On September 12, I attended the ‘Regular Meeting of the OSU/A&M Board, the Regents Meeting’ that took place at Langston University’s School of Physical Therapy Building.
A Board of Regents meeting is a monthly event where governor-appointed board members, who are often business leaders, decide how resources and funding are distributed among several of Oklahoma’s universities. During the meetings, the board listens to presentations from each school’s representative, typically the university’s president.
There are five institutions who each have one to three representatives who speak on behalf of their university. The representatives shared positive updates, highlighted opportunities and accomplishments, and presented requests in a way that was clear and persuasive in hopes of encouraging the Board of Regents to allocate funding to support their university.
Jimmy Harrel, Rick Walker, Chris Franklin, Billy G. Taylor, Jason Ramsey, Joe D. Hall, Carey Baetz, Blayne Author, Trudy Miller, and Jennifer Callahan (who was not in attendance) held the meeting. Most of the members are alumni of Oklahoma State University.
Low productivity majors
One of the updates from Langston University was a report on low productivity majors, which are programs under review because they either have low enrollment or low graduation numbers.
According to the agenda from the board of regents meeting, the programs currently under review at Langston University include:
- Bachelor of Science in chemistry,
- Bachelor of Science in education & elementary education,
- Bachelor of Arts in English,
- Bachelor of Science in family & consumer science,
- Bachelor of Science in math,
- Bachelor of Arts in music,
- Bachelor of Arts of sociology,
- Bachelor of Science in education,
- Bachelor of Science in computer science,
- Associate of Science in electronics technology,
- Associate of Science in drafting,
- Associate of Science in financial planning,
- Associate of Science in child development,
- Master of Science in visual rehabilitation services, and
- Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation services.
Not all these low-productivity programs are being cut; many of them will continue.
The agenda document, which outlines Langston’s submitted plans for each program, reveals that the university will suspend the bachelor of education – special education, the associate of science in electronics, and the associate of science in drafting. While these programs will no longer accept new students, those currently enrolled will still be able to continue their degree.
Additionally, the university is discontinuing the bachelor of arts in music (not to be confused with the bachelor of arts in music education program), the associate of science in financial planning, and the master of science in visual rehabilitation services.
All other majors are to be continued, generally because they are “no cost/ justifiable cost programs,” considered so because the faculty who teach in those majors also teach general education classes that must be offered for every degree.
Readers can find more information on how many students are enrolled in each major at Langston in the Langston University 2024-2025 Fact Book.
Jackson shares achievements
Ruth Ray Jackson, 17th President of Langston University, spoke confidently about the innovative and healthy agriculture programs they propose for Langston students.
Jackson mentioned the use of drones, honeybee research, and the university’s goat program, noting the care and management of the animals. President Jackson also announced that Sherman Lewis, founder of the agricultural science building, has been nominated to receive an honorary doctorate, a motion that was approved.
This meeting offered insight into how the Board of Regents operates and the role it plays in shaping universities across the state. The next board meeting is scheduled for October 25 at Conners State College.
Jasmine Denson
Jasmine Denson is a junior broadcast journalism major
