Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed Executive Order 2026-07 immediately abolishing academic tenure at the state's public regional universities and community colleges, prompting sharp criticism from the Americ
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt
The executive order strips tenure protections from faculty at institutions including the state's six regional universities and its community college system, though it does not apply to the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University, the state's flagship research institutions. The decision affects thousands of faculty members who teach the majority of Oklahoma's college students.
AAUP President Dr. Todd Wolfson condemned the action in a statement released Thursday, calling it an attack on academic freedom with consequences extending far beyond higher education to students, families and the state's economic future.
"By eliminating tenure at the public regional universities and community colleges that anchor local economies and provide affordable pathways to education, Executive Order 2026-07 strips away core protections for academic freedom and faculty stability," Wolfson said.
Tenure, a system of job protection typically granted after a probationary period of five to seven years, is designed to shield faculty from termination based on their research findings or classroom instruction. The AAUP argues the protections enable professors to teach controversial subjects and pursue evidence-based scholarship without fear of political or economic retaliation.
"The principal purpose of tenure is to safeguard academic freedom—the foundation of rigorous teaching, independent research, and honest inquiry," Wolfson said. "With this Order, the State of Oklahoma has sent a clear and deeply troubling message that academic freedom is no longer valued as a core public good."
Wolfson warned the policy change will harm faculty recruitment and retention at affected institutions, which serve as primary access points for affordable higher education in Oklahoma. Regional universities and community colleges enroll a significant portion of the state's college students, many of whom are first-generation or from lower-income families. He predicted the order would accelerate "brain drain" as qualified educators seek employment in states with stronger protections.
