Tuition hikes OK’d for most state colleges

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved 2017-18 tuition rates and institutional budgets for the state’s 25 public colleges and universities Thursday.

Full-time students who are Oklahoma residents will pay an average $284 more for tuition and mandatory fees for the school year. Increases range from 2.1 percent to 10.4 percent with the average being 5.3 percent. The rate won’t go up at two universities.

“I don’t want to raise tuition. We’ve been put into a situation where our institutions have to raise tuition,” said Regent Andy Lester, of Edmond. “I’m going to vote in favor of this, and I’m doing it because of the future and how we need to support our kids, our next generation.”

Total operating revenue for all institutions is $2,350.6 billion, an increase of $21.3 million from fiscal year 2017, or slightly less than 1 percent, said Amanda Paliotta, vice chancellor for budget and finance.

State appropriations — down $36 million from FY17 — make up 28.4 percent of that total, while tuition and mandatory fees account for almost 55 percent, Paliotta said.

The largest increase in expenditures is for scholarships, up more than 8 percent or $19.6 million.

The largest decrease is for administrative costs, down 3 percent or nearly $5 million from the prior year.

“As percent of total budget, at less than 7 percent, that’s probably about the lowest we’ve ever seen,” Paliotta said.

I don’t want to raise tuition. We’ve been put into a situation where our institutions have to raise tuition. I’m going to vote in favor of this, and I’m doing it because of the future and how we need to support our kids, our next generation.”

Regent Andy Lester, of Edmond

Regent Jeff Hickman, of Fairview, commended the institutions’ financial officers.

“The fact that, despite the recession the state’s in, the revenue failure and reduction in appropriations, to have 1 percent growth with some really modest tuition increases of a few hundred dollars a year, I think was tremendous work,” Hickman said.

Tuition and mandatory fees are the cost all students pay per credit hour. Depending on the course, students also pay coursespecific fees, lab fees, and technology and program fees.

A 5 percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees at East Central University means fulltime students will pay $10 more per credit hour. Despite that increase, President Katricia Pierson projects tuition revenue will be down $1.6 million due to a decline in enrollment.

Northeastern State University sought only a 2.1 percent increase, or $4.25 per credit hour, “because we serve some of the poorest citizens in the state,” President Steve Turner said. “We are the door to opportunity.”

Board chairman

Regent John Massey, of Durant, completed his year as chairman Thursday. It was the third time Massey has served as chairman since he was first appointed to the board by Gov. David Walters in 1992.

He thanked his fellow regents and the staff for “all the good things they do.”

Regent Ronald White, an Oklahoma City cardiologist, was elected chairman for 2017-18. White also is chairing a new task force the regents formed to improve and modernize Oklahoma’s higher education system.

Woman sought in boyfriend’s death

Oklahoma City police are seeking a woman in connection with the beating death of her boyfriend, court documents show.

Tiffany Nicole Ball, 31, is wanted on a domestic assault with a dangerous weapon warrant filed June 8 in Oklahoma County District Court. Ball is accused of hitting boyfriend Randall Ragains, 51, in the head with a candlestick last month.

Officers responding to the house on June 1 found Ragains unconscious with a forehead injury, the warrant states. A bloodied candlestick was recovered from the house. Ball and Ragains were reportedly in an on-andoff relationship for five years and were living together, according to the warrant. Ragains died early June 9, police said.

FROM STAFF REPORTS