The final implementation report on 44 recommendations made by a Citizens' Commission designed to guide Oklahoma higher education into the 21st century was reviewed recently by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
The recommendations - which focus on Oklahoma's changing population, economic development, technology, funding and administration and management - were made by 36 Oklahomans serving on the Citizens' Commission on the Future of Oklahoma Higher Education. The Regents established the commission in October 1996 to assist in the development of a multi-year plan for Oklahoma's higher education system. The commission outlined 44 recommendations for Oklahoma higher education in October 1997.
"Over the past three years, the State Regents have targeted $187.9 million toward accomplishing the goals set forth by the Citizens Commission," said Chancellor Hans Brisch. "Through the commission's work, several valuable goals and strategies were established for Oklahoma higher education that, when accomplished, will provide great benefits to all students and citizens involved in the educational process - and most importantly to our state."
"The recommendations have offered necessary guidance over the past three years as to where higher education should focus its energy and drive, especially in the areas of economic development and technology," Brisch noted. "We are also pleased to announce that great strides have been made in each of the five focus areas and that plans are in place to accomplish even more in the future."
The following accomplishments were among those highlighted recently by the Regents.
Demographics and Changing Markets
- Development of an annual ACT Standards for Transition report that outlines basic competencies students need for college and career success.
- Increased development and distribution of college preparation publications and student information Web pages.
- Sponsorship of Internet chat sessions for parents and students on preparing and paying for college.
- Development of an employment and career services Web site, the Oklahoma Marketplace, which helps match Oklahoma college graduates with Oklahoma jobs. A similar site, the Teacher Job Connection, was created to match Oklahoma certified teachers with Oklahoma school vacancies.
- Approval of an initiative to provide Oklahoma public colleges and universities with names and addresses of talented students taking eighth and 10th grade academic skills and career assessment exams.
- Created a Higher Education Task Force on Student Retention to make recommendations on improving student retention and graduation.
Additionally, Regents announced Brain Gain 2010: Building Oklahoma Through Intellectual Power, a comprehensive plan for doubling the expected growth rate of college degree holders in Oklahoma by 2010.
Three major efforts have been undertaken, which respond to recommendations made by both the Citizens' Commission and the Brain Gain initiative.
- GEAR UP, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a multi-million federal grant which has allowed the State Regents to undertake a massive public awareness campaign as well as build on existing resources such as the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and the Educational Planning and Assessment System, to better prepare students for college.
- Smart Start, a $15 million federal grant, will place 3,600 mentors and tutors in schools and communities across the state.
- State Regents have also partnered with the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning to learn more about business and industry’s higher education needs in an effort to keep more college graduates in the state.
Economic and Workforce Development
In response to commission recommendations, State Regents developed
a three-part economic development plan that focuses on workforce
development, research and the establishment of centers of excellence.
- Established the Office of System Advancement and Economic Development to provide a one-stop information source for businesses seeking higher education programs and services.
- Awarded grants to state colleges and universities to design workforce development programs in targeted growth areas like biotechnology, information technology, aviation, aeronautics and high-tech manufacturing.
- Developed customized degree programs for business and industry that are typically available onsite.
- Development of research parks at Oklahoma's comprehensive universities in response to State Questions 680 and 681, which fostered transfer of research from higher education to the market.
- Partnership with ACT to provide business training, certification, and assessment services to business and industry.
- Offered additional workforce development services at off-campus business locations through OneNet, the state's telecommunications and information network and the Online College of Oklahoma.
- Established new standards and guidelines for college and university business programs that include entrepreneurial and student internship components.
- Developed innovative partnerships with OG&E, CACI, Inc. and the U.S. Navy for customized workforce development programs.
- Conducted annual analysis and report on employment of Oklahoma higher education graduates.
- Developed fast-track educational programs at some institutions to meet workforce demands in targeted areas.
Technology
- Approved a policy calling for students graduating from Oklahoma colleges and universities to demonstrate a mastery of computer skills.
- Provided monetary incentives to faculty who successfully integrate technology and teaching through the Williams Faculty Innovator Awards and the Faculty Instructional Technology Awards.
- Joined the Western Governors University, which offers programs based on competency achievement.
- Participated in benchmarking study to determine best practices in classroom technology integration.
- Allocated millions to state colleges and universities, as part of the statewide learning initiative to establish facilities and capacity to import courses from other higher education institutions.
- Established a pilot kiosk information system at Oklahoma City's metropolitan area university and four colleges that provides individuals at each location instant access to needed academic information.
- Allocated funds for a cooperative curriculum development project in which faculty in 11 disciplines from across the state, evaluate and recommend multimedia course materials for electronic offerings.
- Established the Online College of Oklahoma to provide online information on hundreds of courses being offered electronically by state colleges and universities.
- Required institutions to submit technology components in annual institutional academic plans.
- Established OneNet Advisory Board comprised of external experts to ensure competitiveness.
Funding
In relation to funding recommendations made by the Citizens'
Commission:
- Funding for Oklahoma higher education has increased 17.7 percent from $693.3 million in 1998 to $816.2 million 2001.
- A new Oklahoma Tuition Scholarship will provide two years of free tuition to high school graduates whose income falls below $70,000 and who meet certain preparation and performance requirements.
- The Oklahoma College Savings Plan, administered by the State Regents and State Treasurer, started in April and will offer tax-incentives to individuals who contribute to a college savings account.
- Approximately 8.0 percent of Oklahoma higher education's 2000-2001 budget is categorized as incentive funding. Nationally, 2 to 5 percent of state higher education budgets are dedicated to incentive funding.
Higher Education Administration and Management
- Approval of a proposal to implement a quick, accurate and cost-efficient electronic transfer system for student records among Oklahoma colleges and universities.
- Partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries to provide patrons online access to full-text resources from thousands of magazines, newspapers and journals.
- Enhancement of student services as a result of resource sharing among colleges and universities in areas such as instruction, student services, legal and administrative functions.
- Release of the first consumer-based accountability report on Oklahoma higher education in May, which provides state and national higher education data comparisons in numerous areas.
- Research into privatization that determined 28 institutions and constituent agencies privatized or outsourced at least one function. Regents will continue investigating other avenues for outsourcing.
- Numerous Regents' policies have been revised to decentralize decision-making to the campus within general policy parameters - such as approving academic calendars, delivering and receiving electronic courses, suspending academic programs and more.
In accepting the final report on the Citizens' Commission recommendations, the State Regents emphasized that they would continue to use the document as a guide for addressing higher education issues in coming years.
"The work of the Citizens' Commission is recognized as an important component to the ongoing development and delivery of higher education in Oklahoma," said State Regents and Citizens' Commission Chairman Bill W. Burgess Jr. "To assure successful, long-term implementation of the recommendations, it will be imperative that we work closely with the higher education community and the legislature to secure the necessary funds and support."
"With the continued support, Oklahoma higher education is poised to realize the mission of the Citizens' Commission and truly be Oklahoma's driving force for cultural and economic development well-being," he added.
Oklahoma’s statewide GEAR UP grant has been matched by more than $25 million from state and partner resources. With funds totaling $45.5 million, GEAR UP receives 45 percent of total funding from the federal government and 55 percent from other organizations.
