The Higher Education Association for Reform (H.E.A.R.)
calls for immediate reforms in the Oklahoma higher education system.
H.E.A.R. Chairman Thomas E. Guild, a higher education faculty member
from Edmond, says the group hopes to make changes vital to Oklahoma’s
future.
“Oklahoma’s higher education system needs to become more accountable
while making better efforts to function transparently,” Guild
said. “By implementing our reforms, politics will be replaced by
a more efficient system that effectively manages our taxpayer
money. Only by implementing these changes will Oklahoma be able
to move into the mainstream of higher education in the 21st century.”
The group calls for reforms such as:
- A statutory requirement ensuring Oklahoma regents have
earned at least a bachelor’s degree. Until the statute is passed,
H.E.A.R. calls for all gubernatorial candidates to promise that they
will use their appointment power to administratively implement this
standard.
- Repealing HB 1748, which removed the 7 and 9% caps on
tuition increases in Oklahoma.
- Supporting the increase in salaries for Oklahoma college
faculty in order to bring them up to the national or peer averages for
similar institutions in the country. At certain institutions,
professor salaries are only about 80% of the national or peer average.
- Faculty at Oklahoma higher education institutions should be
statutorily or administratively entitled to certain due process
protections. Faculty who are terminated, denied tenure or
promotion should be entitled to reasons in writing for the employment
decision, and subsequently be able to appeal the decision on procedural
and substantive grounds.
- If a lottery passes, a substantial portion of the proceeds
should be allocated for higher education. These additional monies
should be dedicated to education with the caveat that the legislature
cannot reduce the respective education appropriations by the number of
dollars raised from the lottery.
- College presidents and administrators should be required to
have earned a doctorate, as well as have higher education experience
other than as a student before being appointed to such administrative
posts.
- Each Oklahoma Board of Regents should have at least one
college faculty member. This should be required statutorily and
implemented administratively by the Governor prior to the statute
coming on line.
|
Contact Information:
Thomas Guild, Chair
|
