Quality
The accrediting bodies of higher education have stringent standards of quality that Oklahoma’s public higher education institutions work hard to meet and even exceed. Additionally, Oklahoma was one of four other states that participated in an assessment of college-level learning that is being used as a model for further implementation. Long-term commitments to initiatives such as Brain Gain promote the growth of quality programs and reward institutions who reach their goals.
These efforts benefit both the individuals who earn degrees and the state of Oklahoma. On average, a college graduate will earn about $1.1 million more in his or her lifetime than a high school graduate. This income differential translates into more state revenue and a more versatile and qualified workforce for attracting and retaining business.
Current initiatives that enhance higher education quality include:
The Brain Gain initiative, which began in 1999, seeks to increase the percentage of the state’s population with an associate or bachelor’s degree. Financial incentives to institutions promote improved retention and graduation rates and increases in the number of degrees conferred by higher education institutions.
Graduation rates at the state’s research and regional universities have been climbing steadily over the last five years, while rates have fluctuated somewhat at the community colleges. Retention rates (measuring first-time freshmen who return the following year) have fluctuated slightly but are on the rise for all three tiers. At the research univerisities and community colleges, last year’s rates reached an all-time high.
In addition, there has been a major increase in the number of of associate and bachelor’s degrees conferred since 2000-01. This is an indication of an increase in productivity, as enrollment increased only 10 percent during that same period.
A major workforce and economic development initiative is our nursing and allied health program. Since 2006, the State Regents have dedicated $4.5 million to increase academic programs at institutions offering nursing and allied heath programs.The initiative is expected to produce an additional 300 registered nurses, 130 allied health professionals and 15 additional master’s-level nursing faculty members annually.
In addition to providing great access to higher education, Oklahoma’s Promise also makes a significant contribution to the standard of quality. OK Promise students go to college, stay in college, make better grades and earn degrees at a much higher rate than others. The dedicated funding source passed by the state Legislature in 2007 provided financial stability for this important program.
The Academic Scholars Program provides scholarships to academically outstanding students who attend an Oklahoma college or university. There has been more than a 500 percent increase in the number of freshman National Merit Scholars who attend Oklahoma institutions since the program was implemented.
These students add to the quality of the overall campus experience for other students and nearly 70 percent of them stay in the state after graduation.
Since the establishment of the endowed chairs matching program in 1988, $177.7 million in state dollars have been matched to private donations to fund 601 chairs. These endowed chair positions allow institutions to attract and retain quality faculty enhancing the learning experience for Oklahoma students.
OneNet operates hub sites throughout Oklahoma to provide the infrastructure to support a high-speed telecommunications network with an equitable rate structure to a variety of Oklahoma entities, such as public and career technology schools; colleges and universities; public libraries; local, tribal, state and federal governments; court systems; rural health care delivery systems; and programs engaged in research.
The extension of the National Lambda Rail (NLR) through Oklahoma in 2005 has made an impact on Oklahoma’s economy and enhanced the quality of education and research. The NLR is a major national initiative that provides a national technical support structure for research and experimentation.
The EDGE endowment represents a tremendous opportunity for Oklahoma to distinguish itself by committing to a $1 billion endowment to fund research initiatives that will result in economic development and job growth. So far, $150 million has been appropriated to fund high-quality projects, many of which will take place on university campuses.
Contact Information
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
405.225.9100
www.okhighered.org
Glen D. Johnson, Chancellor
chancellorjohnson@osrhe.edu
