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.
