USAO might be losing its board of regents and, in case you haven't heard, everything is about business now

So it looks like the college where I work might be having its individual regents eliminated, putting us under the aegis of one of the larger boards in the state. I'm not even sure I am opposed to reorganizing the higher ed regents as a thing; I have not had a chance to study the question or hear any real information on how my school would be affected. But this article from the OK state regents is troubling.

I want everyone to note that there is no mention here of public education as a vehicle for intellectual, ethical, and civic growth for individuals and communities:

Corporate speak:

"The State Regents' Task Force on the Future of Higher Education considered recommendations from the task force’s four subcommittees during its meeting today in Oklahoma City. The task force, which was formed by the State Regents in March 2017, has examined every aspect of system operations, including academic models, online education, structure, fiscal services and operational efficiencies, workforce development, and information technology during the past 10 months."

Even more heinous corporate speak:

“Maintaining accessibility and affordability remains the State Regents’ highest priority,” said State Regents Chair Ronald White, M.D. “We are mindful that Oklahoma’s economic prospects depend on our state colleges and universities producing more college-degreed and trained employees. Given the harsh economic realities of the precipitous decline in state support for state system institutions over the past three years, we must consider ideas to optimize performance and boost productivity. Our 68 member task force tackled the charge head-on, reviewing our governance and operational structure, administrative practices, and productivity relative to new academic innovations and emerging technologies.”

What's the purpose of higher education, everyone? Wait, is it...pushing back the darkness of ignorance with the light of understanding and wisdom? Is it...contributing to an informed and activated citizenry? HAHAHAHA! Nope! It's:

"The College Degree Completion and Workforce Development Initiative Subcommittee reviewed current college degree completion initiatives and developed recommendations to increase college degree completion rates and align academic programs to meet current and future workforce needs."

Welcome to the capitalist hellscape, folks! Want some more snacks?:

"The Academic Program Innovations and Online Education Subcommittee reviewed best practices in academic program delivery and web-based education and developed recommendations to promote innovative, collaborative academic programming and scale online education in Oklahoma. Subcommittee co-chairs President Don Betz, University of Central Oklahoma, and Ken Parker, President, and CEO of NextThought, presented the subcommittee’s recommendations, which focus on the design and implementation of micro-degrees/micro-credentials and competency-based education; expanding public-private partnerships to address academic and non-academic student needs; and development of a systemwide delivery model for online education and best practices in online instruction. The task force voted to approve the subcommittee recommendations."

You may be thinking, "What the fuck is NextThought? it sounds like something from a SF dystopia." (Oh, you sweetheart. We're already in one! Didn't you know?) NextThought is, of course, a company that provides online course and learning management services to the OU system. I'm sure they're lovely people, but they are participating in a government discussion about a profound shift in educational focus that will enrich them. How can they not have a conflict of interest?

And now a word from FSEATS:

"The Fiscal Solutions, Efficiencies, Affordability, and Technology Subcommittee reviewed system resource allocation, revenue trends and projections, alternative sources of revenue, and capacity for improving operational efficiencies through institutional collaboration and technology."

("Alternative sources of revenue," one presumes, means "Bitch, don't even think the state is going to start funding you again.")

And, in case you didn't catch it before, please remember that public education has fuckall to do with old fashioned liberal ideas of enhancing the intellectual lives of citizens and everything to do with serving business:

“Oklahoma needs more college graduates to remain economically competitive in the years to come,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “As we discovered during this comprehensive self-examination of our higher education system, the time is right to reconsider and rethink our entire public higher education structure. We have taken a hard look at our traditional approaches and practices. At times, it was uncomfortable as we considered whether our structure, governance, programs, and strategies properly align with the incredible pace of the change happening in both education and business."