Oklahoma Ends Academic Tenure, Sparking Concerns Over Education Impact

WASHINGTON—In a significant development impacting Oklahoma's education landscape, the governor has signed Executive Order 2026-07, effectively abolishing academic tenure at the state's public regional universities and community colleges. This move has drawn strong responses from educational leaders and organizations.

American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson and AFT President Randi Weingarten have voiced their concerns over the potential implications of this decision. They argue that the removal of tenure could have widespread impacts on academic freedom and faculty stability, which are crucial for maintaining educational quality and innovation in Oklahoma.

“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. As a result, this action will have far-reaching consequences not only for higher education, but for students across Oklahoma’s public colleges, for the families who depend on those institutions, and for the long-term economic health of the state," the statement reads.

Tenure is widely regarded as a vital mechanism to protect academic freedom and support rigorous teaching and research. It allows faculty members to explore a diverse range of subjects and conduct research without fear of retribution. The executive order, however, signals a shift in priorities, potentially undermining these foundational aspects.

“The principal purpose of tenure is to safeguard academic freedom—and American innovation—the foundation of rigorous teaching, independent research and honest inquiry. In service of American society and broad-based opportunity, tenure enables faculty to pursue evidence-based scholarship and teach challenging subjects across the ideological spectrum without fear of political, ideological or economic retaliation. With this order, the state of Oklahoma has sent a clear and deeply troubling message that academic freedom and American innovation are no longer valued," according to the statement.

Concerns are also being raised about the broader implications for democratic norms and institutional independence. The decision is seen as part of a national trend where political figures use executive powers to weaken independent institutions and suppress professional expertise.

“This decision must also be understood in a broader national context of democratic backsliding. When political leaders use executive power to weaken independent institutions, silence professional expertise and punish those who produce inconvenient knowledge, democratic norms erode. Public colleges and universities are among the last remaining institutions dedicated to truth-seeking and civic education, and attacks on academic freedom are attacks on democracy itself," they assert.

The elimination of tenure could also affect the recruitment and retention of faculty, as well as the quality of education students receive. It may lead to a "brain drain" and a decrease in institutional stability, ultimately eroding public trust in educational institutions.

“The removal of these protections will directly undermine educational quality, weaken faculty recruitment and retention, and deprive students of learning environments grounded in intellectual rigor and open inquiry. Over time, it will accelerate brain drain, reduce institutional stability and diminish the public trust that strong colleges and universities help sustain," the statement highlights.

There is a misconception that tenure is an elite privilege, yet it is seen as an essential condition for all faculty engaged in education and research. Tenured faculty are subject to evaluations and accountability measures, challenging the notion that they lack accountability.

“Targeting regional universities and community colleges reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of tenure—as if it were a privilege reserved for a select few rather than an essential working condition for all faculty responsible for teaching and research. It also rests on the false premise that tenured faculty are unaccountable. In reality, tenured professors are already subject to regular evaluation, post-tenure review and professional standards, including the very accountability measures this order claims to advance elsewhere," the statement clarifies.

Wolfson and Weingarten conclude that the order could make Oklahoma less appealing to top educators and weaken institutions that are crucial for providing accessible and affordable education, impacting students, communities, and the state's future.

“With this decision, Gov. Stitt has made Oklahoma less attractive to highly qualified educators and has weakened the institutions that provide the most accessible and affordable education to its residents—at a real cost to students, communities and the democratic and economic future of the state."

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

The AFT represents 1.8 million members, including pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state, and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.