Legislators cool to proposal allowing regents to control tuition increases

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A proposal to allow Oklahoma colleges and universities to have control over raising tuition drew a cool response from legislators on Wednesday.

The state Regents for Higher Education met with lawmakers to discuss increasing professor salaries and funding improvements promised to colleges in the Tulsa area. During the discussion, Higher Education Chancellor Hans Brisch put in a pitch for legislators to delegate authority for tuition rates to college regents.

Brisch said Oklahoma is one of only nine states where colleges regents don't control tuition increases.

State Rep. Terry Ingmire, R-Stillwater, asked what would stop the regents from raising tuition sky-high.

Brisch said he realized the political reality of raising costs and wasn't recommending an increase in the double-digits. Two years ago, tuition was raised by about 7 percent.

Higher education officials want $150 million more for next fiscal year.

Jack Begley, head of the House budget subcommittee on education, asked Brisch what he would do with half that much money. Begley, D-Goodwell, said sometimes legislators wonder where the money goes.

Higher education regents determine how the money they receive is spent. The Legislature cannot earmark appropriations like they do with other entities.

Brisch said Oklahoma students pay about one-fourth the cost of their education. The national average is about one-third.

He said Oklahoma's tuition rates are particularly low at the regional universities. Oklahoma ranks 48th in the nation, and 42nd for its comprehensive schools, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Tuition paid by students attending two-year schools rank 30th, compared with other states.

Most of the new money, $85 million, would be used for what regents are calling brain gain.com. It would provide 5 percent raises to college faculty at a cost of nearly $40 million.

The rest of the new money would be used for new professors, including 21 new faculty members at OSU-Tulsa and 22 professors with doctorate degrees at Rogers State University in Claremore.

Brisch also asked for $28 million so that the state could come up with money to match private dollars and establish endowed chairs.

Begley said endowed chairs mainly benefit OU and OSU. He wondered whether more private money could be found for endowed chairs instead of relying on a state match.

The regents proposed budget also calls for $18.4 million for northeastern Oklahoma higher education, including $6.4 million more for the OSU-Tulsa campus.

University of Oklahoma programs in Tulsa would receive $3.6 million, while $4.9 million would go toward Langston University.

Rogers State University in Claremore would get $2 million, while $1.5 million would go to start a branch campus in Broken Arrow.