OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Higher education officials across Oklahoma are looking for ways to cut costs as they brace for a massive budget shortfall next year.
Projections show the state's 2016 to 2017 budget deficit will be between $800 million and $1 billion.
The Oklahoman reports that some of Oklahoma's 25 public colleges and universities are sharing faculty and exploring joint-degree programs where one institution provides the general education and the other the technical courses.
Other schools are buying off the same contract to save money.
Higher education received 14.4 percent of total state appropriations this fiscal year. Those funds account for 35 percent of the higher education budget — compared with 50 percent less than 10 years ago.