Oklahoma regents to consider colleges’ tuition proposals

Oklahoma college students could see increases in tuition and fees this fall, ranging up to just more than 7 percent.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education heard tuition and mandatory fee proposals from each public college and university in the state at a meeting Wednesday.

Those proposals ranged from no in-state tuition increase at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, to a proposed 7.1 percent increase at Murray State College, and a 7.2 percent increase at the Universi- ty of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

During Wednesday’s meeting, USAO President John Feaver said the increase placed the university’s tuition and fee rate well below the average cost of other public regional universities.

Outgoing Cameron University President Cindy Ross requested a 5.97 percent increase in tuition

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and fees at the meeting. Ross, who is retiring later this summer, said the university needs the increase because the increase in state funding the university received is “woefully inadequate” and doesn’t keep pace with increases in mandatory costs such as utilities and insurance premiums.

This year, higher education saw its budget increase by $33 million, most of which goes to cover the cost of the $24 million debt service on the 2005 higher education capital bond issue.

Although higher education officials said they were pleased with the increase, the amount was less than they had requested. Oklahoma higher education Chancellor Glen Johnson had requested a $97.4 million increase over the last fiscal year, with $55 million going toward the state’s performance and college completion goals.

During the meeting, OU President David Boren laid out the university’s plan to create a flat tuition and mandatory fee rate for students taking 12 or more hours per semester. The rate would be based on the current cost for 30 hours per academic year.

The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed tuition and fee rates at a meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday at the State Regents office, 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200.