OSU Loses NASA Program To Penn State

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma State University loses a $27 million agreement to operate NASA's Aerospace Education Services Program.<br/><br/>The five-year contract went instead to Pennsylvania

Tuesday, October 16th 2007, 7:11 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma State University loses a $27 million agreement to operate NASA's Aerospace Education Services Program.

The five-year contract went instead to Pennsylvania State University, which will present information about NASA to students from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

OSU managed the program for more than 30 years, with budgets of about $6.5 million a year.

Penn State's contract to conduct the program took effect September 1.

OSU professor Steve Marks says the school had nurtured and provided quality education to the schools, particularly to rural districts around the country.

The Penn State program will shift emphasis from one-time school visits and short teacher seminars to university-based, space-oriented summer courses for teachers.