NSU president outlines Senate Bill 701, says Broken Arrow courses would funnel students to Tahlequah campus

Northeastern State University President Phil Hanley told the Tahlequah City Council on Monday that a proposed state law, Senate Bill 701, would let NSU offer lower-division (first- and second-year) courses at its Broken Arrow satellite campus and could increase enrollment across NSU campuses.

Hanley said the bill — carried by Sen. John Haste of Broken Arrow and coauthored by Sens. Christy Gillespie and Julie McIntosh — passed a Senate education committee and could reach the full Senate soon. He said the change would allow NSU to recruit more traditional 18-to-24-year-old students at Broken Arrow while keeping campus identities distinct: Tahlequah would remain the main campus with programs and majors that students would come to finish.

Hanley said the university expects modest first-year increases if the bill passes, then 15–20% growth in years two and three at Broken Arrow; he estimated a roughly 35% initial increase for that campus under some scenarios. He told the council NSU recorded a 0.3% spring enrollment increase at Broken Arrow this year and a 7.3% increase at the Tahlequah campus. He said tuition revenue from Broken Arrow already flows to support academic programs in Tahlequah and that the university has reversed a 15-year enrollment decline.

"We have no plans to move any of our majors or our departments to our Broken Arrow campus," Hanley said. "We want to offer those general education requirements so students can pursue their chosen major, which will mostly be finished in our Tahlequah campus." He also said there are no plans to move the football team and that recent neutral-site games in Broken Arrow were recruitment and outreach efforts.

Regent Riley of the Regional University System of Oklahoma, who attended the meeting, said the board supports NSU's strategic presence in Broken Arrow and expects the change to strengthen enrollment at Tahlequah. "I honestly believe this will increase the enrollment at Tahlequah, or I would not be so in favor of it," Riley said.

Local residents pressed university officials on impacts. Dr. Gandhi asked whether the change would affect Langston University; Hanley said the bill would not affect Langston's activities. Tanya Jones, who identified herself as a local resident with children in public schools, asked whether offering gen-ed classes at Broken Arrow would reduce seats for Tahlequah high-school students taking those classes; Hanley replied that NSU intends to keep gen-ed availability at Tahlequah and expand options so local students can stay in town if they prefer.

Hanley also told the council NSU will commission a third-party economic-impact study to measure the university's local effects year over year, and that the university plans to publish that study once complete. He said NSU has seen a large increase in grant dollars, with most research funding directed to the Tahlequah campus.

The Regional University System of Oklahoma board passed a resolution reaffirming NSU's commitment to Tahlequah and supporting the strategic use of satellite campuses in Broken Arrow and Muskogee; Hanley read the regents' resolution to the council.

Next steps: Hanley said timing depends on the legislature; the Senate bill could reach the floor soon and the house has a related bill moving through committee. If the bill passes, NSU would need time for recruiting and marketing before new courses start.