Seminole State College hosted area colleges at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Southeast Oklahoma Legislative Briefing at Pete’s Place in Krebs on January 26. SSC attended the event with a delegation of state legislators.
SSC President Lana Reynolds welcomed attendees to the event and introduced Chancellor Allison Garrett of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
In her remarks, Chancellor Garrett discussed the importance of higher education in improving the economy and business climate of the state. The State Regents are requesting $1.1 billion in state funding for FY25, which reflects an increase of $122.4 million or 12.2% over the FY24 appropriation of $1 billion.
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education Chancellor Allison Garrett presents the proposed budget and speaks about the economic impact of higher education at the Southeast Legislative Briefing in Krebs on Jan. 26.
Chancellor Garrett gave a summary of the budget request to attendees of the event. The State Regents are requesting $9.5 million for FY25 to fund the Inspired to Teach program and expand concurrent enrollment.
Public higher education’s budget request also includes strategic investments that align with Oklahoma’s projected workforce demand in STEM and healthcare and focus on increasing adult degree completion. The State Regents seek $41.5 million for critical workforce development initiatives, including funds to increase enrollment and graduation in STEM disciplines, expand nursing education program and medical residency capacity to address the
state’s shortage of nurses and doctors, and provide additional scholarships for adult students nearing completion of a college degree or pursuing an industry-recognized micro-credential or certificate.
The proposed budget also seeks $71.4 million in to fund performance-based institutional allocations to address operational needs, address rising risk management costs, strengthen college access and academic success services for students, and fund strategic collaborations and shared services to drive long-term efficiencies across the state system.
State Representative Danny Williams (R-Seminole), Representative Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee) and Representative Danny Sterling (R-Tecumseh) attended the event on behalf of SSC.
Others representing Seminole State College at the event were President Leadership Class students sophomore Dalton Fowble, of Wellston; freshman Olivia Stevenson, of Shawnee; freshman Daylan Saxon, of Seminole; and freshman Jaylee Friend, of Prague; SSC Regents Chair Kim Hyden and Bryan Cain; SSC Educational Foundation trustees Jim Hardin, John Hargrave, Executive Director of the Avedis Foundation Dr. Kathy Laster, Rhonda McKee and Mark Schell; community supporters Seminole City Manager Steve Saxon and Lisa Saxon; SSC employees President Lana Reynolds, Director of Community Relations Kim Pringle and Communications Coordinator Josh Hutton.
The event was attended by delegations representing Carl Albert State College, Connors State College, East Central University, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Seminole State College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.