TU scraps Hartford Bldg. purchase for med. school; program splitting between TU, OU-Tulsa campuses

TULSA - Tulsa's downtown medical school isn't happening.

The University of Tulsa has scrapped plans to buy the Hartford Building to house the new Tulsa School of Community Medicine.

In a statement provided by the university, TU officials say they have decided not to complete the purchase of the Hartford Building.

The joint venture between the TU and the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa is, however, moving forward.  The medical school will be split between the TU and OU-Tulsa campuses.

“Our needs, our partnership and our mission for the medical school in Tulsa remain the same,” said TU President Steadman Upham. “Only the location is changing, and it is doing so in a way that allows for a more rapid opening of the Tulsa School of Community Medicine. We appreciate the support of the Tulsa Development Authority and other key stakeholders as we made this decision.”

According to the statement, TU will provide foundational science instruction and OU will provide advanced medical instruction.

The Tulsa School of Community Medicine will be a four-year program designed to address the state's poor health statistics and physician shortage.

The first class is expected to begin in fall 2015.

Last year, the Oxley Foundation announced a $30 million grant, half of which was to go to start-up funding for personnel and operating expenses.  The foundation pledged the second half as a dollar-for-dollar challenge for contributions.  The donation remains in place, according to the statement.

“This startup requires us to navigate a large, complex and sometimes novel set of variables, but our direction is clearly forward,” said OU President David L. Boren. “Private support for this venture has been extraordinary, and we expect to announce more milestones soon.”

The Hartford Building is owned by the City of Tulsa.  No word on what will become of it now that the purchase is off.

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