SALLISAW (KFSM)—Budget cuts in Oklahoma have forced Carl Albert State College to get rid of several degree and sports programs.
CASC President Garry Ivey spoke to 5NEWS following the announcement made Tuesday (April 12).
“It`s a difficult time at Carl Albert but we will continue on,” he said. “We already have started that direction.”
Ivey said 24 school employees will lose their jobs over the next two years. 24 courses will be eliminated in the fall.
“We`ll consolidate, and as a result of consolidation, we will not see any change whatsoever in the public or for the students,” Ivey said.
He said no programs are being cut from the Sallisaw campus, but three degree programs will be eliminated from the campus in Poteau. The men’s and women’s basketball programs are suspended until further notice.
“It`s our goal to re-energize that program when the money`s available,” Ivey said.
Ivey has been with Carl Albert for 37 years and said he will retire in June. Jay Falkner will take over next semester.
“We have a lot of adversity, not just within our institution, but this is important to understand that this is a state of Oklahoma issue,” Falkner said.
The school normally receives $6.2 million each year from the state, according to Ivey, but that was cut by $825,000 in 2016. Administrators are getting ready for another $500,000 in cuts next year.
“We’ll also maintain high quality standards within our classroom,” Ivey said. “So you'll see a minimum impact outside. It's just we will have to work harder.”
Falkner will take over as president of Carl Albert on July 1, 2016.