Friday, December 10, 2004

Head of State Regents Says No Tuition Hikes Next Year

The Daily Oklahoman reports today that Jimmy Harrel, chairman of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, will oppose any tuition increases this coming year. At a meeting of the regents Thursday, Harrel said some of his constituents, including his own employees, are having to delay college because of the cost and that students need a “breather.” The State Regents coordinate the state system of public higher education. Other state regents say it is too early in the budget process to talk about whether tuition increases are needed.

 Bond Issue, Restored Funding and Money for OHLAP Top Legislative Priority List for Higher Ed

 The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have chosen three top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. These include passage of a $500-million capital improvements bond issue, restoring funding to former levels and finding a dedicated revenue source for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, which provides free college tuition to high school seniors from low- to middle-income families who meet certain academic and behavior requirements. You can find all the details at http://www.okhighered.org/news-center/2005legislative-agenda.html

OSU Joining OSU to Help the Hungry

 Ohio State University has asked OSU (us) to participate in a joint volunteer project benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank. Forty Oklahoma State faculty, staff, students and alumni are needed to join 40 Ohio State volunteers with the project. Bus transportation will be provided between a centrally located major hotel and the food bank. The facility is just a 15-minute drive from the downtown area. Volunteers will need to be at the pick-up location at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec.  28 and will work a three hour shift from 8 to 11 a.m., then be driven back to the hotel area. Each volunteer will receive a free T-shirt with both university logos and the slogan of the San Antonio Food Bank, “Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope.” To sign up, call Dr. Lee Bird, OSU Vice President for Student Affairs, at 744-5328 or e-mail her at Lee.Bird@okstate.edu

 RHA Will Try for World Record Pillow Fight

 The Residence Halls Association is trying to break the record for the World's Largest Pillow Fight.  The fun will take place on Friday, December 10 at 7 p.m. on the lawn between Kerr-Drummond and Willham Halls.  All residents are encouraged to participate.  The only admission requirement is a soft pillow.

 Marc Krein to Share Load Balancing Tips for Tech Tuesday

 Marc Krein, assistant professor of journalism & broadcasting, will headline Tech Tuesday on Dec. 14. Krein has been an OSU leader in implementing the Blackboard online learning program. In addition, he is working on his Ph.D. in international communications & new communication technologies. He will discuss his extensive background in multimedia production (including work for ESPN, Fox and ABC), non-linear video production and integration of video within Blackboard.  This will be the semester’s last Tech Tuesday event. It is scheduled from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. live in 402 Classroom Building and by live teleconference at OSU-Tulsa Main Hall, 1317B.

 35 Cowboy Angels Still AWOL

Thirty-five angels from the Cowboy Angel Tree in the Atrium are still out. If you picked one of these AWOL angels, please bring your gifts to the Campus Life office at 060 Student as soon as possible. Call Marie Basler at 744-5458 if you have questions.

 OSU Grad Receives Milken Educational Award

OSU graduate Malissa Barker of Jenks received the 2004 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award at a formal presentation this week. Barker teaches at Jenks West Intermediate School and has received the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award. Education pioneer Lowell Milken created the awards to celebrate some of the nation's outstanding teachers, principals and specialists. More than $50 million in foundation awards have been presented. Barker will be recognized with other national recipients in Washington in the spring. The 100 honorees will receive $25,000 checks from the foundation.

 Weekend Sports

• The Oklahoma State Men’s Basketball team is host to Alabama-Birmingham for a game televised at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 tonight (Friday). The game is the first meeting between the two schools. Bob Carpenter will handle play-by-play. Larry Conley will provide expert analysis.
• Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team heads to Memphis this weekend for its third and final non-conference game away from home. OSU and the Memphis Lady Tigers collide at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
• The wrestling team travels to Norman to wrestle the 10th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday at 2 p.m. inside the Lloyd Noble Center. The Cowboys are 3-0.