Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is seeking additional funding from state lawmakers, asking for a $96 million to take overall funding up to $986 million. 

“The state system of higher education’s budget request focuses on continued investment to meet growing workforce needs in several key fields, including health care, teacher education, engineering, and computer science,” said State Regents’ chair Michael C. Turpen in a press release. “We remain committed to programs that support student success and increase college degree completion, including expanded concurrent enrollment opportunities and additional financial aid for the students we serve.”

The request comes in an effort to increase workforce readiness in higher education. Also, $26.3 million of the requested funding will be used for critical workforce development initiatives, increase enrollment in STEM, and provide additional scholarships for students. $49.3 million will go to performance-based institutional allocation, and $9 million to fund the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance Program. 

KOSU reports that it would be a “far cry from 2016, when colleges got closer to a billion dollars from the legislature.” 

However, Oklahoma has continued to experience lack of education funding, with lawmakers consistently reducing the state’s higher education budget.