Over the next few weeks, the Oklahoma state legislature will determine the amount of funding to be allocated to Oklahoma’s higher education institutions, including Oklahoma State University.

As the executive committee of the Parents Association, we encourage all parents of OSU students to contact their representatives in the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives and urge them to provide sufficient funding for higher education to prevent more double-digit tuition increases.

For several years, parents have borne the rising costs of college tuition because we believe in the importance and value of a college education for our children. When tax revenues were down and the state had fewer resources for higher education, we stepped up to bear the extra cost. But this year tax revenues appear to be high enough to refill the rainy day fund and begin reversing this trend.

Currently there is a $1,000 difference between the $5,364 Oklahoma spends per college student compared to the national average of $6,442 per college student.

The Legislature has already approved a $500 million bond issue for higher education, but that money is limited to capital improvements. We need to ask the legislature to provide enough funding for higher education to cover operating expenses and faculty salaries so that tuition will not reach double-digit increases again.

Sincerely,

Mike and Lisa Harry
Co-Presidents
OSU Parents Association

OSU parents may send an email to Gov. Brad Henry by visiting www.gov.ok.gov and then clicking on “Contacts” and “Message to the Governor.”