The Beaver Caucus

OSU is supporting students and the community

by

Dear Beaver Caucus Member:

I hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. As we are all dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to reach out to highlight what OSU is doing to support students and the broader university community.

Supporting student’s educational success. Through the hard work of OSU’s faculty, 4,000 Spring Term courses have moved to remote delivery. However, we must recognize students’ lives, like many of ours, have been disrupted, resulting in unexpected financial needs. The OSU Foundation has launched the Beavers Care Initiative which will provide immediate resources for OSU students at the Corvallis campus and at OSU-Cascades who are facing new and overwhelming challenges including the security of their basic needs.

The OSU Board of Trustees voted to freeze tuition for currently enrolled students for the summer term and the 2020-2021 school year. OSU will continue to evaluate if they can provide tuition relief to students who are enrolling in the fall.

OSU researchers have pivoted work to fight COVID-19. With disruption in the medical supply chain, many hospitals are struggling to find the necessary resources to test and treat infected patients. In response to a request by Samaritan Health Services, the OSU Veterinary Lab stepped in to produce a critical fluid for COVID-19 testing. The fluid, known as viral transport medium (VTM), allows for the safe transport of patient samples to testing facilities. OSU has the tools and ingredients on hand to produce VTM and sent three liters to Samaritan, enough to process 1,000 tests.

This past week OSU scientists launched a public health study in Corvallis to determine the community prevalence of the virus that causes COVID-19. Team-based Rapid Assessment of Community-level Epidemics (TRACE) will be among the nation’s first to measure the prevalence of the virus among people who are both symptomatic and asymptomatic. With this more comprehensive information, public health and government leaders will be able to better guide efforts they are waging against the virus.

Extension and engagement grow in a new format. OSU Extension has moved their engagement platforms online and are looking for opportunities to expand. For example—a faculty member in Clackamas County is creating videos about forest ecosystems that can be used to supplement the distance education about our environment. Additionally, the Master Gardener vegetable short course online has seen record registration numbers of over 25,000 aspiring gardeners.

Containing university expenditures. While OSU will receive some relief under the federal CARES Act, it only partially covers the impact COVID-19 is having on OSU’s finances. But the university is also taking several steps to offset financial losses including; dramatically reducing expenditures for services, supplies and business travel, restructuring debt payments in auxiliaries, limiting hiring positions to only those essential to maintaining student progress toward degree completion, and evaluating staffing and benefit options for those individuals where work may no longer be available.

This is an uncertain time for you too. While this email addresses the impact of this health crisis on OSU students and the university community, I recognize and understand that wherever you call home, you are living and working in communities impacted by COVID-19, and following the health and safety measures that have been implemented to contain the pandemic.

We don’t yet know the full scope and scale of the challenges we will face in the coming weeks and beyond, but we remain committed to supporting OSU through our advocacy efforts. We all share a commitment to care for our students and help our beloved university carry out its mission to educate, research, and serve.

We are in this together, after all.

Go Beavs!

Sincerely,

Bill Perry
President

Beaver Caucus Legislative Update: Week 4

by

Katie Fast, OSU Government Relations
Week 4 – February 28, 2020

Cap & Trade legislation continues to dominate the Oregon Legislature. On Monday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee passed SB 1530 to the floor. Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) added himself to the Committee to break a tie vote of Senators. Immediately after the Committee vote, Senate Republican members left Salem and, except for Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend), are denying a quorum of the Senate. On Tuesday, the House Republicans, except for Cheri Helt (R-Bend), joined their colleagues in the walkout.

Adding to the drama, the House Rules Committee voted to issue subpoenas to missing House Republicans that would require them to testify at the Capitol on March 5 regarding the reasons behind their boycott. Democrats have also advanced three new pieces of legislation that represent “more aggressive” potential paths to regulate carbon emissions than the current Cap & Trade bill.

With only 9 days remaining until lawmakers must adjourn, the Oregon Legislature has passed just three bills, and resolution to bring the Republicans back seems bleak.

In other political news, Senator Shemia Fagan (D-Portland) announced a run for secretary of state. Former House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson pulled out of the race over a Willamette Week investigation over the use of her campaign funds. The Democrats will have a five-way primary with Senator Mark Hass, Cameron Smith, Jamie McLeod-Skinner and Jamie Morrison already filing to run. Earlier this month, Republican Senator Kim Thatcher announced her candidacy; no other Republican candidate has filed or announced.

Thank you to the Beaver Caucus for all your work in this area.

Beaver Caucus Legislative Update: Week 3

by

Katie Fast, OSU Government Relations
Week 3 – February 21, 2020

This was a great week for OSU in Salem! On Tuesday, Senator Arnie Roblan invited President Ed Ray to be his guest on the Senate floor. Besides kind remarks by Senator Roblan, Senators Courtney, Hansell and Gelser all extended courtesies to President Ray and commented on his contributions to OSU and Oregon. You can find those clips here.

On Wednesday, both OSU Cascades students and Now 4 OSU Cascades were in Salem advocating for the Student Success Center. Efforts like these and Beaver Caucus’s advocacy elevate OSU’s capital funding requests. We have been getting good feedback about the presence of OSU’s advocacy efforts in Salem this session.

Negotiations around capital are currently on-going. We know OSU’s three projects (Cordley Hall, Arts & Education Complex and Cascades Student Success Center) are in the mix. The Capital Construction subcommittee received a presentation from HECC Director Ben Cannon last Friday, who implored the committee to fund university capital projects. The written testimony for the hearing included submissions from the Beaver Caucus, the Associated Students of Cascades Campus and the Oregon Student Association in support of OSU projects. Beyond a certain measure, we are not able to handicap the politics that drive the outcomes on capital construction. That is why the Beaver Caucus’s continued efforts are so important.

Next Monday, SB 1501, which allows collegiate athletes to earn compensation for their name, image and likeness, will be heard in the House Education Committee. OSU is neutral on the legislation. OSU gymnast Halli Briscoe will testify in Committee giving a student’s perspective on the bill. Other higher education policy priorities including student food/housing insecurity and transfer are awaiting action in the Ways & Means committee.

Thank you to the Beaver Caucus for all your work in this area. Let’s keep it up!

Beaver Caucus Legislative Update: Week 2, 2020

by

Katie Fast, OSU Government Relations
Week 2 – February 14, 2020

University Day at the Capitol was held on Thursday, with over 150 students, staff, and alumni from all over the state supporting shared public university priorities. This included legislation on student food and housing insecurity, underrepresented students, student transfer and capital construction.

This Thursday also marked the deadline for bills to move out of their committee of origin. Here is an update on several of the policy bills Oregon State University’s government relations team is working on:

  • HB 4055 – HECC to study and develop recommendations on how community colleges and public universities can best combat food and housing insecurity among their students. Referred to Ways & Means.
  • HB 4057 – Bans Lottery from offering betting on collegiate sports. Referred to House Revenue.
  • SB 1501 – Allows collegiate athletes to earn compensation for their name, image and likeness. Will be third read in the Senate on Monday, February 17th.
  • SB 1554 – Appropriates funding for several ocean programs including ocean acidification and hypoxia. Referred to Ways & Means

Today, the Ways & Means Capital Construction Subcommittee will hear from the Higher Education Coordinating Committee on the university bonding proposals. We will be watching to see if the committee gives some indication on the direction they will take.

Thank you to the Beaver Caucus for all your work in this area. Let’s keep it up!

Beaver Caucus Legislative Update: Week 1, 2020

by

Katie Fast, OSU Government Relations
Week 1 – February 7, 2020

On February 3, the Legislature convened and immediately got to work with committees hearing bills on the first day. Oregon State University’s legislative agenda progressed forward with several hearings:

  • HB 4055 – HECC to study and develop recommendations on how community colleges and public universities can best combat food and housing insecurity among their students. Claire McMorris, OSU Government Relations Coordinator, testified with a collation of student and hunger advocates. Scheduled for a work session next week.
  • HB 4051 – Establishes a hemp commission. College of Agriculture faculty, Jeff Steiner, joined hemp farmers in support of the creation of a commission to assist this growing agriculture sector. Scheduled for a work session next week.
  • SB 1501 – Allows collegiate athletes to earn compensation for their name, image and likeness. OSU gymnast, Halli Briscoe, joined UO Athletic Director shared both student and universities perspectives on this high-profile issue. Amendments are agreed upon, and OSU is neutral. Scheduled for a work session next week.
  • SB 1554 – Appropriates funding for several ocean programs including ocean acidification and hypoxia. Faculty from the Marine Studies Institute and the Sea Grant shared with the Senate Environment & Natural Resources Committee some of the work they are doing in these areas.

Discussions around capital continue, but leadership does not yet have agreements on bonding projects. Advocacy for OSU’s three projects continues. Thank you to the Beaver Caucus for all your work in this area. Let’s keep it up!

Join us for Beaver Caucus Day at the Capitol on November 20

by

Beaver Caucus Advocate —

You can make a difference for OSU! Can you join us on November 20 at the State Capitol in Salem to advocate for our OSU legislative agenda?

REGISTER NOW

Our primary mission will be to meet with legislators and talk about the importance of higher education and OSU.

The key issues we will be advocating for:

  • Funding for the Arts and Education Complex on the OSU Corvallis campus
  • Funding for the Student Success Center on the OSU-Cascades campus in Bend
  • Funding for the renovation of Cordley Hall on the OSU Corvallis campus

We will meet in the State Capitol Building at 9:30am to discuss strategy, messaging and logistics for the day. Never met with a legislator? No problem! We will walk you through how it’s done, and you will go around to your meetings with several other OSU advocates as a team.

We hope you can join us!

Beaver Caucus Day at the Capitol
Wednesday, November 20
9:30am
Room 350 Oregon State Capitol Building

REGISTER NOW

The Beaver Caucus is an independent, alumni led organization. It is a 501(c)4 with an independent board of directors. The Caucus works closely with the OSU Foundation to engage alumni and supporters, giving them the opportunity to amplify their voice and have a substantive impact on state government.

Urge Legislators to Support Funding for OSU

by

The legislative session is winding down and state legislators are making critical decisions about funding for higher education and Oregon State University.

Unless state funding for higher education is improved this year, OSU will be forced to reduce its expenditures by $18 million each of the next two years. These cutbacks will adversely impact the services available to students and are expected to result in the loss of over 100 positions.

A $120 million increase for Oregon’s public universities would allow OSU to significantly reduce these cutbacks.

But funding for higher education won’t happen without your help! Lawmakers need to hear from you today!

Please take a few minutes to contact your legislators to urge them to support a $120 million funding increase for higher education.

Just click here and you will be taken to an email form. The basic message is already filled out and you will have the option of creating a personalized introduction and closing. Your message will be sent to your state senator and representative.

Oregon is better off when we invest in our students. With your help our state lawmakers will realize the importance of supporting higher education and OSU.

Go Beavs!

Do your part to support OSU!

by

The Oregon State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which will decide how the state budget is allocated over the next two years, is traveling around the state to hear from Oregonians. We want to make sure that OSU is engaged in the discussion so that our elected officials make higher education a priority.

The Ways and Means Committee is holding hearings in Coos Bay, Pendleton, Redmond, and Portland. Please see the details for the hearings below:

  • Coos Bay: Saturday, March 9 – 1pm-3pm – Marshfield High School, Auditorium, 972 Ingersoll Ave.
  • Pendleton: Friday, March 15 – 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Blue Mountain Community College, Pioneer Hall, Bob Clapp Theatre, 2411 NW Carden Ave.
  • Redmond: Saturday, March 16 – 2pm – 4pm – Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Three Sisters Conference and Convention Center (South Sister), 3800 SW Airport Way
  • Portland: Thursday, March 21 – 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Portland Community College – Cascade, MAHB 104 Auditorium, 5514 N. Albina Ave.

The Beaver Caucus has identified four key issues that we’ll be advocating for during these hearings:

  • An overall increase for university operating funds to help OSU invest in students and hold down tuition increases
  • Funding for the Arts and Education Complex on the OSU Corvallis campus
  • Funding for the Student Success Center on the OSU-Cascades campus in Bend
  • Funding for the OSU statewide public service programs

If these issues resonate with you, can you share your story about what OSU has contributed to you and your community? Please consider testifying at this hearing and urging legislators to support higher education and OSU!

If you haven’t testified before a Legislative Committee, we’re here to help! Email us, info@thebeavercaucus.org, and we’ll walk you through how it’s done and share tips and talking points for presenting your testimony.

The OSU voice must be heard as legislators consider where to invest state funds. OSU and higher education needs your help. Are you willing to be that voice? Please email us, info@thebeavercaucus.org, if you’re willing to testify.

Thank you for your support of OSU. Go Beavs!

Reinvest in the OSU Statewide Public Service Programs

by

During the 2019 legislative session we will be seeking a $30 million increase to reinvest and expand OSU’s statewide public service programs: the OSU Extension Service, Agricultural Experiment Station, and Forest Research Laboratory, which support agricultural, natural resource and community development programs across the state.

Beaver Caucus Advocacy Day

by

Thank you so much for all of the support, energy and time you devoted to joining us for Beaver Caucus Advocacy Day. We walked the halls of the Capitol, met with legislators and staff and shared the message of prioritizing higher education and OSU projects. We helped legislators see the importance of music and the arts with the Arts and Education Complex; the continued expansion of the OSU-Cascades campus with the Student Success Center; the economic and community impact with the OSU Statewide Public Service Programs and the true benefit of an Oregon State education. Thank you for lending your time and sharing your stories to ensure that the future of Oregon State University remains healthy and strong. We look forward to working with you in the new year! Go Beavs!