CORVALLIS — The State Board of Higher Education has granted Oregon State University the privilege of managing the Bend branch campus, but with the mandate that the school does so in a collaborative effort with the University of Oregon.
Board members voted 10 to one during their meeting held on the OSU campus and in the process approved a recommendation from Joe Cox, Oregon University System chancellor, that the branch campus be awarded to OSU. From comments made prior to the decision, however, several board members made clear they would vote to approve the recommendation only if it included an amendment that required the two competing universities to work together.
“I want on the record a commitment from both presidents saying they’re willing to do this together,” said Geri Richmond, board member and University chemistry professor.
Board President Don VanLuvanee said he expected the two institutions to be able to work together.
“I have confidence in these two presidents and their staffs,” he said.
University President Dave Frohnmayer adamantly defended the University’s proposal for the branch campus throughout the meeting but took the board’s decision in stride.
“I’m heartened by the reaffirmation by the board that our presence is appreciated,” he said.
While it was not a complete victory, Frohnmayer said he was thankful that the University would not be “shut out of that growing part of the state.”
Tim Young, board member and University student, was the lone dissenting vote in the decision. He said he thought the University’s proposal offered more “bang for the buck” because of what he said was its breadth in curriculum.
The board’s decision is the end of what has been called a civil war between the University and OSU for the chance to expand into the quickly developing region of Central Oregon. Expected to be ready for the start of the academic year in September, the branch campus will now offer a full degree from OSU in a variety of fields.
More than $7 million has been earmarked for the proposed institution that will be located on the Central Oregon Community College campus in Bend. While there is a slim chance that the funding will fall through during the current legislative session, strong support from Central Oregon legislators on key committees makes most concerned parties believe the state funds are secure.
As part of the collaborative nature called for by the board, the University will remain a presence in Central Oregon, but how much of presence still needs to be decided.
OSU President Paul Risser was pleased with the decision and said collaboration between OSU and the UO has always been an element of OSU’s plans for the branch campus.
Tim White, OSU provost and vice president, also said working with the UO has been included in OSU’s plans “from the get-go” and said mandating that the two work together was almost redundant.
He said developing a working relationship between the two institutions is one of the first steps in OSU’s implementation plans and added he will be meeting with John Moseley, University of Oregon provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“John and I are going to visit Tuesday morning at 8 to discuss that relationship,” White said.
Mosely, who did much of the work developing the University’s proposal, was disheartened after the board’s decision.
“It’s disappointing in a sense because we feel that we had the best proposal,” he said.
He said the University should still be able to offer some of the best elements of its plan in Central Oregon through its joint-effort with OSU and said he is optimistic about this relationship.
“Hopefully it will be good for both universities,” Mosely said.