By Jason Doyle Oden
A group of citizens and private-sector leaders have formed Oklahoma Tomorrow to education the public and the Legislature on the importance of an adequately funded higher education system.
“Oklahoma Tomorrow was created to ensure Oklahomans have opportunities to aspire higher and receive degrees allowing them to compete and contribute to our economy,” said Devery Youngblood, CEO of Oklahoma Tomorrow. “If funding for higher education is not restored by the Legislature, a college degree will become inaccessible for more and more Oklahomans, limiting their ability to build successful lives. We cannot allow today’s budget crisis to cripple tomorrow’s future.”
The group points out that budget woes have caused colleges and universities to turn away future educated workers. Oklahoma Tomorrow wants more focus on Oklahoma’s shortage of nurses, information technology workers and other STEM professionals.
“Whether it’s the challenge of providing rural healthcare or finding engineers for Tinker Air Force Base, we must all work together to fund the education that produces tomorrow’s critical workforce,” said Bruce Benbrook, president and chairman, Stock Exchange Bank, Woodward, and chair of Oklahoma Tomorrow.
The new group has Chancellor of Higher Education Glen Johnson’s support.
“We appreciate the willingness of business leaders to form a group specifically to communicate the importance of adequately funding higher education. The calls from businesses for college-educated Oklahomans to fill critical positions in information technology, aerospace, healthcare, business and engineering disciplines continue to increase. Higher education is focused on funding programs and services to increase degree and certificate completion. In that regard, we must ensure the accessibility and affordability of a college degree for every Oklahoman who aspires to earn one,” said Johnson.
OU and OSU have the lowest in-state tuition rates in the Big 12. And each school offers numerous need-based scholarships. And there is always FAFSA assistance for the truly needy. So how are our schools “inaccessible”? More agitprop from the overpaid bureaucrats of higher ed. And by the way, have you looked at Glen Johnson’s salary lately? Juicy, man, juicy.