OSU-Tulsa reviews budget, accomplishments with trustees

Monday, June 9, 2008

(June 9, 2008   TULSA, Ok.)  – At an Oklahoma State University-Tulsa Board of Trustees meeting today, President Gary Trennepohl outlined a plan for the university’s 2008-09 operating budget, as well as applauded accomplishments of the past year.
 
Trennepohl said because the State’s higher education budget allocation remained relatively flat again this year, he expects to utilize university budget reserve to maintain the growth momentum for OSU-Tulsa.
 
 “As universities across the state continue to see rising energy and health-care costs, we are working to implement programs, such as our energy conservation initiative, that will offset the budget shortfalls,” Trennepohl said. “Our goal is to provide high quality comprehensive higher education for Tulsa-area citizens. We are working to meet the needs of the community and are stretching our dollars to maintain academic quality.”
 
OSU-Tulsa is also experiencing increased operating costs with the first full year of operation for the Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center, Trennepohl said. Those fundamental costs include heating and cooling the new 123,000 square-foot facility and hiring lead researchers and graduate research assistants. OSU-Tulsa was provided no state funding for the operation of the new facility.
 
With the approval of the OSU-Tulsa Trustees, the proposed budget will now be forwarded to OSU-Stillwater for inclusion in the budget process for all colleges and universities under the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.
 
Also at the board meeting, the Trustees were updated on several OSU-Tulsa activities.
 
Trennepohl said the university is taking numerous steps to hold down costs. For example, OSU-Tulsa reduced energy costs considerably during the first seven months of its energy conservation program, saving the campus $76,000. He said he anticipates the savings will continue as faculty, staff and students become more aware of energy-saving measures.
 
BOB, OSU’s Big Orange Bus that travels between Stillwater and Tulsa, is helping students and faculty save money if they are commuting between campuses. Ridership for the year is approximately 55,700 riders, a 164 percent increase compared to four years ago. Trennepohl said the shuttle has created more options for Tulsa and Stillwater students by creating affordable transportation to take classes on either or both campuses.
 
OSU-Tulsa is located just north of downtown at 700 N. Greenwood Avenue, near I-244 and Detroit Avenue. For more information, call 918-594-8000.