Glen Johnson knows something about how state government works. The Chancellor of the State Regents for Higher Education served in the legislature from 1982-1996 and was Speaker of the House from 1990-96. Since leaving the House, Johnson has served as director of public policy and professor of law at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and as President of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, before becoming Chancellor three years ago this month.

So, when Johnson is concerned about the 2010 legislative session and what the economic downturn is likely to do to the state, he speaks from experience. Johnson expects this year’s session, which begins with the State of the State address on February 1, to be the toughest in many years.

All state agencies, including Higher Ed, are having to cut their budgets by at least 10%. Johnson says colleges and universities can’t do that much longer without affecting the quality of educational product. He proudly points out that the institutions in the higher ed system have saved more than $73 million in the last two years, and actually froze tuition last year. However, that was because of federal stimulus money, which allowed the governor and legislature to provide enough money for operations without increasing tuition. There are no assurances tuition won’t go up this year.

In fact, Higher Ed is asking for supplemental funding for the rest of the fiscal year of $35.8 million and has requested an additional $26 million in operational funding in the budget request for the 2011 fiscal year. Johnson says colleges and universities have made ends meet by instituting employee furloughs and hiring freezes, eliminating or delaying purchasing of equipment, early retirement options, and energy conservation.

The problem is that enrollments are going up - 10% higher in the last two years, according to Johnson. With growing enrollments comes the need for more faculty and classrooms. While the goal, he says, is to graduate more students, something is going to have to give unless additional funding is found. Johnson says colleges and universities are working to provide students with the skills needed in the business world. Research indicates that every dollar spent on education results in an additional $5.15 in the state’s economy. So, Johnson argues, higher education is essential to the state’s success. Plus, a national report calls public higher education in Oklahoma the 7th best value in the nation.

Johnson just has to make that case to the legislature and governor, and hope for the best. He lays out the state of higher education and how he plans to move the system forward, this week on Oklahoma Forum.

Until next time,
Dick Pryor