Governor Stitt Issues Executive Orders to Boost Outcomes, Accountability in Higher Education
Thursday, February 05, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 5, 2026) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt signed two executive orders aimed at ensuring Oklahoma’s public higher education system delivers real results for students, taxpayers, and the state’s economy.
The executive orders prioritize data-driven decision-making, accelerated pathways to graduation, and performance-based faculty employment to align colleges with workforce needs and to hold universities accountable to tuition payers and taxpayers.
"Here in Oklahoma, we want to deliver higher education that meets workforce needs and keeps our talent at home. It's a win-win," said Governor Stitt. "I'm pushing for a 90-hour bachelor's degree pathway to cut costs and get students into good jobs. I am also pushing tenure reforms that tie accountability to performance at public institutions."
Key Highlights from Executive Order 2026-07: Data and Accelerated Degrees
The executive orders prioritize data-driven decision-making, accelerated pathways to graduation, and performance-based faculty employment to align colleges with workforce needs and to hold universities accountable to tuition payers and taxpayers.
"Here in Oklahoma, we want to deliver higher education that meets workforce needs and keeps our talent at home. It's a win-win," said Governor Stitt. "I'm pushing for a 90-hour bachelor's degree pathway to cut costs and get students into good jobs. I am also pushing tenure reforms that tie accountability to performance at public institutions."
Key Highlights from Executive Order 2026-07: Data and Accelerated Degrees
- Directs the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and Regents for Higher Education to enhance tracking of post-graduate wages, job types, hours worked, and employment locations for better return-on-investment analysis.
- Orders a 90-day feasibility study on 90-credit-hour “accelerated” bachelor’s degrees to slash time and costs while maintaining quality, accreditation, and job relevance.
- Requires Regents to use outcomes data when approving, reviewing, or sunsetting academic programs.
- Initiates Performance-Based Funding in the appropriation of higher education dollars, tying institutions’ state funding to workforce and employment outcomes, affordability, and the state’s strategic economic development priorities.
Key Highlights from Executive Order 2026-06: Tenure Reform
- Establishes a state policy for accountability within the tenure system at higher education institutions.
- Allows research universities to retain tenure with mandatory 5-year reviews and performance standards.
- Instructs regional universities and community colleges to phase out new lifetime tenure, shifting to renewable contracts tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment. Existing tenures remain with reviews.
- Instructs institutions to certify compliance to Regents.
These reforms empower the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to implement changes that foster innovation, reduce barriers to workforce entry, and ensure public dollars drive measurable success.
Governor Stitt’s actions build on Oklahoma’s commitment to education excellence, following recent investments in school choice and career tech.
The full text of both executive orders is available here and here.
###
Last Modified on
Feb 05, 2026
