The Jan. 19 article, “Oregon Student Association to keep public officials in governance process,” states that the Oregon Student Association doesn’t support the New Partnership plan being considered in the current legislative session. According to the article, the OSA’s opposition is rooted in a belief that the New Partnership would exclude public officials from the University’s mechanisms for governance and accountability.
To a point, we agree with the student group’s position — we don’t want to exclude public officials, either. The plan we’ve presented includes a local governing board that would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate, just as the current State Board of Higher Education is appointed. The New Partnership also calls for the continuation of a state-level board for system-wide coordination, such as approval of degree programs and assessing the UO’s performance in state educational goals.
The New Partnership plan is focused on students and the ability to provide access and a quality education with predictable tuition costs in the face of decreasing state investments. With stable funding, accountability and flexibility, we can provide an even greater educational experience for current and future students at the University of Oregon.
Students, faculty and staff can learn more about the New Partnership proposal at the upcoming campus town hall meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 26 in the EMU Ballroom. It’s an opportunity for the community to become informed about this vital effort to preserve the UO’s public mission.
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