OSU president’s resignation letter provides few answers, indicates she expects to remain on faculty

OKLAHOMA CITY —  A letter of resignation for a former Oklahoma State University president shed no new light on the reasons behind her sudden departure earlier this month. 

Oklahoma Voice obtained a copy of Dr. Kayse Shrum’s resignation letter Tuesday from Oklahoma State University, nearly two weeks after first formally requesting it and a copy of any severance agreement that may exist. 

In the nine-sentence long letter, dated Feb. 3, Shrum requested her sabbatical leave begin immediately and wrote that she will return to OSU’s Center for Health Sciences as tenured faculty in July, per her contract. 

No severance agreement was provided. 

Shrum’s resignation was announced by the OSU A&M Board of Regents on Feb. 5, two days after her resignation was effective. The board named Jim Hess as interim president Feb. 7, but neither the governing body nor the university has provided comment on the reasons why Shrum stepped down after a little more than three years at the helm of the state’s second largest university.

Shrum reflected on her achievements as president in the letter, including “record enrollment, student retention rates, research funding and philanthropic support.” 

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the President of Oklahoma State University,” she wrote. “I believe during my tenure I have set the university on a course to a bright future. … I cherish the relationships I have made with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and donors. I will carry my positive memories with me into my next chapter. I derived great joy from my interactions with students, and it is my hope that they have been inspired to dream big.”

Shrum did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday. 

An OSU spokesperson declined to comment further on why Shrum resigned.