[Oasfaa] Task Force on Scholarships and Grants

[Fair, Bryce]

The first meeting of the Task Force on State Scholarship and Student Aid
Grant Programs will be held next Thursday, September 27, 1:30 p.m., in room
432A at the State Capitol.  The meeting is open to the public.  The Task
Force was created by SB 149, which passed the Oklahoma Legislature last
session (bill text: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/sb149_enr.rtf).

The first meeting will include discussion of the goals and objectives of the
Task Force as well as an overview of the current financial aid resources
available to Oklahoma students.

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Task Force Goals (as set out in SB 149):

Overall Charge to the Task Force:  Evaluate the postsecondary financial aid
resources available to students in Oklahoma and the effectiveness of those
resources toward increasing the number of college graduates in Oklahoma.

Objectives:
1.  Examine the projected costs of state scholarship and student aid grant
programs;

2.  Identify the goals and objectives of state scholarship and student aid
grant programs;

3.  Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing financial aid
resources available to Oklahoma students;

4.  Evaluate the effectiveness of the various outreach efforts by the higher
education and common education communities to make students aware of the
student scholarship, tuition aid grant, and other financial assistance
opportunities available for college;

5.  Evaluate the state student aid grant and scholarship programs in
relation to the federal Hope Tax Credit, the federal Lifetime Learning Tax
Credit, and any additional federal or state tax benefits for postsecondary
education; and

6.  Submit a report by December 14, 2001, to the Governor, the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The
report shall include findings and recommendations for the creation,
deletion, expansion, or reduction of any state scholarship and student aid
grant programs and order of priority for funding of state scholarship and
student aid grant programs.


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Task Force Members:

1.  The Chancellor of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, or
designee, who shall serve as chair of the task force;
Bryce Fair, State Regents for Higher Educ. (designee of Dr. Hans Brisch,
Chancellor)

2.  A student financial aid official representing the public comprehensive
universities, to be appointed by the Chancellor;
Matt Hamilton, University of Oklahoma

3.  A student financial aid official representing the public regional
universities, to be appointed by the Chancellor;
Dr. Gerald Williamson, East Central University

4.  A student financial aid official representing the public two-year
colleges, to be appointed by the Chancellor;
L. Dean Fisher, Rose State College

5.  A student financial aid official representing the independent colleges
of Oklahoma, to be appointed by the Governor;
Kyle Wray, Oklahoma Christian University

6.  The chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, or
designee;
Sen. Maxine Horner (designee of Sen. Cal Hobson)

7.  The chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on
Education, or designee;
Rep. Jack Begley

8.  The chair of the Senate Education Committee, or designee;
Sen. Penny Williams

9.  The chair of the House Higher Education Committee, or designee;
Rep. Bill Nations

10.  The Secretary of Education, or designee;
Dr. Floyd Coppedge  (designee:  Ernie Diamond)

11.  The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, or designee;
Andy Young, State Department of Education (designee of Sandy Garrett)

12.  The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology
Education, or designee
Dr. Belinda McCharen, Ok. Dept. of Career & Technology Ed. (designee of Dr.
Ann Benson)

13.  Appointed by the Governor
Donna McMillan, Counselor, Tuttle High School

14.  Appointed by the Governor
Janet Dehnert (NHELP - National Higher Education Loan Program)


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Bryce Fair
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
P.O. Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850
Phone: (405) 225-9162
Fax:  (405) 225-9230
e-mail:  bfair at osrhe.edu

Street Address:
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK  73104