Higher Education

College Degree Completion and Funding
In September 2011 Gov. Fallin, in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, announced a new higher education initiative – Competitive College America (CCA). This initiative will increase the number of Oklahomans who attain college degrees or post-secondary certificates from public colleges and universities, private institutions and Career Technology Centers. The ultimate goal is to add 20,400 post-secondary degrees and certificates (1,700 per year) over the next 12 years. 

• The Chamber supports prioritizing funds to ensure continued success for the CCA initiative as funding is available. 
• We also support the scholarship programs of Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grants (OTEG), Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grants (OTAG), and concurrent enrollment, which are vital in reaching the Complete College America goals by ensuring more students can enter college and obtain a college degree.
• The Chamber supports higher education capital and maintenance improvements to support record enrollment growth as funding is available. 

Tuition Setting Authority
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is authorized to set tuition and fees for 25 colleges and universities. The State Regents were granted the tuition-setting authority in 2003 and since that time tuition limits have stayed below the prescribed legislative limits. The Chamber supports leaving the tuition-setting authority with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.   

Oklahoma’s Promise
Oklahoma’s Promise is one of the most successful college access programs in the country. There have been efforts to change the family income level and/or student performance requirements of OK Promise. These changes could alter the intent of the program, providing more students access to college which produce more college graduates. We oppose legislation that would change the focus of the program. 

For more information, please contact a member of our Government Relations staff.