(KTEN) -- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has signed executive order 2023-31, aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion in state agencies and institutions of higher education.

"With my executive order, we're going to take politics out of education,” Stitt said at a press conference Wednesday. “We want to make sure underserved communities are supported. We want to focus on first generation college students, and make sure that they have every opportunity to go get the education that they want."

The order will require the review of DEI positions to dismiss non-critical personnel.

Stitt highlights six categories that state agencies won't be able to utilize taxpayer funds in accordance with DEI, including preferential treatment, mandating an oath of loyalty favoring DEI, and requiring the disclosure of pronouns.

"I think it'll have an impact on certain institutions because of how they structured themselves,” Murray State College president, Dr. Tim Faltyn explained. “So, even though the way we're structured, and even though we interpret belonging in such a way that we don't see any issue with this, I think there will be some who will have to take a really hard look at their policies and make sure that they're complying with the law as well as complying with all of the accreditation standards."

The order won't apply to higher education schools for things like academic course instruction or registered student organizations.

"It challenges students from all around Oklahoma and the country to not only try, but do your best," University of Oklahoma student Tamera Nealy said.

State agencies are required to comply with the order by May 31.