Tuition rates stay below legislative limits

Facing record enrollments, increasing mandatory costs and state appropriations that have fallen more than $58 million during the last four years, Oklahoma’s public institutions of higher education have still managed to keep tuition below limits set by the Oklahoma Legislature. This means the costs will be below the average rate charged at other institutions in the region.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved tuition and mandatory fee increases across the state system recently during their regularly scheduled meeting. Undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees for Oklahoma residents will go up an average of 9.2 percent next fall. Nonresident undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase an average of 10.2 percent. Read more.

'Jaws' cinematographer to teach at film institute

Students interested in filmmaking and the motion picture industry will have an opportunity to receive hands-on training from some of Hollywood's most notable filmmakers during the annual Oklahoma Film Institute held at Oklahoma City Community College.

Cinematographer Bill Butler will instruct the second week of the OFI program, when participants will learn about production equipment and shoot scenes from an award-winning screenplay. Read more.

TCC names McKeon president and CEO

The Tulsa Community College (TCC) Board of Regents recently named Dr. Thomas McKeon president and chief executive officer. McKeon replaces Dean VanTrease, who retired July 1 after 34 years of total service with TCC.

McKeon was selected after a five-month, national search effort that involved a community-wide search committee, a series of public forums and meetings, personal interviews, and a site visit. The Board of Regents was assisted by the search services of the Association of Community College Trustees. Read more.

Financial aid increases highlight higher ed's 2004-05 budget

More students will be receiving help meeting college costs this fiscal year thanks to a $10.2 million budget increase in student assistance programs across the state system. The increase is part of higher education’s more than $1.5 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2005.

Approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently, the FY05 budget will support education and research opportunities for the approximately 230,000 credit-seeking students who annually attend the state’s 25 colleges and universities and two higher education centers. Read more.