Governor Predicts Increases in Higher Ed Funding – Budget Agreement Announced Today

Gov. Brad Henry said Wednesday that he expects colleges and universities will receive between $40 million and $80 million in new appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature, according to an article in today’s Tulsa World. While meeting with business leaders, the governor said he expects "significant increases" for higher education. State Regents Chancellor Paul Risser has asked for a $90 million increase and says that tuition increases will depend on how much the state appropriates to colleges and universities. Final appropriations must be approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. In a related development, House and Senate leadership announced today that that they have reached an agreement on the state budget framework. Details on budget amounts are not yet available.

 

Boeing Official Says Engineering Graduates Needed for State’s Industries

 

The chairman of the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development says Oklahoma needs more engineering graduates, especially those with expertise geared toward state industries such as the aerospace sector.  Steve Hendrickson, an official with the Boeing Company in Tulsa, says companies such as Boeing, American Airlines, Bizjet International, the Nordam Group in Tulsa and Tinker Air Force Base are heavy users of engineering graduates. Hendrickson is quoted in today’s Tulsa World, saying he now  must contact eight different entities to locate the engineers he needs. 

Medina, Graham Named Student-Athletes of the Year

Basketball star Joey Graham and Track and Field standout Valentina Medina were named Student-Athletes of the Year at the recent Academic Awards Banquet. Student-athletes who earn the award must demonstrate significant success on the field of competition, as well as in the classroom. Both students’ achievements are lengthy and almost legendary. Read more at  http://www2.okstate.edu/pio/studentathlete05_gonzales.html

Staff Appreciation Day is April 26

OSU’s annual Staff Appreciation Day Picnic is scheduled on Willard Lawn Tuesday, April 26, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The inclement weather location is the Student Union Ballroom. All staff should have received his or her lunch ticket in campus mail. Staff members who have not received a ticket should contact Hank Welliver at 744-5385. In addition to a great barbecue lunch, Staff Advisory Council (SAC) will be selling tickets for a chance to win a cedar patio swing.  Proceeds support the SAC Staff Scholarship Fund. Lots of door prizes will be given away.  Individuals who did not pick up their service pins last November have one last chance to do so at the picnic. The list of pin recipients, along with pictures of the cedar patio swing can be found on the SAC website, http://fp.okstate.edu/sac/

‘The Bus’ Announces Dead Week Services

“The Bus” will be anything but “dead” during OSU Dead Week, (April 25-29). During this time, “The Bus” will operate even longer hours. The on-campus Gold and off-campus Green night routes, which usually run between 7-10:30 p.m., will operate until midnight. All other routes will remain on normal schedules. These extended hours of service will provide students transportation to university facilities and around the Stillwater community as they study for their end-of-semester finals. For more information, contact Transit Services at 744-2832 or visit http://www.transit.okstate.edu.

Center to Offer Free Drug/Alcohol Abuse Screenings

Free screenings for drug and alcohol abuse will be offered at the Center for Family Services (CFS) on April 27-28.  The CFS is located in 101 Human Environmental Sciences West. Call 744-5058 to make an appointment.  Walk-ins will be accepted; however, due to limited space, appointments are preferred.  The sessions are 50 minutes long, and appointments are available starting from 5-8 p.m. on both days. The Center for Family Services (CFS) is sponsored by the Human Development and Family Science department at OSU.  In addition to the free evaluations, the CFS offers low-cost, quality services for couples, families, and individuals.  Screenings, as well as therapeutic services, are conducted by interns under the supervision of an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-approved supervisor who also is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Read more details at http://www2.okstate.edu/pio/daabuse05_gonzales.html

SportLines

·        Four OSU student-athletes have been honored as Arthur Ashe Sports Scholars for 2004-2005.  It’s the highest number of  OSU student-athletes to win the award during the same year.  Recipients include: Valentina Medina, Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country, first team honoree; Stephanie Nicholson, Softball, first team honoree; Darnell Smith, Football, first team honoree; and Destanie Sykes, Women’s Basketball, fourth team honoree.

·        Oklahoma State golfers Pablo Martin and Alex Norén have been chosen to represent Europe in the 2005 Palmer Cup. Martin comes from Malaga, Spain. Norén is  a native of Stockholm, Sweden.

·        Oklahoma State’s Cowgirl Golf team travels to Austin to compete in the ninth annual Big 12 Golf Championships, scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 22-24, at the University of Texas Golf Club.

·        Seniors Boris Kuharic and Mark Van Elden each defeated ranked opponents to seal Oklahoma State’s 4-3 victory over Oklahoma on Wednesday at the Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman.

Suggestions, questions and comments about OSU SportLines should be sent to sheila.dohmann@okstate.edu

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