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HB 3700

Higher education; requiring policy ensuring student grades are evaluated solely on an academic basis; directing the State Regents to withhold state-appropriated funds for failure to adopt a policy; effective date; emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chad Caldwell and 1 co-sponsor

Oklahoma bill requires colleges to base grades solely on academic merit or lose state funding, with immediate effect and enforcement through the State Regents.

Placed on General Order
0
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Bill Summary · HB 3700

Legislative bill overview

HB 3700 requires Oklahoma's higher education institutions to adopt policies ensuring student grades are evaluated solely on academic merit. The bill directs the State Regents for Higher Education to withhold state funding from institutions that fail to comply with this requirement and includes an emergency provision for immediate implementation.

Why is this important

Grading policies directly affect student transcripts, GPA calculations, and educational outcomes that influence scholarships, graduate school admissions, and employment prospects. This legislation addresses debates about whether non-academic factors should influence grade assignments, with real consequences for institutional funding and student academic records.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition of "academic basis": The bill doesn't specify what qualifies as purely academic evaluation, leaving ambiguity about whether attendance, participation, or collaborative work components are permitted
  • Institutional autonomy vs. state control: Universities may argue that grading flexibility supports pedagogical approaches like cooperative learning, while supporters contend this prevents grade inflation from non-academic considerations
  • Funding as enforcement mechanism: Using state appropriations as leverage raises questions about proportionality—whether funding withholding is an appropriate enforcement tool for grading policy compliance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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