SALEM, Ore. – Students from several state universities and community colleges met in the governor’s office in the Capitol on Monday to discuss higher education funding in Oregon.
James K. Sager, the governor’s education workforce and revenue policy adviser, met with representatives from the Oregon Student Association, who brought along their “prescriptions for higher education” written on large posters and signed by students at the various schools.
The students discussed problems caused by budget shortfalls at their individual schools, and requested that the governor approve the State Board of Higher Education’s budget, which calls for a $188 million increase for Oregon universities and another $101 million for community colleges.
Sager said that Governor Kulongoski has “made education his top priority” because he recognizes the importance of a college-educated population.
“He’s really become the spokesperson for post-secondary education,” Sager said of the governor. “We know that we need people with four-year, master’s and Ph.D. degrees, but we also need people who have gone to community college whether it’s for an (Associate of Arts degree), or a professional certificate, or an apprenticeship program. All those things are important for our economy.”
While Sager could not give any specific numbers from the governor’s budget, he guaranteed that the base funding for higher education – both universities and community colleges – would increase by at least 10 percent. Nevertheless, Sager said he could not guarantee the governor would approve the state board’s request to not raise tuition more than the median family income.
The students reported that statewide, community colleges and universities are experiencing the same problems for lack of funding: Class sizes are growing while professors are being laid off or leaving to pursue better jobs; courses are being offered less frequently – meaning students often have to remain in school longer to take required courses – and many Oregon high school students are choosing not to attend college in-state because of the high costs.
Emily McLain, state affairs coordinator from the University of Oregon, said that the average student here graduates with $17,802 in student loan debt and that tuition has increased by $2,424 in the last 10 years. Like other schools in the state, the University has lost professors and has switched to more associate and assistant professors. She said that Oregon needs to support its education.
“We don’t have the reverence for education that we should have,” she said. “There’s often a disconnect in the way we vote and the way we make decisions that shows that we don’t have that reverence.”
McLain also said the tuition does not reflect how much students pay because departmental resource fees are often not included in the price of attendance.
Another part of the plan to make Oregon colleges more affordable involves the “shared responsibility model,” in which undergraduate students contribute part of their expenses through working, scholarships and loan debt – at most, students would take on $2,750 in loans. Any other expenses not covered by family contributions or Pell Grants would be paid by the state, Sager said.
The shared responsibility model proposal, to be introduced to the legislature in January, would be phased in beginning in Fall 2008 and would be entirely in place by Fall 2010 if approved, Sager said.
“We’re very hopeful that this is going to have bipartisan support and make it through the session,” Sager said.
McLain said she hopes the citizens and politicians in Oregon will begin to use support for education as a way to reflect how they feel about the state.
“We need how much we prioritize higher education, how much we prioritize K through 12 education needs to mirror the way that we all feel about Oregon,” she said. “The way we make Oregon a good place is by providing the best education and the best support for education we possibly can.”
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