Oklahoma has made a bold move in higher education: faculty members at regional public and community colleges can no longer get tenure. This decision comes from Governor Kevin Stitt through an executive order aimed at ensuring accountability in how taxpayer money is spent in education.
Under this new rule, more than 54,000 students in Oklahoma will be taught by faculty on renewable contracts instead of tenured positions. Faculty performance and student outcomes will now directly influence contract renewals. However, those already tenured can keep their status.
Interestingly, public research universities like the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are still able to grant tenure. Yet, they’ll face strict performance reviews every five years. If faculty members consistently fail to meet standards, they risk termination. Governor Stitt justified this move by stating, “No job funded by taxpayers should be exempt from regular, meaningful performance reviews.”
Critics, however, argue that this view oversimplifies the role tenure plays in academia. Deepa Das Acevedo, a tenure researcher at Emory University, points out that tenure doesn’t necessarily lead to a drop in productivity. In fact, studies have shown that job security can foster innovative teaching and research.
This move aligns with a wider trend in states controlled by Republican legislatures. States like Texas and Florida have also considered reducing or eliminating tenure, yet have often backed down from outright bans. Tim Cain, a higher education expert, warns that Oklahoma’s decision could encourage similar legislation across the country.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) criticized the move, saying it undermines academic freedom in Oklahoma. Their president, Todd Wolfson, emphasized that such changes could hurt the quality of education and deter qualified faculty from coming to the state.
Interestingly, even before these changes, tenure was on the decline nationally. According to a 2023 AAUP study, only 23% of faculty held full-time tenured positions now, down from 39% in 1987. In contrast, fixed-term positions have surged by 65% over the past two decades.
The implications of Stitt’s actions are vast. Increased administrative workloads will likely accompany the new review processes at research universities. Experts predict that faculty and staff will spend more time on paperwork rather than focusing on education.
In a follow-up order, Governor Stitt instructed the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to come up with a plan for performance-based funding for public colleges. This strategy aims to ensure that state funding yields measurable results.
These developments in Oklahoma depict a changing landscape in higher education: one that leans toward performance accountability, but raises questions about the future of academic freedom and the quality of education in the state.
For more on the implications of these changes, check out the Oklahoma executive order and related studies from the AAUP.
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