Oregon universities need Legislature's help
Much of the talk at the Oregon Legislature this year has been about bridging the urban-rural divide. A place to start is with Oregon's seven public universities.
The state's universities are in transition — especially the smaller, more rural ones — and they desperately need the Legislature's help.
By dissolving the umbrella Oregon University System as of June 30, 2015, the state has driven up the individual costs for each university. Each one will pay for central services that OUS used to provide. Each one also will have the costs of maintaining its own board of directors.
Meanwhile, legislators are proposing to give the universities even less money than they received in 2007-09, although enrollment statewide has grown by 20,000 students since then. That makes no sense.
The Legislature's budget leaders have proposed a larger higher education budget for 2015-17 than did Gov. John Kitzhaber. But the amount still is less than is needed — less even than the per capita student funding level of eight years ago.
This should concern not just legislators but all Oregonians, especially as the Oregon economy struggles to compete against other states and other countries.
"We are now in a global competition for everything," Ed Ray, president of Oregon State University, told the Statesman Journal Editorial Board last week.
Universities need the increased state funding not only to teach students but also to help keep them in school, so they graduate with a degree instead of dropping out with huge student loans but no diplomas. University presidents say they would use the additional money for student financial aid, academic and career advisers, other retention programs and additional faculty.
Increased education leads to increased income — for the family wage earner, for the community and for the state. Historically, the state income taxes paid by urban areas have subsidized services in rural areas of Oregon. As local economies improve, there is less need for those services and people contribute more in taxes.
The three research universities — Oregon, Oregon State and Portland State — have key roles in serving students from throughout the state. They, along with some of the smaller schools, also have sought out-of-state and international students because their higher tuition helps hold down the costs for in-state students.
But Chris Maples, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology, said many young adults don't want to leave their home region. The regional institutions — Western Oregon, Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon universities — plus OIT and OSU's Cascades Campus fill important geographical needs as well as educational ones.
Oregon is a desirable state in which to live, and having a more educated workforce will make it more desirable for businesses to start, expand or relocate here. With the rest of the world increasing its emphasis on higher education, Oregon needs that highly educated workforce to compete.
THE LEGISLATURE: Whom to contact
You can write to legislative leaders and Marion and Polk County legislators at their office number at the state Capitol, 900 Court St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-4045. Or use the following phone numbers and email addresses:
Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem: S-201; (503) 986-1600; sen.petercourtney@state.or.us
Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland: S-223; (503) 986-1700; sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us
Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day: S-323; (503) 986-1950; sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us
Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas: S-305; (503) 986-1712; sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer: S-307; (503) 986-1713; sen.kimthatcher@state.or.us
Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton: S-401; (503) 986-1709; sen.fredgirod@state.or.us
Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem: S-301; (503) 986-1710; sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, D-Portland: H-269; (503) 986-1200; rep.tinakotek@state.or.us
House Majority Leader Val Hoyle, D-Eugene: H-295; (503) 986-1414; rep.valhoyle@state.or.us
House Republican Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte: H-395; (503) 986-1400; rep.mikemclane@state.or.us
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Salem: H-281; (503) 986-1420; rep.paulevans@state.or.us
Rep. Jodi Hack, R-Salem: H-385; (503) 986-1419; rep.jodihack@state.or.us
Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem: H-284; (503) 986-1421; rep.brianclem@state.or.us
Rep. Vic Gilliam, R-Silverton: H-479; (503) 986-1418; rep.vicgilliam@state.or.us
Rep. Betty Komp, D-Woodburn: H-273; (503) 986-1422; rep.bettykomp@state.or.us
Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio: H-388; (503) 986-1417; rep.sherriesprenger@state.or.us
Rep. Bill Post, R-Keizer: H-373; (503) 986-1425; rep.billpost@state.or.us
Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Dallas: H-378; (503) 986-1423; rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
Rep. Jim Weidner, R-Yamhill: H-387; (503) 986-1424; rep.jimweidner@state.or.us
Other legislators: Call (503) 986-1000 or (800) 332-2313. The names, addresses and office phone numbers for all legislators are at www.oregonlegislature.gov, or email help.leg@state.or.us