The Future of Higher Education in Oklahoma Continued 1994 WINTER 3

t •onsiderable concern for supporters of Iii-her education in Oklahoma . _Adhering to a disquieting tradition of giving higher education appropr •i ations until last, the Legislature adjourned, narrowly having averted anticipated major cuts by a one-time raid on the Rainy Day Fund. The lawmakers warned, however, that prospects for 1994, without such access to the reserve fund, looked dim indeed . While the State Regents for Higher Education were measuring the effectiveness of their recent mandates for higher admission and retention standards and the reallocation of academic resources, the governor called on that board to implement his 13-point plan to streamline organization and financing of the state system . Capital improvement projects on university and college campuses statewide were under way for the first time since 1998, the result of voter approval of a $350 million bond issue containing $258 mill ion for higher education . And while savoring its success in recruiting national scholars and increasing externally funded research, the University of Oklahoma wrestled with matching its resources to its needs . Against this background, four of the state's chief policymakers were asked to comment on the future of higher education in Oklahoma from the viewpoint of their offices . Contributing to this article are Governor David Walters, Speaker of the House Glen D . Johnson, Chancellor of the State Regents Hans Brisch and OU President Richard L . Van Horn . Since accepting Sooner Magazine's invitation, events have moved swiftly for two of the four . Governor Walters announced that he will not seek re-election next November, and President Van Horn submitted his resignation, effective July 31, 1994, to return to teaching. The future, it seems, can be uncertain at best . -The Editor