The State Board of Higher Education met today, January 10, 2014, to discuss upcoming changes within the Oregon University System when the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University adopt a new model of independent governance on July 1.
A preliminary report on Shared Services presented by Eastern Oregon University president Bob Davies, on behalf of the Shared Services Work Group that involves all OUS presidents, included a number of recommendations to continue working together on certain candidates among OUS universities even after universities with independent governing boards are established. Possible shared services include employee benefits, risk management, collective bargaining (all three mandatory,) as well as accounting and reporting, Fifth Site computer operations, payroll processing and treasury operations. The workgroup has not yet made a decision whether or not to include student and academic services.
The workgroup made two recommendations: to determine the financial impact of each university that establishes its own governing board in the OUS, both as a collective and within each individual institution and to form a mechanism to moderate negative financial impact caused by the reformed OUS structure, or require universities with established governing boards to remain in each shared service.
The workgroups will progress by hiring an executive director of Shared Services. An OUS news release states the director is to be a OSU employee and in place by July 1, 2014.
Board Director Orcilia Forbes and OUS staff members are confident that the transfer between OUS and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission will be able to outline all areas of responsibility before July. HECC includes public universities, community college and financial aid, as opposed to the OUS that is comprised of the seven state-run universities. Forbes provided an interim report that details their progression.
Along with five other OUS campuses, the UO submitted a capital request for a utility tunnel repair project. A final list for prioritized projects will be set in February and presented to the legislature for approval.
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