Student Trends and Preferences

Students who attend Oklahoma Christian University come from many different places, backgrounds, and cultures. However, while on campus, many students share similarities in their day-to-day life. The Talon sent out a survey asking students about their preferences, daily habits, and even some quirky traditions they have noticed.

“Do you live on or off campus?”

36 of 41 students answered on campus. Oklahoma Christian has many housing options available, including standard and premium residence halls as well as apartment options. According to Oklahoma Christian’s website, over 70% of students live on campus, although off-campus housing requests can be made.

“Where do you spend most of your Eagle bucks?”

27 of 41 students answered Chick-fil-A. Second place went to the on-campus coffee shop, the Brew, with 11 of 41 students. Two students chose Sonic and one chose the Oklahoma Christian Campus Store.

“Do you prefer digital or printed assignments?” and “Do you prefer online or in-person classes?”

28 of 41 students answered digital assignments; however, 38 of 41 students responded with in-person classes. This seemingly strange contradiction might reflect the dual-platform learning systems available to students today. 

Oklahoma Christian has a learning system called Blackboard, which hosts most all class content online in digital classrooms. This system allows students to access content professors and instructors post as well as view grades and class announcements. However, in-person classes might still contain many paper handout assignments, notes, or projects. Students must sometimes contend with completing both digital and physical assignments in the same class.

It was announced this year that the university will be moving over to a new program for the first time ever called Canvas. This change will start the spring semester of 2026.

“Would you choose morning or evening classes?”

35 of 41 students responded with morning classes. Although many classes have different sections, it is more common to find these options with general classes such as Bible or English where more students must take these courses. For major specific classes, sometimes only one section is available, making scheduling difficult. As a student, strategic scheduling is a helpful skill for time management and work load balancing. 

“Do you eat on or off campus more frequently?”

28 of 41 students answered on campus. Options for on-campus dining include the campus cafeteria, The Branch, Chick-fil-A, and Aguila’s Grill. Meal plans are required for on-campus residents, making the “caf,” as it has been dubbed by students, a regular stop.

“Are you more likely to walk or drive around campus?”

35 of 41 students answered with walk. With the majority of students living on campus, walking is the most common method of transportation. Other factors in the results include the smaller size of Oklahoma Christian’s campus compared to others in the area. Yet, as the weather changes, parking might become more difficult to find.

“Do you participate in intramurals?”

23 of 41 responded yes. Oklahoma Christian has many intramural sports for students to choose from, some even as unique as pool or ping pong. There are a few hurdles, including a participation fee and team tryouts. Due to changes in rush schedules, freshmen at Oklahoma Christian will no longer have their own separate team in the spring semester of 2026. Students not in a club will be required to create independent teams.

“Which textbooks do you prefer, digital or physical?”

23 of 41 students answered physical textbooks. This question also reflects the growing conflict between the digital and physical worlds. Added into the mix are health concerns about blue light and eye strain from digital screens. While there is much to be said on both sides, digital books can provide learning tools for students such as notes, summaries, and word finding. Physical books provide students the opportunity to have hands-on material, and the physical motion of writing or highlighting is known to assist memorization. 

“Do you hold a job, part-time or otherwise?”

30 of 41 students responded with yes. According to the Oklahoma Christian website, the total cost for a full-time student on campus is $37,500. While there are scholarships and financial aid packages available, for a student, covering additional costs such as book fees, class supplies, and parking registration can add up, making a job a possibility. Oklahoma Christian offers a range of positions for work-study eligible students on campus.

“What are some quirky traditions you’ve noticed here at Oklahoma Christian?”

Among the many answers received, there were three common responses that remained consistent throughout. Firstly, it stands as a campus tradition for the entire cafeteria community to clap when a student drops a tray, glass, or dishware of any sort. Secondly, walking under the clock tower for any reason must be avoided at all costs. Last, but not least, when singing the alma mater, a “woot” must be inserted at a particular spot.