From staff reports

ALTUS -- The Western Oklahoma State College Board of Regents voted to increase tuition and fees by a total of 8.2 percent when it met in regular session Tuesday evening. The increase means tuition will go from $43.60 per credit hour to $47 per credit hour.

The activity fee will be increased from $4.75 to $6, and the infrastructure fee was increased from $2 to $3 per credit hour. Cumby said that he was reluctant to increase tuition and fees at all, but state funding levels are lower than they were in 2002. A comparison of tuition rates and increases across the state and the region indicates that Western's tuition and fee rates are still one of the best values, Cumby said.

Bruce Wiese, vice president of business affairs, presented the proposed 2006 fiscal year budget, which the board voted to accept. The budget included a 3 percent increase in salaries for personnel.

President Randy Cumby announced that WOSC graduated 272 students this spring, which is the highest number of graduates at Western ever. He also noted that the nursing program has seen signficant increases in the past few years. Western's nursing graduates have increased steadily from 17 graduates in 2000 to 44 graduates in 2005. Sixty-five students are projected to graduate in 2006.

Cumby also commended the athletic program for their many successes this past year. Of particular note, the baseball team won their regional competition for the first time, and hosted the super regional competition, where Western won two games but did not progress to the College World Series.

Larry Duffy, vice president for development and alumni relations, presented some background information about the establishment of the new Rotary Courtyard on campus, and showed the Regents the newly landscaped area.

The Rotary Courtyard was sponsored as part of the Rotary Club's 100th anniversary.

Duffy also a resolution in recognition of C. R. Cap and Jacqueline Chesser for approval by the board. The Chessers established the Chesser Family Lectureship in Art and History in the names of Cecil and Loweta Chesser, Cap and Jacqueline Chesser, and Ron Chesser and Brenda Rogers.

Duffy also announced the establishment of the Julia Osterhout and Elizabeth Shirley Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded each year to a female graduate of Altus High School in the amount of $5,000 -- $2,500 for the freshman year and $2,500 for the sophomore year. The first recipient of the scholarship is Briana English, 2005 graduate of Altus High School.

Roger Brown, vice president for academic affairs, presented a proposal to delete the Legal Office Assistant degree emphasis from Western Oklahoma State College's catalog due to lack of enrollment and staffing. The board voted to accept the proposal, and the courses under that emphasis will be shelved for possible future use.

Randy Sheets was sworn in for another seven-year term on Western Oklahoma State College's Board of Regents by Chairman John Hester.