Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski appointed former Gov. Neil
Goldschmidt to the State Board of Higher Education and unveiled a
new post-secondary education initiative Thursday in an attempt to
rejuvenate the state’s role in higher education.

 Amid the reshuffling of state priorities, board
President Jim Lussier, Vice President Leslie Lehmann and board
members Kerry Barnett and Phyllis Wustenberg also resigned from
their posts Thursday. According to a press release from the
governor’s office, the resignations were offered to allow
Kulongoski to appoint members who can focus on the new
initiative.
Kulongoski said in the press release that the state has not
adequately invested in higher education and suggested the new
initiative will create a new era of economic vitality.
“I want to renew Oregon’s social compact with its citizens by
providing a post-secondary educational opportunity to all its
citizens and growth to the economy through investment in
education,” Kulongoski said in the release.
Kulongoski’s plan involves meeting four objectives: providing an
opportunity for every Oregon citizen to attend a college or
university, focusing on programs that create a demand for Oregon
graduates, spending state funds on programs that drive economic
growth, and creating a strategy that allows for reinvestment in
higher education.
Reaction to the news at the University was mixed; administrators
said the changes may have a positive impact for higher education,
but student leaders were unsure.
“I am pleased that the governor is going to make higher
education a high priority for the rest of his administration,” Vice
President and Provost John Moseley said. “It certainly is
potentially a major event for higher education and may portend a
high level of state support in the future.”
University President Dave Frohnmayer had similar sentiments.
“The governor’s focus on reinvestment in higher education is
really a focus on reinvestment in Oregon,” Frohnmayer said in a
statement to faculty members. “It is a recognition of the critical
role universities play in the prosperity of the state.”
ASUO President Maddy Melton acknowledged the significance of the
initiative but was not ready to label it a blessing.
“It’s definitely a huge deal, and it’s a huge political move,”
Melton said.
Elsewhere in the state, reaction to the initiative was generally
positive.
Current board member Bridget Burns, who is a student at Oregon
State University, said she supports Kulongoski’s decision.
“He really prioritizes access to education, and I really think
that ought to be our fundamental goal,” she said.
Oregon Student Association Executive Director John Wykoff said
Kulongoski is taking a bold step to refocus the university system’s
mission. While he applauded the board’s previous efforts to
prioritize quality, Wykoff said that at this juncture — when more
Oregonians may be unable to go to school due to rising costs —
access is clearly a more relevant goal.
Wykoff said he is now eager to see what the governor’s plan
entails and what direction the board will take.
“Hopefully it will bring good results,” he said.
Goldschmidt was appointed to serve in one of two previously
vacant positions on the 11-member board. Kulongoski will soon
appoint new members to fill the four vacancies left by the
resignations.