Governor Kate Brown’s budget for 2018 was released recently and she’s recommending the Legislature approve $39 million for OSU-Cascades. This is unexpected and game-changing.
In September 2016, Oregon State University celebrated the grand opening of OSU-Cascades and its first academic building, Tykeson Hall. This grand opening was born out of a 30-year community effort to bring a university to Central Oregon. The OSU-Cascades campus is the first university campus to open in Oregon in more than 50 years. Located in Bend, it will serve students in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. Until now, Bend had been the largest metropolitan area in Oregon without a four-year university. The university will support Central Oregon’s educational, economic and cultural goals, and serve as a partner for businesses, non-profits and the community.
The incredible growth in population and economic development in Central Oregon means that OSU Cascades must serve a population of more than 200,000 people. Central Oregon will continue to grow and diversify and OSU Cascades must be prepared to keep pace with the needs of the community. With the goal of accommodating 3000-5000 students by 2025, OSU Cascades will need to continue to grow and expand in order to support its students and faculty. This will require new investment in facilities and infrastructure.
During the 2017 legislative session, OSU sought $69.5 million in capital funding for the expansion of the OSU-Cascades campus. This included funding for site reclamation, infrastructure improvements, a second classroom building, and a student success center. While the Legislature allocated $9.5 million for OSU-Cascades in the final capital budget to enable site reclamation work, this level of funding will not keep pace with expected enrollment growth from the Central Oregon region.
Governor Kate Brown’s budget for 2018 was released recently and she’s recommending the Legislature approve $39 million for OSU-Cascades. This is unexpected and game-changing.
In 2018 the Beaver Caucus will work with the Governor, the Legislature and the Central Oregon region, led by Now4 OSU-Cascades, to ensure that the Legislature approves the Governor’s funding request. This level of funding would enable the construction of the classroom building, which would include components using engineered wood products, such as cross-laminated timber, manufactured in Oregon.
A vibrant university that delivers academic excellence and focuses on student retention and success is one of the pillars of a strong economy. Investment in OSU-Cascades will make a difference for Central Oregon and our entire state.
