Task force offers chance to boost higher education

LAWTON has long been the home of Cameron University. For about the past 13 years, Cameron has had a branch campus in Duncan — which is just 40 miles from the university. Is this arrangement really the best use of taxpayer dollars?

The same might be asked of any number of other branch campuses throughout the system — Rogers State in Bartlesville (and Pryor), Northern Oklahoma College in Enid, etc. — and perhaps it will be by a task force that’s set to review the state’s higher education system.

Glen Johnson, the system’s chancellor, announced formation of the task force last week. Those on the task force, Johnson said, “will be looking at the fiscal viability of each institution within the system, particularly in relationship to the budget cuts that have occurred the past several years.”

Higher education saw its state appropriation get cut by $157 million, or 16 percent, for the current fiscal year. That followed a year in which its budget was reduced by $112 million. These have resulted in staff reductions and fewer course offerings at the 25 universities within the system, presenting real challenges. However, it’s unrealistic to believe higher ed will see those funds restored by the Legislature any time soon, if ever, so this review is a good way to determine whether available funds are being used as productively as possible.

It also may help to build some goodwill with members of the Legislature who feel the higher education system is bloated and can stand a thorough scrubbing. Some higher ed officials believe the large cut meted out in 2016 was essentially lawmakers sending that message.

We like what we’re hearing from Johnson and from members of his board regarding this review. Johnson said there is “not only a commitment but excitement that this is absolutely where we need to be right now.”

Ronald White, a regent from Oklahoma City, said the task force is “an opportunity for us to go forward and modernize things. We’ve continued to see our system do more with less money in the last few years, and now we’ve got to look at other alternatives.”

Members of the task force will be named next month. They will include regents, college and university representatives, private citizens, and designees of the governor and legislative leaders. Those named to the panel will look at all aspects of higher education, from degree completion initiatives to online education to operational efficiencies and possible restructuring within the system.

Oklahoma’s comprehensive and regional universities do good work with the 414,000 students in the system. Their mission is more important than ever, because Oklahoma needs college graduates to meet the demands of the 21st-century workforce. But it’s safe to assume there are areas where improvement is possible.

Regent Andy Lester, of Edmond, said he considers the task force “a wonderful opportunity to set the record straight, fix what needs to be fixed and move forward.” We commend the regents for approving the idea, and look forward to seeing what results from this effort.