Two pieces of legislation related to higher education were passed in committee Tuesday by Oklahoma state lawmakers after OU gained national attention for its handling of a grade dispute that led to the removal of a graduate instructor.
House Bill 3700, authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell (R-Enid) and Senate Majority Floor Leader Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville), would require student grades to be evaluated based on a student’s attendance, demonstrated knowledge or understanding of content, and ability to maintain standards for academic performance. The bill also prohibits grades from being evaluated based on a student’s opinions, beliefs or conduct in non-academic matters.
If passed, state institutions would be required to submit verification of compliance with the law to the State Regents for Higher Education. The state regents are instructed in the bill to withhold state funds from any institution that does not comply with the policy.
The bill reads that the legislation is “immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace,” and the act would take effect upon its passage and approval.
Another bill authored by Sen. Daniels, Senate Bill 1726, would require higher education institutions to establish a mandatory formal training for graduate instructors.
According to the bill, the training would include effective teaching practices, classroom management, student accommodations, academic integrity, assessment and grading standards as well as institutional, state and federal policies. Training on the protection of students’ First Amendment rights, including free speech and viewpoint neutrality principles, is also listed as a requirement.
“This training shall emphasize that students shall not be penalized or disadvantaged in grading, participation, or evaluation on the basis of lawful expression,” the bill reads.
Both bills would be declared as an emergency and would be enacted immediately upon approval.
The OU Daily reached out to OU Marketing and Communications for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Background
In November, psychology junior Samantha Fulnecky publicly contested a failed grade on an essay assignment in an OU psychology course, stating she believed she received the grade because of her religious beliefs. Fulnecky reportedly received zero out of 25 points for the Bible-based essay and filed an illegal discrimination claim. Mel Curth, the course’s instructor, was placed on leave later that month.
Curth stated the grade was based on the essay’s use of empirical evidence and said parts of the essay were offensive, according to reporting by The Oklahoman. Fulnecky reportedly asked Curth to reconsider the grade, stating she met the requirements of the essay, but Curth denied the request.
The other instructor for the course, according to Canvas comments published by The Oklahoman, wrote that they concurred with Curth’s grading and the paper should not be considered as a completion of the assignment.
On Dec. 5, around 250 protesters gathered on campus in support of Curth. Protesters also called on OU to protect its professors from political attacks.
On Dec. 22, OU announced that following an investigation, it was determined Curth engaged in arbitrary grading and would no longer have instructional duties at OU. Curth submitted an appeal to the Institutional Equity Office on Dec. 30, according to her attorney.
Fulnecky’s appeal has drawn state and national attention. Gov. Kevin Stitt posted on the social platform X on Nov. 30 that the situation was “deeply concerning” and called on the OU Board of Regents to review the results of the investigation.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron and Audrey McClour. Larkin Bock and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
