Regents to ask for more than $1-billion for colleges

SEMINOLE, Okla. (AP) -- Colleges and universities in Oklahoma say they'll need more than $1-billion next year.<br/><br/>The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education plan to ask the Legislature for

Friday, October 28th 2005, 9:17 am

By: News On 6

SEMINOLE, Okla. (AP) -- Colleges and universities in Oklahoma say they'll need more than $1-billion next year.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education plan to ask the Legislature for $1,000,012,000, an increase of $123-million over this year's budget.

Regents say the money is needed to pay for more teachers and researchers and higher utility bills and to meet the needs of an increasing number of students.

The request includes more than $17-million to pay tuition for qualifying students and $3.5-million to restore endowed chairs.

Oklahoma has 25 public colleges and universities.