Eastern Oklahoma State College, Press Release, Grants And Contracts Garnered By Eastern OK State College

More than $1.3 million in negotiated grants and contracts have been garnered to date by Eastern Oklahoma State College since the beginning of the Wilburton college’s fiscal year in July.

Eastern staff has applied for and received $327,000 in new grants including three grants through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education: Manufacturing Extension Agent Grant, $30,000; Brain-Gain Re-Recruitment Grant, $58,000 and Southeastern Oklahoma Economic Development Grant for $27,000.

Two additional new grants included a $12,000 grant from Keddo-Business Services Team and a Campus Violence Prevention Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for $200,000.

Eastern President Dr. Richard Bernard told Eastern Regents during their November board meeting the additional funds received through grants provide student and institutional services the college could not afford if the staff depended strictly upon state appropriated funds.

Oklahoma higher education officials are hopeful that recent record enrollments and an improved state economy will help convince state lawmakers to restore funding for higher education at levels not seen since early 2002.

Bernard said that periodically the Eastern Board officially accepts the funds from all grants and contracts directed to the college.

“This acceptance allows the funds to be deposited and allows the college to request the monies to be withdrawn to meet obligations as directed by the terms of the grants and contracts,” he said.

The remaining $1,002,855 comes to Eastern through 10 renewal grants including:

• Student Support Services Grant from the U.S. Department of Education TRIO-Student Support Services for $260,181
• State of Oklahoma Mine Safety Training from the U.S. Department of Labor passed through the State Of Oklahoma Mine Health and Safety Administration for $218,725
• Work Study grant monies from the U.S. Department of Education for $96,479
• Early Dispute Settlement Grant from the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, $59,835
• Carl Perkins funds from U.S. Department of Education passed through the Oklahoma Department of Vocational Education, $32,215
• Scholars for Excellence Program (Child Development), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $68,784
• Strengthening Institutions Program, U.S. Department of Education passed through East Central University, $47,991
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $5,500
• Oklahoma State Arts Council, State Arts Council, $24,000
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $189,145

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently approved their fiscal year 2006 budget request that, if appropriated by legislators next spring, could provide an additional $90 million in new funding for the state system of colleges and universities. This fiscal year, the state system received approximately $34 million increase in state appropriations.

State Regents say their request includes $66 million to restore institutional budgets to the same levels as in FY02. That year, higher education received more than $860 million in state appropriations. Subsequent revenue shortfalls, however, forced state officials to make dramatic cuts in operating budgets throughout state government, including a $92 million cut for higher education.

It has now been three years, and colleges and universities are still feeling the effects of those cuts.

The State Regents believe that returning to FY02 funding levels will allow tuition increases to be kept low next fall. Tuition increases have averaged $600 per year for the past two years, and part of the increase has been met with additional student financial aid.

According to the State Regents public colleges and universities need adequate funding to meet the needs of more than 28,000 additional students who have enrolled in the state system during the last few years.