LANGSTON, Okla. — Langston University has been shorted more than $400 million dollars in state funding.
In Sept. of last year, Governor Kevin Stitt was one of 16 governors to receive a letter detailing a more than $12 billion funding disparity between Historically Black Colleges or Universities and their non-HBCU counterparts.
2 News reached out to his office to ask why Langston University has not received that funding. His office said the governor did not have time to speak with us.
The president of the university did not have time to talk to 2 News but did send this statement about the issue:
Langston University is aware of the letter sent last year by the Secretaries of Education and Agriculture to Gov. Stitt about the funding disparity for Langston University, Oklahoma’s 1890 Land-Grant Institution. We are also aware that the $418 million figure cited in this letter has been frequently repeated as the amount Langston University has been underfunded over the past 37 years. We would like to clarify that the referenced letter describes federal funds supporting the mission of the nineteen 1890 Land-Grant Institutions in the United States, of which Langston University is one. The funding referenced is specifically mandated for agricultural research and cooperative extension, which does not impact general institutional operational costs or maintenance. Langston University has worked closely with the State of Oklahoma to steadily close the annual gap to meet the mandated match, and we are pleased to announce that the State of Oklahoma is now officially at a 1:1 match with these federal funds for Langston University for FY 2025 as of July 1, 2024. This increase in matched funding will be used to expand our outreach efforts through the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and will help us continue to provide critical services to rural farmers throughout Oklahoma.
As the only HBCU in the state of Oklahoma, being that underfunded is causing serious ramifications for the community.
Students say this isn't new, but the effects may be most visible this semester.
From broken AC units to electrical and infrastructure problems, buildings across campus have become unsafe for students to learn in. This started the ongoing cycle of moving online, returning to hybrid learning, and then returning to a virtual classroom when another issue came to light.
The president of the university also addressed this:
The State of Oklahoma, through the work of the Legislature, allocated funding to all public institutions to address deferred maintenance needs. Langston University will use the allocated funding, along with other funding sources, to systematically address several deferred maintenance needs including replacement of HVAC, roofing, and repair to roadways within the parameters of applicable state and federal procurement regulations.
As Langston University continues to work to provide our students quality educational experiences and professional opportunities, we are taking careful measures to find sustainable solutions for deferred maintenance projects that will last for many years to come.
- PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Lack of funding, infrastructure issues leads Langston University to online class
Christion Gause said he and his peers are resilient, but not being invested in takes a toll.
“It hurts to see as a student sometimes when other institutions are receiving that kind of funding and then we’re consistently falling behind for reasons that we’re just not privy to."
These letters sent by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.
Langston University, the 1890 land-grant institution in your state, while producing extraordinary graduates that contribute greatly to the state’s economy and the fabric of our nation, has not been able to advance in ways that are on par with Oklahoma State University, the original Morrill Act of 1862 land-grant institution in your state, in large part due to unbalanced funding.
The longstanding and ongoing underinvestment in Langston University disadvantages the students, faculty, and community that the institution serves. Furthermore, it may contribute to a lack of economic activity that would ultimately benefit Oklahoma. It is our hope that we can work together to make this institution whole after decades of being underfunded.
These letters outline this issue of equitable funding is not just an issue here in Oklahoma.
HBCU's nationwide have been underfunded more than $12 billion.
As land-grant universities, these institutions have fund-matching agreements with their states. The states, however, do not appear to be holding up their end of the bargain.
2 News reached out to Oklahoma Board of Regents, Senator George Young, as well as the chair and vice chair for the Senate Education Committee.
The BOR sent this statement hours after an interview request:
The State Regents have allocated $56.25 million in this fiscal year to Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities to address deferred maintenance needs across the state system. We thank our Legislature for making a substantial multi-year investment in higher education facilities to maintain the quality of our campuses for years to come.
All the while, Langston students are committed to making the most of their college education.
But, they still call on state leaders to supply the institution with the adequate funding so the university can prosper.
“If we get what we were promised, we’ll be okay," said Gause. "And if we don’t, I believe we’ll be okay still, but we all want the best collegiate experience for our students because they’re paying for it.”
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