Oklahoma community college to suspend basketball programs

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) – A community college in southeastern Oklahoma has approved plans to eliminate some academic programs and suspend the men’s and women’s basketball programs because of a drop in state funding.

Carl Albert State College President Garry Ivey says the school’s state allocations have been cut by $800,000 so far this year, and more cuts are expected. The two-year school’s board of regents approved a plan Tuesday to address the shortfall, including the suspension of the basketball programs.

The board also agreed to eliminate the art degree and Spanish programs, as well as piano courses. Ivey described the budget situation as "dreadful."

The state has made across-the-board reductions to state agencies and programs because of revenue shortfalls caused by the downturn in the oil and gas industries.