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.

In the wake of the 2007 recession, the Oregon State Legislature began divesting from higher education. But the 2015 legislative session went a long way toward reversing this trend and restoring higher education funding to pre-recession levels.

During the 2017 session of the Oregon State Legislature, the Beaver Caucus will work hard to ensure that this trend continues. Together with Oregon’s other public universities, we will support a strong future for all students, staff and our state’s economy. All seven public universities will work collectively to ask the legislature to prioritize higher education.

During the 2017 legislative session, Oregon’s seven public universities are seeking at least a $100 million increase in funding for higher education, which will bring the state total to $765 million in operating funds for the 2017-2019 biennium. This will allow universities, including OSU, to keep tuition increases low while investing in faculty, research and facilities.

Oregon is better off if we invest in our students. In 2017, the Beaver Caucus is committed to building on the progress made in public support for higher education in the 2015 legislative session.

Developing a University Research Fighting Fund

Fulfillment of funding for research infrastructure and developing a university “fighting fund” will enable Oregon’s public research universities to more effectively compete for federal grants. Each year, the Federal government issues numerous significant grant opportunities that could contribute to Oregon’s well-being. Many grants must be matched by funding from private industry, state, and other non-federal government sources.

While Oregon’s public universities frequently compete as members of national teams for these federally-funded grants, they are handicapped by Oregon’s biennial budget process.

Oregon’s public research universities suggest allocating $20 million to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to be used during the 2017-19 biennium by universities that demonstrate success in competing for qualified federal research funding. If no university proposals are successful in obtaining federal funds, the fund balance would carry over to the next biennium.

In the event that a university, or university consortium, is successful, the HECC would be authorized to allocate resources within the fighting fund. The fund would serve as a specific allocation set aside by the State of Oregon for the purpose of providing the necessary match in the event that a university proposal is successful at the federal level.  The designated fund would increase the viability and credibility for Oregon’s public universities as they compete in the federal arena. It would also allow OSU to stay on the cutting edge in developing innovations that provide economic growth for Oregon and the nation.

OSU Statewides Public Service Programs

The Oregon State University Statewides Public Service Programs received a $14 million increase in funding from the Oregon State Legislature during the 2015 legislative session. This allocation was the first substantial increase in its budget in nearly a decade. The “OSU statewides,” as they’re commonly referred to, are unique to the University and give it a physical presence in nearly every county of the state. It is one of the most important ways OSU improves the lives of Oregonians and our state’s economy.

The statewides’ mission is to “improve the lives of Oregonians through discovery, outreach, and learning focused on critical issues of importance to communities throughout the state and the world.” The program has three sub-areas: OSU Extension Services, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Forest Research Laboratory. The OSU Extension Service creates an avenue for Oregonians to find research-based information on economic development, healthy and productive life choices, and sustainable ecosystems. The Oregon Agricultural Experiment station is Oregon’s primary research generator related to food, agriculture, and natural resources. The Forest Research Laboratory helps Oregonians understand the science behind forest management, the connections between people and forests, and how renewable materials benefit businesses and communities.

During the 2017 legislative session, we will be seeking a continued service level funding increase for OSU’s statewides that will support communities served by these programs throughout the state.