The Vista April 1, 2003

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2003

Congress reverses disbursement policy by Robert T. Crauthers Student Writer A change in federal guidelines now requires distribution of single-semester loans to be in two equal payments rather than one, said Nancy Vollertsen, financial aid counselor. The loans will be disbursed at the beginning of the semester and then again no earlier than

midterm, she said. Vollertsen said students with a spring loan should have received their second payment at midterm as a result of the change. A notification of this new plan was posted in fall 2002 in the Special News section of the university's financial aid website. Vollertsen said Congress made the change, but the reasons behind it were unclear.

"It used to always be that way... then they changed it... then last year Congress changed it back," she said. Linda Winn, administration assistant for the Office of Student Financial Aid, said all students who received a spring loan, certified after Oct. 1, 2002, were affected by the change. Students applying for future fall, spring or summer term loans will also be

payments, Winn said. The account must be paid in full by the deadline for tuition payment. There is a $40 late fee regardless of the two disbursement dates, Vollertsen said. The 2003-2004 FAFSA packets for fall are available in the Office of Student Financial Aid, Room 141, in the Nigh University Center. For more information, (405) 974-3334.

affected. She said the change applies only to loans. Certain circumstances govern whether or not a student receives a single-semester loan. Students graduating in fall 2003 and needing financial aid would have to apply for single-semester loan. Students who withdraw or drop below part-time status during the fall semester will need to apply for a spring loan, resulting in two

Senate passes education lottery

The Bronchos softball team picked up a pair of Lone Star Conference wins agains Southwestern University March 25. - Page 7

by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline.com The Senate, by a vote of 26-19 on March 25, approved HB 1278, which calls for a statewide vote on an education lottery that could come sometime this summer. Next, the House must approve an amendment meant to ensure that the proceeds of the lottery would benefit education. Representatives must also pass the statewide election legislation, Gov. Henry said. He said the vote was a victory for the people of Oklahoma. "This is just one more step forward in the effort to give Oklahomans an opportunity to decide this important issue," Henry said in a press release issued March 26. "Time and again, the people have stated their desire to improve the public school system by voting on an education lottery." Henry said the debate isn't solely about the lottery issue. It's about giving the people the freedom to decide. "I trust the people to make the right decision on this issue," Henry said.

UCO department employs survey to help students Photo Services

The Kansas City Wizards and the Columbus Crew entertain 9,233 fans at the MLS exhibition game at Wantland Stadium March 29.

Exhibition game draws fans to Wantland by Jim Epperson III je@thevistaonline.com

With the expectations of receiving a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, 9,228 people from the Oklahoma .City metro area attended an exhibition game Saturday, March 29 at Wantland Stadium. Mark Abbott, MLS president, said Edmond is competing with several cities nationwide, including Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia and Tulsa, to gain a franchise for Edmond. He said three factors will determine the location of the next franchise. One is evidence of a demand for soccer. "It's a good start so far," Abbott said, in response to the crowd at UCO.

He said the other factors are a facility that can hold 25,000 people and ownership of a franchise. J.P. Jordan, UCOSA president, said, Right now the future is promising." "I think we have the three things we need to get a MLS team. When the referendum passed it sealed the deal." Brad Lund, CEO of Express Sport, said his company has an interest as the majority owner of a franchise. Bob Funk, owner of Express Sports, said the next step is to see how many people are interested in season tickets. "Ticket sales and corporate sponsorship will determine whether this is a good market for sports," he said.

Photo by Tina Fowble

Kansas City Wizards team members receive high-fives from soccer fans.

No.5 UCO baseball met No.6 Southeastern in a duel in Durant, Okla. March 29. - Page 7

by Summer Pratt sp@thevistaonline.com Every student learns differently. That's why Dr. Tana Stufflebean, chairperson of the Department of Human Environmental Sciences, said her department recently decided to find out how its students learn best by using The Four Learning Styles Survey. Stufflebean said she got the idea to incorporate the survey into her classes after receiving a Title III grant to bring greater technology and multicultural awareness into the classroom. The first class she tried the survey in was Global Diversity and Protocol, which many international students take. Stufflebean said she wanted to make sure the international students were being taught in a style that worked for them. "We use the survey to know how students learn best, so our teaching techniques are compatible with how they learn best," Stufflebean said.

see Learning Styles page 6

Chemistry professor Fakhrildeen Albahadily gives insight into the culture of Iraq. - Page 4

Henry signs higher education tuition bill by Mark Schlachtenhaufen ms@thevistaonline.com

Juli Barker

Several buildings on campus are being piped to the Central Plant for heating and air.

Campus construction continues, work crews connecting buildings

Business and. Music Buildings to _by Caroline Duke the central plant, leaving areas cd@thevistaonline.com and sidewalks blocked off to The second phase of campus pedestrians. renovation will continue at least Johnson said each digging through the summer, said Charlie project will last about three or Johnson, University News Bureau four weeks, as construction crews director. lay underground pipe to connect Construction crews are currently laying pipe to connect the

see Construction page 3

In a move designed to help offset budget cuts, Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation on March 28, that will allow state colleges and universities to set their own tuition levels. House Bill 1748, authored by Rep. Bill Nations, DNorman and Sen. Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, gives the State Regents for Higher Education the authority to approve tuition hikes, removing the Legislature from the process. Because the measure contained an emergency clause, it became law the moment the governor signed it. Henry, the presidents of the University of Oklahoma and Oldahoma State University and Chancellor Paul Risser campaigned in support of

the bill. "By setting limits on tuition levels and providing additional financial aid, supporters did their best to ensure that Oklahoma students would not be priced out of a college education," Henry said. State colleges and universities can now raise tuition levels as long as they do not exceed those' of peer institutions, similar schools within a specified region. Other factors to be considered include the level of state appropriations, the state economy and the cost of living. Local presidents and their school's board of regents will set appropriate tuition levels, which must then be authorized by the state Regents. The state Regents had already been approving tuition hikes under a five-year pilot program.

David Boren, OU president, has said that without having the ability to set higher tuition rates, OU would be forced to lay-off staff and faculty members. Both OU and OSU rank near the bottom of the Big 12 in tuition levels. The average full-time student pays $3,691 annually in tuition at one of the universities within the Big 12, a seven-state athletic conference. Tuition at OU and OSU, members of the conference, averages about $3,000 annually. UCO President Roger Webb has said he doesn't foresee a large tuition increase for UCO students. UCO tuition increases will be rated against regional peer institutions, schools with comparable enrollment and missions.

see Tuition Cap page 5

Students participate in the International Food Festival March 28. - Page 3


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