The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday passed a measure that would allow Oklahoma State University to offer accounting courses at its Tulsa campus, something currently reserved for Langston University.
Senate Bill 59, by Sen. Brian Crain, now heads to the House after securing approval by a vote of 36-10.
Currently, only Langston is allowed to offer courses in accounting, sociology and psychology in Tulsa, said Crain, R-Tulsa.
Many students take a bus to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater to take the accounting courses rather than take them from Langston University in Tulsa, Crain said.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill 58, also by Crain, that makes it optional rather than mandatory that Langston offer courses in Tulsa.
Sen. James Halligan, R-Stillwater, said the situation has been a long-standing issue in Tulsa and needs to move forward toward a resolution. Halligan is the former president of Oklahoma State University.
The measures passed despite criticism from Sen. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, who said the measures run afoul of an agreement the state made with the Office of Civil Rights with the U.S. Department of Education regarding Langston University following a complaint that was filed.
Shumate said he was concerned that the measures could jeopardize federal funding to other higher education institutions in the state.
Likewise, Langston University President Kent J. Smith, Jr. said neither measure was favorable to Langston.
He said the university has no intention of not offering courses in Tulsa.
If OSU in Tulsa offers accounting, it will create a very serious problem, Smith said.
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