State Senator Roger Thompson, is taking exception to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s support to consolidate some of the state’s two year colleges.
“Two-year colleges are the engines for workforce development across Oklahoma,” Thompson said. “These institutions are crucial to training the next generation of skilled workers, and they also drive economic growth in many of the state’s rural communities. Additionally, many students who obtain a bachelor’s degree got their start in higher education at two-year colleges.”
In his February State of the State speech, Gov. Kevin Stitt called for consolidating colleges and universities that aren’t meeting state workforce needs.
The Okemah senator pointed out Oklahoma’s two-year colleges account for about one-third of all undergraduate enrollment and undergraduate degrees granted in the state.
Those two-year colleges are Carl Albert State College, Connors State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Murray State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma State University-Institute of Technology, OSU-OKC, Redlands Community College, Rose State College, Seminole State College, Tulsa Community College and Western Oklahoma State College
A handful of the state’s four-year colleges also offer associate degree programs.