Degrees of Progress, Spring 2017
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Degrees of Progress News from the State Regents for Higher Education Volume 2, Issue 2 | Spring 2017 Invest in Higher Education Today Chancellor Glen D. Johnson, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education While task force work is underway to shape higher recently announced formation of a task force to education tomorrow, our colleges and universities are consider ways to improve degree completion and struggling to serve students today in the wake of historic increase productivity through enhanced modernization, budget cuts. For FY17, cuts to public higher education efficiencies and innovation in higher education. The task exceeded $157 million, a 16.4 percent decrease from the force will examine academic models, online education, FY16 appropriation. With current appropriations below structure, fiscal services, operational efficiencies, 2001 levels, funding for public higher education has workforce development, and information technology been set back a full generation. Following these cuts, to ensure each facet of the system is designed to best the State Higher Education Executive Officers association serve Oklahoma students and meet workforce needs. has ranked Oklahoma last of the 50 states in the The fiscal viability of each institution will be reviewed in percentage change in state support for higher education the context of the budget cuts over the last several years. from FY16 to FY17. Oklahoma also ranks last among the We believe this will be the most important initiative in 33 participating Complete College America (CCA) states Oklahoma higher education in the last three decades. in state funding support from FY12 to FY17. Oklahoma’s future economic growth greatly depends Contents on a well-educated workforce. By 2020, 67 percent of Chancellor Glen D. Johnson Task Force on the Future of job vacancies in Oklahoma – or 418,000 jobs – will Oklahoma Higher Education .........................................2 require an associate degree or additional postsecondary education and training, and 37 percent will require an meeting Oklahoma’s critical degree completion goals Oklahoma’s Promise Day at the Capitol .......................2 associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or higher. To bridge and produce the graduates demanded by business Guest Commentary: the skills gap, the State Regents are working with and industry to meet their job needs. Sufficient state Keeping Oklahoma’s Promise .......................................3 Governor Fallin through CCA and the Oklahoma Works support for higher education must be a top priority in Oklahoma’s Promise Champions ..................................3 and Launch Oklahoma initiatives to increase the number the budget currently being negotiated by the Governor OCAP Partnership With Student Connections ..............4 of degrees and certificates awarded in Oklahoma. and Legislature. 2017 Regents Business Partnership Facing this budget challenge with reduced appropriations, The state system’s FY18 budget request is specifically Excellence Awards ........................................................4 our state system of higher education has continued to designed to boost degree completion with adequate keep tuition affordable, and was recently recognized funding to meet academic program requirements, fund OKcollegestart.org Workshops .....................................5 by U.S. News & World Report for having the sixth- institutional scholarships and concurrent enrollment, Research Day at the Capitol: Spotlighting the State’s lowest tuition and fees and seventh-lowest debt level and restore student support and advisement programs. Top Undergraduate Researchers ..................................5 at graduation in the nation. These distinctions follow Investment by the Legislature in higher education is Project ECHO Connects Rural Physicians recognition by both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce vital to both the prosperity of individual Oklahomans Through OneNet ...........................................................6 Foundation and the National Center for Education and our state’s economic future. Applications Now Accepted for Statistics, which rank our Oklahoma higher education Free Summer Academies on College Campuses .........7 system among the top five most affordable in the nation. State Regents, CCA Host We must acknowledge the negative impact additional 15 to Finish Summit ......................................................7 budget cuts will have on our ability to continue 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org | twitter.com/okhighered 1 Degrees of Progress | SpringSpring 2017 Task Force on the Future of Oklahoma Higher Education The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently announced the membership of the Task Force on the Future of Higher Education. The task force, which was formed at the State Regents’ March meeting, will conduct a systematic review of higher education in Oklahoma; examine existing initiatives and best practices; and report findings and recommendations on strategies that best support improving quality, access, affordability, and efficiency. Task force members include: State Regents • Michael A. Cawley, Ardmore • Carl R. Renfro, Ponca City • President Tim Faltyn, (ex-officio, non-voting members) • Sam Combs, Tulsa • Dee Replogle, Oklahoma City Oklahoma Panhandle • State Regent John Massey • Leonard Court, Oklahoma City • Robert J. Ross, Oklahoma City State University • State Regent Ron White • Rick Davis, Guthrie • Richard Ruhl, Kingfisher • President Leigh B. Goodson, • State Regent Jimmy Harrel • Lee R. Denney, Cushing • Claudia San Pedro, Oklahoma City Tulsa Community College • State Regent Jay Helm • Jeffrey T. Dunn, Tulsa • Dr. Dennis Shockley, Oklahoma City • President V. Burns Hargis, • State Regent Ann Holloway • John Ford, Bartlesville • Steven W. Taylor, McAlester Oklahoma State University • State Regent Andy Lester • Robert Gardner, Tulsa • Sean Trauschke, Oklahoma City • President John M. McArthur, • State Regent Jody Parker • Steve Jordan, Ardmore • Avilla Williams, Edmond Cameron University • State Regent Toney Stricklin • Karen Keith, Tulsa • Roy H. Williams, Oklahoma City • Dr. Jason Sanders, • State Regent Mike Turpen • Edward F. Keller, Tulsa Colleges/Universities University of Oklahoma • Chancellor Glen D. Johnson • Dan Little, Madill • President Don Betz, Health Sciences Center Citizens • Bert H. Mackie, Enid University of Central Oklahoma • Dr. Kayse Shrum, • Dr. Ann Ackerman, Oklahoma City • Dr. Thomas K. McKeon, Tulsa • President Randy Beutler, Oklahoma State University • Phil B. Albert, Claremore • Catherine O’Connor, Oklahoma City Southwestern Oklahoma Center for Health Sciences • Governor Bill Anoatubby, Ada • Fred Morgan, Oklahoma City State University • President Jerry L. Steward, • Calvin J. Anthony, Stillwater • Dr. Terry Mosley, Lone Wolf • President David L. Boren, Oklahoma City Community College • Chief Bill John Baker, Tahlequah • Dennis Neill, Tulsa University of Oklahoma Designees • Chief Gary Batton, Durant • Michael S. Neal, Tulsa • President Sean Burrage, • Designee for Governor Mary Fallin • Bruce T. Benbrook, Woodward • Tyler Norvell, Oklahoma City Southeastern Oklahoma • Designee for Speaker Charles McCall • Bill W. Burgess, Lawton • Dr. Marion Paden, Oklahoma City State University • Designee for Senate President • John Carey, Durant • Gary Parker, Muskogee • President Cheryl Evans, Pro Tempore Mike Schulz • Lake Carpenter, Leedey • Ken Parker, Norman Northern Oklahoma College The task force is charged to examine every aspect of system operations, including academic models, such as program and faculty sharing and targeted degree completion initiatives; online education models; structure; fiscal services and operational efficiencies; workforce development; and information technology to ensure they are properly aligned and defined to best serve the students and state. Dr. William “Brit” Kirwan, Chancellor Emeritus of the University System of Maryland, past president of The Ohio State University and Senior Fellow with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, will serve as lead advisor to the task force. Oklahoma’s Promise Day at the Capitol Tuesday, April 18, students, faculty, representatives from Sen. Jason Smalley; Rep. Katie Henke; and former Sen. Oklahoma colleges and universities and other supporters Maxine Horner, author of the original bill that created the gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol to celebrate 25 scholarship program. years of state support of the Oklahoma’s Promise program The purpose of the annual Oklahoma’s Promise rally is to and encourage elected officials to continue keeping the show appreciation for Governor Fallin and the Legislature’s promise to our students. ongoing support of the Oklahoma’s Promise program Featured speakers during the event were Administrator and encourage elected officials to continue to protect the Scott Pruitt, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Lt. Gov. program’s dedicated funding source. Todd Lamb; Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter; 2 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 | 405.225.9100 | www.okhighered.org | twitter.com/okhighered Degrees of Progress | SpringSpring 2017 Keeping Oklahoma’s Promise Chairman John Massey, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education To be eligible for Oklahoma’s Promise, students must By law, Oklahoma’s Promise has a dedicated funding apply during the eighth, ninth or