Introduction

Since 2000, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have provided detailed information on the state of public higher education in Oklahoma to assure Oklahomans that their higher education system is held to the highest level of accountability. This 2004 report—a summary of 50 different accountability measures that the State Regents report every two years—is based on accessing and analyzing an unprecedented amount of information.

The ultimate accountability measure of education is the success of students. Student success is the basis of Oklahoma’s intellectual capital and is the key to improving the quality of the workforce needed to compete in our complex 21st century society. In actuality, the measures in this report represent Oklahoma’s efforts to prepare its citizens for actively participating in America’s democratic society and for successfully competing in today’s knowledge-based global economy.

By identifying areas of progress as well as areas that require additional work, this report is part of the continuous process of building a nationally competitive system of public higher education. Summarized below are three key findings.

• College attendance and graduation rates are up. More students are attending Oklahoma public universities and colleges, and they are more likely to graduate.
• High school students need better preparation. There is some progress in preparing high school students for higher education, but more needs to be done to increase the success of these students when they reach college.
• Students now spend more to go to college. Because our public colleges and universities are receiving less state support, students and families are now responsible for a larger portion of higher education costs.

Between now and the release of the 2006 report, this information will be updated regularly. We encourage all Oklahomans to periodically review the Web site for the most current information and to read the online version of this report.

The State Regents are determined to increase the civic engagement and intellectual strength of Oklahoma and to increase the quality of life for all of our citizens. As we all work together to build our state’s economy and create new jobs, a high-quality, accountable and efficient higher education system will continue to play an increasingly vital role in our state’s future.

Paul G. Risser
Chancellor (2003-2006)