report Comment Rocketman, Tulsa (1/29/2009 11:51:59 AM) Why would atheists even care about who ORU names as president? Who cares what they think about this situation? They just use this story as an excuse to spew their hate.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (1/29/2009 11:55:35 AM) ORU is a stronger academic institution than most in our area realize, despite it's problems and unfortunate association with Oral Roberts. I vote they rename the university.
	Report Comment Security Guy, (1/29/2009 12:13:00 PM) It is hard not to notice "spew on cue" crowd cannot simply say they disagree but must discredit and destroy. In any debate, those who seek the destruction of the oposition rather than debating on the merits of the topic have the weakest intellectual position. Taliban anyone? Well done ORU, well done Mart Green. You are a gentleman and a businessman who knows a good future when you see it.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (1/29/2009 1:55:13 PM) LOL La Pieuvre. Where would Mardel sell most of their books?
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (1/29/2009 2:48:54 PM) Been a long time TW since I have been "edited". Oh well. It was funny....yes?
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (1/29/2009 2:52:44 PM) But can he golf?
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (1/29/2009 3:03:13 PM) Good point Polarbear1.

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