A. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education continue to increase the proportional representation of ethnic minorities among the academic faculties at the individual institutions of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. Funds shall continue to be made available to the institutions for the first year payment of salary following employment of a newly hired tenured or tenure-track minority faculty member. It is the intent of the Legislature that these funds be provided only for those persons who are hired with the intention of permanently filling a faculty position which either has become open or has been created at an institution. Funding for personal benefits shall be provided by the employing institution. It is the further intent of the Legislature that special effort continue to be given to recruitment of minorities in those academic fields in which they are particularly underrepresented. The State Regents shall encourage the institutions to continue aggressive recruitment of minority academic faculty.

B. It is the intent of the Legislature to initiate award and fellowship opportunities to commend faculty, serving at institutions of higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, who have the potential for nationally or internationally recognized research or scholarship.

C. It is the intent of the Legislature to raise faculty salaries to a nationally competitive level. Institutions which are currently farthest from the national average shall be the first to participate in such increases in salary.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 227, § 12, operative July 1, 1987.