This bill addresses various aspects of higher education governance in Oklahoma, mandating that institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education electronically submit annual reports on faculty employment by July 31. The required information includes the number of full-time faculty, tenure awards, part-time faculty, and graduate assistants, which the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must then submit to state leadership by September 1. The bill also introduces significant changes regarding tenure, prohibiting boards of regents from establishing tenure plans for employees hired after January 1, 2027, and limiting their contracts to a maximum of five years. Additionally, the bill updates the legal language concerning the University Center at Ponca City and ensures gender-neutral terminology throughout.

Moreover, the bill outlines the governance structure for the Tulsa Community College, establishing a Board of Regents with seven members appointed by the Governor, and grants this Board similar powers to other governing boards in the state system. It also includes provisions for the management of properties, financial resources, and employee benefits, while ensuring that the name change from Tulsa Junior College to Tulsa Community College does not affect existing legal relationships. The effective date for these changes is set for November 1, 2026, and the bill emphasizes the Board's authority to ensure effective governance and operation of the institutions under its jurisdiction.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 70-3213.1, 70-3510