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 Oregon University System Chancellor Joe
Cox’s earlier recommendation 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,” board member and University chemistry
professor Geri Richmond said.
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
proposal 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 University 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
University has 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 University Provost John Moseley.
“John and I are going to visit Tuesday morning at 8 to discuss that
relationship,” he 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 that 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,” he said.