Stan Geiger

Higher Ed Wants Supplemental

Representative Jason Murphey, not long ago, wrote a piece about unelected regents having the power to float debt. He argued regents shouldn't have such power, that it is unconstitutional.

I concur.

Meanwhile, head regent Glen Johnson was featured on Oklahoma News Report a few days ago. He is demanding a supplemental from the Legislature of $2.8 million. Cuts will have to be made in May and June if the colleges and universities don't get it, he says. The stated reason for the need: debt service.

The state's 25 public colleges and universities were given over a billion dollars in state tax money in this fiscal year. Tuition was increased. That was not enough, apparently. The educators want an extra $2.8 million.

Higher ed came into this calendar year asking for over $120 million in new state money for the coming fiscal year. It's not getting it---simply because the state doesn't have it to give. But not to worry, David Boren has already warned OU students and prospective students that tuition will be bumped 10 percent for the coming school year.

I find this a good time to run a consolidated list of a few items I've picked up from various and sundry news blurbs over the past couple of years.

Bob Stoops, OU football coach, will be paid $2.55 million in base salary this year. That's $212,500 per month. Come December 31st, he gets a $3 million bonus. I've read that part of Stoops' contract gives him 35 hours of free personal use airtime on OU-provided private jets. And God knows what else he gets.

Jeff Capel, OU basketball coach, is getting a guaranteed $1.05 million per year. That includes a recently-awarded $400,000-per-year raise. Plus he is accruing $100,000 per year in bonus money for every year he stays on the job. And, I'm sure, there is more to the story.

Sherri Coale, OU basketball coach, is getting $800,000 per year. That includes a $250,000-per-year raise awarded last year. And, I'm sure, there is more to the story.

Travis Ford, OSU basketball coach, just signed a contract that pays him $1.3 million per year. OSU has also agreed to pay his fired predecessor over $2.1 million.

OSU just hired a new president, Burns Hargis. His base pay is $350,000 per year. Plus he gets a free house, $20,000 a year for a car, free memberships at two country clubs, and free everything else. He is also getting a supplemental retirement plan, the details of which I've yet to see.

David Boren, OU president, is paid $364,000 per year---plus all the presidential extras.

OU's law school dean, Andy Coates, is paid $307,000 per year---plus any extras that are thrown his way.

OU's average professor pay figure is reportedly about $100,000 per year. That figure, it should be noted, is a couple years old. The average college professor probably puts in about a thousand hours a year on the job. So we're looking at an average wage of about $100 an hour---plus benefits.

So in spite of ever-rising costs to students and ever-rising state subsidies, the state's colleges and universities can't make it through 12 months without the need for even more money. Given the numbers above, go figure.

Glen Johnson, by the way, doesn't look like he's missing too many steak and lobster dinners, either.

What's in your wallet?

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