Regents pick Risser as new Oklahoma chancellor for higher education

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oregon State University President Paul G. Risser was selected Monday as Oklahoma's new chancellor for higher education. <br><br>Risser, a native Oklahoman, said his top goals include

Tuesday, November 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oregon State University President Paul G. Risser was selected Monday as Oklahoma's new chancellor for higher education.

Risser, a native Oklahoman, said his top goals include supporting programs to increase the number of students in state colleges and universities and improving their graduation rate.

``It's not a system that needs to be changed, it's a system that needs to be supported,'' Risser said. ``The more students we can get into college and graduate, the better off our state will be.''

A study conducted for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in 1999 found that only 20 percent of Oklahoma's population 25 and older has a bachelor's degree. The national average is 23.6 percent.

Regents voted 6-3 for a contract that will pay Risser a base salary of $250,000 a year. Risser, who will start on Jan. 6, succeeds Chancellor Hans Brisch, who retires Jan. 5.

Risser, 63, grew up in Blackwell and was a botany professor at the University of Oklahoma from 1967 to 1981.

``It gives me a great deal of pride to be home,'' he said.

Risser said higher education is important to economic prosperity and encouraged investment in the state's colleges and universities.

Risser also said tuition increases are likely in the state's tight budget climate. He said students ``need to pay their fair share'' but there should be no ``unreasonable financial obstacles.''