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Oklahoma Higher Education Officials Urge Lawmakers to Enhance Competitiveness of State Institutions

Several college and university leaders from Oklahoma recently appealed to state lawmakers to consider policies aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the state’s higher education institutions. This appeal occurred during an interim study at the Capitol, featuring insights from Higher Education Chancellor Allison Garrett and five university presidents discussing strategies to maintain a competitive edge against out-of-state institutions.

Recommendations from Chancellor Garrett

Chancellor Garrett offered several recommendations for legislative consideration, which included providing institutions with greater flexibility in setting in-state and out-of-state tuition rates, increasing funding for marketing initiatives, and expanding the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship, which supports higher education institutions.

Challenges Faced by Oklahoma Graduates

Garrett pointed out that many high school graduates from Oklahoma choose to attend out-of-state colleges due to factors such as cost, proximity, and the availability of desired degree programs. Data indicates that states with the highest admission rates for Oklahoma students include Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, and Colorado. Approximately 34% of Oklahoma high school graduates enroll in public colleges within the state, while around 58% do not pursue post-secondary education at all. Nearly 6% of graduates attend schools outside of Oklahoma, and just over 2% enroll in private institutions.

Regional Initiatives and Competition

University leaders from regions close to the Oklahoma border shared existing initiatives and recommended strategies to better compete with out-of-state schools. Julie Dinger, president of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, mentioned that high school students in her area, including her daughter, are often targeted by marketing campaigns from out-of-state institutions. These institutions frequently offer to waive out-of-state tuition fees or match tuition prices to attract prospective students.

Maintaining Talent in Oklahoma

Dinger emphasized the importance of developing competitive advantages to retain Oklahoma residents, stating, “The Panhandle region, like all of rural Oklahoma, suffers from brain drain. We don’t want to send our kids to Oklahoma City for school. We want to keep them in our region so they can settle down here.”

Accessibility and Tuition Management

Other higher education leaders concurred on the need to maintain manageable tuition and fees to enhance college accessibility. Various strategies were proposed, including waiving certain tuition costs and expanding eligibility for the Oklahoma Promise scholarship initiative that supports qualifying low-income students.

Competitive Strategies in Higher Education

Diana Lovell, president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, reported that her institution maintains competitiveness by keeping tuition low, charging only $1 above the legal in-state rate for out-of-state students. This approach has contributed to a 33% increase in enrollment from international students.

Embracing Online Education

Thomas Newsom, president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, highlighted that embracing online education has been instrumental in attracting a record enrollment of 6,000 students this fall.

Impact of Graduate Retention

According to a report from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, a significant majority of graduates from Oklahoma’s public universities and colleges tend to remain in the state and enter the local workforce.

Conclusion

These interim studies are intended to inform lawmakers as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session and may impact future legislative proposals concerning higher education.

Source: Oklahoma Voice

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