University of Central Oklahoma
THURSDAY June 9, 1994
The Student Voice Since 1903
Study shows 6 'teams' favor 5th College
Parking lots, streets close for construction David L. Hanigar Student Writer
Piles of shredded asphalt and orange earth temporarily replace many of the university streets and parking lots as construction for the new central plant continues. The parking lots and related streets and walkways to the Communications Building, the Student Health Center and the Art Building are closed and should be uprooted by July 15, said Nick Widener, executive director of special projects. The parking lot north of the Old North Building should be gone by August 15. Other excavations will not emerge until next spring, Widener said. "We're going to have a mess," said Widener, regarding traffic between the buildings. A temporary walkway will be con-
(Photo by Christopher Smith)
structed allowing access to the buildings until construction is completed. Handicap access will also be considered, said Widener. A large ditch circling the university grounds will eventually replace much of the area under construction. Along with water lines for new fire hydrants and fiberoptic cables, the ditch will contain heating and cooling lines that connect to a new $6,795,000 central plant capable of serving
the new buildings and the older buildings as their systems fail, said Widener. Although the construction will create an inconvenience to many, Widener said the new southeastern parking lot may be accessible before fall and the gravel parking areas east of the Liberal Arts Building will be paved and completed for the fall term. A new parking map should be out by the middle of next week.
A study to determine if a College of Fine Arts is feasible for the university has cornpleted its first hurdle with six individual teams supporting, in concept, the need for the fifth branch. This finding is consistent with a campuswide survey in December where respondents expressed a two-to-one margin in favor of the new college, said Terry May, assistant vice president for academic affairs and coordinator of the study. "There are, however, some significant budget and policy issues which have to be addressed," May said. The concept calls for pulling some programs from the College of Liberal Arts to form the new college. Reasons behind the split involve strengthening the fine arts programs and fundraising. Fifty-four faculty and staffmembers from UCO comprise eight teams to study the idea. The six "functional teams" investigated issues involving a new college's budget, YSee COLLEGE, Back Page
UCO decides against Regents' fee increase Roy Howe Staff Writer
With students escaping a tuition hike proposed by the State Regents for Higher Education, a fee increase at most of the state's colleges and universities is aimed to make up the difference. At its regular meeting May 27, the State Regents OK'd fee increases related to certain classroom and campus activities. The hike in fees came after the legislature failed to act on a tuition increase. With four hours remaining in the legislative session, regent Chairman Glenn Cox said intervention from a higher source was needed for lawmakers to raise class costs. "If there ever were a need for an eleventh-hour miracle, I think now is the time," he said, regarding the legislature raising the ceiling on tuition. The fee increases could cost an addi-
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tional $24 per credit hour for students at some of the state's learning sites, but the University of Central Oklahoma's fees will not increase. Western Oklahoma State College, Tulsa Junior College, Oklahoma State University Technical Branch and UCO all chose not to increase fees which are charged in addition to tuition. Clyde Jacob, vice president for academic affairs, said that fees will remain the same at UCO due to new fees imposed last year. "I think the general concern is that last year we had fee increases from two new fees: a library fee and a parking fee. We as an institution didn' t want to come back and increase fees," he said. Currently, UCO charges five fees besides tuition: A library fee at $2.50 per credit hour, an activity fee at $4 per credit hour, a facility fee at $2 per credit hour, a $15 one-time admission fee and a yearly parking fee costing from $10 to $25
Renovations Thatcher H a1I, UCO's oldest men's dormitory, undergoes renovations to transform into a site for offices.
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per semester. At its meeting, the State Regents for Higher Education also allocated $557.7 million toward the state's 26 institutes of higher learning for the next fiscal year which begins July 1. UCO is earmarked for $28.3 million— the same amount allotted for the current fiscal year. The 1994-1995 statewide appropriations show a $1.4 million increase compared to the current fiscal year. A statewide budget cut took a bite out of higher education's current budget. "Our appropriation falls short of last year's $575.2 million reached before last year's 3.3 percent budget cut," said Hans Brisch, regent chancellor. "I'm pleased we did not get a cut, but I'm looking toward next year...," Brisch said, regarding funding from the state legislature for higher education. The legislature pulled $25.7 million from
its "rainy day" reserve last month to help fund higher education. "Funding was tight this year and we appreciate the effort put forth to secure a basically level appropriation for higher education," said Brisch, who acknowledged lawmakers' struggle to fund House Bill 1017, as well as fiscal constraints related to corrections and juvenile justice. The state higher education funds support academics, student support, financial aid programs and other special programs for more than 230,000 Oklahoma students. Included in the appropriations are the state's financial aid programs which received $23.4 million and includes $150,000 to start a regional university scholarship program. Assistance is based on student's achievement and financial need. Higher education institutions will now draft budgets for the coming year. Plans call for budgets to be submitted for State Regents' approval at its June 29 meeting.
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New York
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UCO students and faculty see the Big Apple and meet famous artists at a conference in New York City.
Baseball
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The Bronchos end their season by falling in the
NCAA Division ll Regional Tournament