State Regents Seek Legislative Funding to 'Put Families First' With Tuition Freeze Proposal

Friday, November 7, 2008

Media Contact: Ben Hardcastle
Office: 1.405.225.9346
Mobile: 1.405.640.9672
bhardcastle@osrhe.edu

(November 7, 2008) - Determined to keep higher education within reach of Oklahoma’s working families, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education voted today to request $80.4 million for the operational needs of the institutions in new state appropriations during the upcoming legislative session so that tuition and mandatory fees can be frozen at the current level for the 2009-10 academic year.

The funds would cover increases in operational fixed costs and other institutional priorities at Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities and allow them to continue to provide quality instruction, vital student services and a sufficient number of sections and course offerings to shorten the time needed to complete a degree.

“Our system has done a good job of keeping the cost of education as low as possible, but it is becoming very clear that our state will need to increase its investment in higher education in order to keep higher education within reach of Oklahoma’s working families,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “Our ‘Putting Families First’ initiative provides our institutions the funding they need to operate and provides students and their families with significant financial relief to allow them to focus on their education.”

The State Regents approved requests for new funding in other areas as well.

The State Regents are asking for $4.9 million from the Legislature to annualize the debt service for the $100 million bond authorized during the 2008 legislative session for the state’s match to the endowed chairs program.

Student aid funding will also be a focus for the State Regents in the upcoming legislative session because more financial assistance reduces barriers that prevent students from attending college. The Academic Scholars Program for high-performing students is requesting an additional $400,000 next year. The State Regents will also seek $50,000 to fully fund the Regional University Baccalaureate Scholarship program. Expenditures for the past two years have exceeded the $800,000 appropriation the program receives. Carryover funds have been used to fund the excess, but those funds will be depleted by the end of FY 2009.

The State Regents also seek to increase funding for the concurrent enrollment program, which allows high school juniors and seniors to take credit-earning college courses. The State Regents propose to increase funding for the program by $625,000. Additionally, the State Regents are requesting an additional $100,000 for cooperative alliance fee waivers. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education has agreed to fund $400,000 annually for waivers. In the past, the State Regents’ portion of the waivers has been paid from one-time carryover funds from other waiver programs that are now depleted and no longer available for future waivers.

The State Regents will seek $200,000 for the state’s ReachHigher program. The funds will be used to enhance ReachHigher scholarships and tuition waivers. In order for the program to be even more successful, an increase in financial aid to adult students is needed.

The final component of the legislative agenda is a request for nearly $200,000 for the Office of Accountability. The office administers two state programs: the Oklahoma Educational Indicators Program and the Oklahoma School Performance Review Program.

The total request for new FY 2010 funds is $86,874,880.

From Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis
“This plan provides certainty in uncertain economic times for students and their families. Higher
education is more critical to our state’s future than ever before and it must remain affordable. This is a fair
and reasonable proposal that addresses basic budgetary needs and ensures an all-important degree remains
a great value at Oklahoma’s universities and colleges. OSU applauds the state regents for their
leadership.” 

From University of Oklahoma President David Boren:  
“Adoption by the state legislature of the State Regents for Higher Education’s request would give
us a great opportunity to help students and their families by avoiding any increases in tuition and fees next
year. Every day I see how many families have to struggle in Oklahoma to afford a college education. I
cannot think of a more worthwhile investment in our future than an adequate legislative appropriation to
give our students a break from tuition increases. Of course, we could not afford to operate our institutions
without the sufficient increase in state appropriations suggested by the Regents. I earnestly hope that our
state leaders will seize this opportunity to make a historic investment in our future.” 
 
From Redlands Community College President Larry F. Devane
“Oklahoma has a number of career shortage areas, such as health care. This proposal will allow
more students to have access to higher education programs and institutions in the state. Furthermore, this
will make college a reality for students who have felt they don’t have the financial means to obtain their
college education.”