Regents vote to consolidate college governing boards
A restructuring plan for Oklahoma’s public colleges would move seven institutions under the authority of larger governing boards capable of better providing services to students.
That recommendation was approved Wednesday along with dozens of others by the state’s 60-member task force on the future of higher education.
Two members voted against the plan, which gives governing boards that oversee a single institution until June 30, 2019, to merge with the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, the Oklahoma State University and A&M Colleges Board of Regents or the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents.
“I believe local governance is important in these community colleges. They have different student bodies they deal with,” said Gov. Bill Anoatubby, of
the Chickasaw Nation. “I believe this will be counterproductive in the long term.”
Jeff Greenlee, of Altus, said he is concerned the mergers would increase the cost of tuition at the twoyear colleges affected.
The recommendation would affect Carl Albert State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Murray State College, Redlands Community College, Seminole State College, Western Oklahoma State College and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Dan Little, of Madill, chairman of the subcommittee on system structure, said the seven schools could explore the options “and make their best deals.” If they don’t make a choice, theOklahoma State Regents for Higher Education would choose for them.
After months of debate, the subcommittee came to a consensus at its last meeting, Little said.
“We were dealing with very difficult issues with no obvious solutions,” he said.
Little said the subcommittee discussed closing the six two-year colleges, which are all smaller rural institutions.
Calvin Anthony, of Stillwater, an OSU regent, said the move would provide better services to students and make their move to a four-year institution more seamless. The OSU board already oversees four twoyear colleges — Connors State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, OSU-OKC and OSU Institute of Technology.
State Regent Andy Lester, of Edmond, who served nine years on the OSU board, said, “I know this system can work. The trick then is to make sure it does.”
Anthony said the plan also will make consolidations easier if they are needed.
OU Regent Phil Albert, of Claremore, said the decision for common governance was “the first step in looking at consolidation.”
Four colleges are exempt from the plan and would retain their respective governing boards — Northern Oklahoma College, because it is a land-grant institution, and Oklahoma City Community College, Rose State College and Tulsa Community College, because they receive local ad valorem funding.
The task force also approved recommendations from the subcommittees on academic program innovations and online education; college degree completion and workforce development; and fiscal solutions, efficiencies, affordability and technology.
The recommendations will be presented in a report to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for approval as early as Feb. 1. The regents then would submit the report to the Legislature.
Consolidation of governing boards or institutions must be acted on by the Legislature.
“There’s been a lot of controversy and I’m sure there will be more,” said state regents Chairman Ronald White, of Oklahoma City. White thanked the task force members “for all the hours of effort and dedication” given out of “concern for students in this state.”