Oregon University System
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Background Brief on … Oregon University System Prepared by: Jim Keller November 2006 Oregon University System The Oregon University System (OUS) consists of the Office of the Chancellor and Oregon’s seven public universities, and is governed Inside this Brief by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education (OSBHE). The Board seeks, through the OUS, to accomplish four broad goals to • Oregon University System produce the highest levels of educational outcomes for Oregonians: 1. Create in Oregon an educated citizenry to support responsible roles in a democratic society and provide a globally competitive • Oregon’s Public Universities workforce to drive the State’s economy, while ensuring access for all qualified Oregonians to quality postsecondary education 2. Ensure high-quality student learning leading to subsequent • State Board of Higher student success Education 3. Create original knowledge and advance innovation 4. Contribute positively to the economic, civic, and cultural life of communities in all regions of Oregon • Office of the Chancellor Oregon’s Public Universities Eastern Oregon University (EOU) serves its regional mission • Tuition and Access through programs in the liberal arts, professional programs in business, education, and community service, and cooperative programs in agriculture and nursing. • OUS Budget Model Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT), the Northwest’s only polytechnic institution, serves the state with programs in business, • Move toward Autonomy engineering and health technologies, and a cooperative program in nursing. • Oregon Health and Science Oregon State University (OSU) is a land, space, sea and sun grant University university with programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs in agricultural sciences, business, education, engineering, forestry, health and physical education, home • Staff and Agency Contacts economics, oceanography, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. OSU- Cascades Campus in Bend opened in fall 2001 in partnership with Central Oregon Community College, and offers degree programs in arts and sciences, business, education, natural resources, and recreation. Legislative Committee Services State Capitol Building Portland State University (PSU) is an urban university offering Salem, Oregon 97301 liberal arts and sciences programs and professional programs in (503) 986-1813 business, education, engineering, health and physical education, performing arts, and urban public affairs. Sothern Oregon University (SOU) provides liberal arts and sciences Background Brief - Legislative Committee Services Page 1 of 6 Oregon University System – November 2006 University Location Fall 2005 Resident Undergraduate Enrollment Tuition & Fees 2005-06 (headcount) Eastern Oregon University La Grande 3,533 $5,655 Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls 3,351 $5,346 Oregon State University Corvallis 19,236 $5,442 Portland State University Portland 24,015 $4,961 Sothern Oregon University Ashland 4,989 $5,004 The University of Oregon Eugene 20,394 $5,805 Western Oregon University Monmouth 4,879 $4,551 Total 80,888 *For purposes of this chart, tuition for fall term 2005 has been multiplied by three. Figures are based on 15 credits programs, professional programs in business, • Lead a statewide effort to deliver a education, and performing arts, and a cooperative measurable increase in higher program in nursing. education participants and success for underserved populations throughout The University of Oregon (UO) is an Association the state of American Universities (AAU) liberal arts and • Facilitate student success and degree sciences university with professional programs in completions by improving the architecture and allied arts, business, education, efficiency and effectiveness of K-20 human development and performance, journalism, learning processes law and music. • Provide the educated workforce needed for the areas of health care, Western Oregon University (WOU) provides engineering, and related technologies, programs in liberal arts and sciences and as well as other workforce and professional programs in education, business, and economic development areas as they public services. emerge 2. Invest in globally competitive research: State Board of Higher Education • Attract and retain high The volunteer, 11-member State Board of Higher qualityinternationally recognized Education governs the OUS. Members are faculty, particularly in targeted areas appointed to two-year or four-year terms by the of existing excellence Governor and are subject to Senate confirmation. • Sustain existing signature research The board elects a president and vice-president, funding (ONAMI) while developing and committees and working groups of the board new signature research centers meet regularly. • In partnership with the Oregon Innovation Council, align targets for Strategic priorities of the Board for achieving research funding growth and research OUS goals and outcomes were presented in productivity with the needs of Oregon September 2006, and include: companies and industry clusters 1. Increase educational attainment: • Establish at every OUS university an • Raise Oregonians’ aspirations expectation of student engagement in • Make postsecondary education research, at both the undergraduate and affordable for Oregonians graduate levels Background Brief – Legislative Committee Services Page 2 of 6 Oregon University System – November 2006 • Assure the long-term financial colleges and K-12 institutions; and working viability of OUS and its institutions: closely with the Legislature, the Governor, and • As required to achieve the Board’s other constituencies for support and reinvestment goals and other strategic priorities, in higher education. The Chancellor’s Office has explore governance and/or new 92 employees at five sites. organizational models • Develop service models for areas of Throughout 2004, significant leadership and the state projected to grow structural changes took place within the Oregon significantly, especially Portland and University System that positioned the organization Bend to help more Oregonians access a postsecondary • Invest in faculty recruitment and education in the next and future biennia. One of retention the Governor’s and the board’s objectives is to • Develop the role of the Chancellor of ensure that the Office of the Chancellor (the OUS the Oregon University System’s office) is fully aligned with the goals and focus of Chief Executive Officer the board and the state. The office now focuses on • Provide the policy support and the development and implementation of policy expectation for OUS presidents to and advocacy for postsecondary education in manage the academic and capitol Oregon, management reporting and control assets of their institutions systems, planning and analysis, communications • and government relations, and fulfillment of Office of the Chancellor statutory functions. Campuses have been given greater autonomy and flexibility, along with the The first chancellor was hired in1931 to oversee requisite control measures that ensure a growing number of public universities in accountability. Oregon to ensure an overarching statewide mission that would serve the best interests of all Some former Chancellor’s Office functions have Oregonians. It was believed that a central been transferred to particular campuses to manage administration would save money by for the System, such as: Information Technology consolidating services rather than duplicating Services is now managed by OSU; the operation them at each campus. of the NERO wise-area network was transferred to UO; the operation of the Southwestern Oregon The chancellor is hired by the State Board of University Center, now managed by EOU; and the Higher Education and serves at its pleasure. The Oregon Center for Advanced Technical Education chancellor is entrusted to carry out the policies of (OCATE) is now managed by PSU. The the board and acts as its administrative officer. Provosts’ Council, made up of academic vice Functions include: directing the overall presidents of the OUS campuses, completes due administration of the Chancellor’s Office and diligence and formal review of new academic carrying out existing and new policies, including degree and certificate program requests, and the ambitious directives of the Oregon State makes recommendations to the Chancellor, who Board of Higher Education; overseeing the subsequently forwards them to the board. The operations and employees of the Chancellor’s Council replaces a function formerly carried out Office, and ensuring support for the many of the Academic Division of the Chancellor’s initiatives related to the board’s vision for higher Office, which was eliminated during the education in the state; leading the biennial restructuring. operating and capitol budget process, presenting proposals to the Legislature, supporting and Approximately $3 million in savings from the facilitating the efforts of universities to achieve reorganization has been used to increase overall OUS goals; facilitating campuses’ efforts affordability for students, lessen the impact of to achieve their educational missions; creating Ballot Measure 30 budget reductions on the partnerships among OUS campuses, community Background Brief – Legislative Committee Services Page 3 of 6 Oregon University System – November 2006 campuses, mitigate tuition increases, and fund the Student Debt, cited Oregon as having the 8th Board’s Working Group initiatives. highest debt level of