The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is asking the Legislature for a more than 18 percent increase in its budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The panel that oversees the state's 25 public colleges and universities voted Thursday to request $957.9 million for the fiscal year that begins in July. That's an 18.3 percent increase over the current year's appropriation of $810 million.
The request comes despite the likelihood that Oklahoma lawmakers will be facing another massive budget shortfall next year.
The current year's budget approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature slashed funding for higher education by about $150 million, a cut of nearly 16 percent.
The State Regents also said in a statement they intend to oppose legislative efforts to allow more guns on college campuses.