Updated 2/19/08.
House Bill 2297 would allow V. Burns Hargis to get to work right away instead of waiting until July.
NewsOK reports:
State law prohibits a higher education regent from becoming president of an institution until the person has been off the board for a year. That means Hargis is unable to start as OSU president until July.
A committee amendment to House Bill 2297 reduces to six months the time a former regent hired by a university of college would have to wait to start employment.
The
Daily O'Collegian reports that Benge, who sponsored the bill is enthusiastic:
House Speaker Chris Benge sponsored the amendment.
Benge, R-Tulsa, said if the committee’s response to the amendment is indicative of the House’s, the bill should pass easily.
“OSU has been without a president for so long that we feel like it’s important to get someone on board,” Benge said. “The president-elect, I know, is ready. We’re just trying to get him on board as soon as possible.”
His affiliation with one of the state's major universities is helpful to one of Burns Hargis' important projects, the participation in a world-wide endeavor known locally as the
Oklahoma Creativity Project. Here is Burns Hargis discussing the project with The Oklahoman's Ed Kelly:
Labels: OK Creativity Project, OSU, V. Burns Hargis
Posted at 2/18/2008 09:05:00 AM
