Task force takes on higher ed challenges
BY K.S. MCNUTT Staff Reports kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
Recommendations to improve and modernize Oklahoma's higher education system are taking shape six months into an initiative launched to bring innovations and efficiencies to the status quo.
Dozens of education, business and community leaders are working in four subcommittees on what Chancellor Glen Johnson calls the first "deep dive into higher education in three decades."
"We hope to have a report ready right after the start of the legislative session in February," Johnson said during a legislative forum last week.
A frequent criticism of higher education is that is slow to change, said Chris Benge, the governor's chief of staff.
"There needs to be strong, actionable items come out of that (report)," Benge said.
Johnson said recommendations will be substantial, including how best to realign the system to reduce costs and deliver degree programs more efficiently.
"We're tackling the very difficult and divisive issue of the way our system is structured," Johnson said.
Any mergers or consolidations of schools would require approval from both the institution's governing board and the Legislature.
Changing the picture
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education established the task force on the future of the statewide system in March following a reduction in state appropriations of 25 percent over the past three years.
Regent Andy Lester, of Edmond, said at the time the budget cuts to higher education have come with a lot of criticism — some of it fair.
"I see this task force as a wonderful opportunity to set the record straight, fix what needs to be fixed and move forward," Lester said.
Johnson reiterated that at last week's forum. "We're here today to see what we can do about changing that picture and changing the trends that are causing that picture," he said.
Among the task force subcommittees is one seeking fiscal solutions and efficiencies like consolidating back office functions to save money. "The OSU system has been the leader and the flagship in that area," Johnson said.
Sen. Eddie Fields, R-Wynona, said people see multimillion dollar buildings going up at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma and don't realize private donors pay for those building.
When it comes time to appropriate state dollars they "think higher education is flush with money," Fields said.
Others cite a report by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs that states administrative costs at Oklahoma universities is 70 percent higher than the national average.
"That's not a fair statement, not an accurate statement," Johnson said. In the past nine years, administration costs systemwide have decreased from 6.6 percent to 5.5 percent of the total budget, while academics expenditures have risen from 75 percent to 78 percent, he said.
"Administrative cost is an easy whipping boy for government-haters," Sen. John Sparks, D-Norman, said.
OCPA calculated the number of people working in higher education administration as a percentage of the total private sector workforce in the state, said Tony Hutchison, the regents' vice chancellor for strategic planning and analysis and workforce and economic development.
"That is not a legitimate measure of higher education employment," Hutchison said. "The reason is the high percentage of government employment in Oklahoma due to federal installations."
"Oklahoma is certainly not out of line and more toward the modest end" of full-time equivalent employees when compared with other Big 12 schools, he said.
Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said the balance of those with a negative opinion of higher education "really is turning around a little bit ... What is happening at the Capitol is you didn't have any champions and you're starting raise some up."