If students don’t come to the University of Oregon, the University might soon come to them — assuming they live in Central Oregon.
The University is one of at least two Oregon University System institutions in the process of applying to open a branch campus in Bend. It is already one of 10 schools serving Central Oregon Community College through a University Service Center — an administrative office that brokers programs from participating universities — and one of seven institutions offering a degree.
That means students attending Central Oregon Community College have been able to earn a degree in general science from the University of Oregon for the past three years. Starting this fall those students will also be able to pursue a bachelor’s degree in general social science.
University President Dave Frohnmayer said a University branch campus on the Central Oregon Community College campus might draw more students, both regionally and internationally, to further their education in that area.
Frohnmayer said a University branch campus in Bend would help make higher education more accessible and fill a long-standing void in Central Oregon.
“It’s [neglected] in terms of higher education and upper-division courses and degree programs,” he said.
Shirley Clark, Oregon University System Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said proposals for the branch campus are due Dec. 1. She said the question is not so much whether there will be a branch campus, but who will run the branch campus.
So far, officials are only aware of an interest from the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be more applicants.
The State Board of Higher Education has already endorsed the branch campus model for a minimum of five years, after which it will determine whether to modify or continue the program. The opening of the Central Oregon branch campus still depends on funding by the State Legislature. The expected start-up costs for the first two years come to an estimated $7.2 million.
The Board will make a final decision once the Oregon University System chancellor makes a recommendation in January and the new branch campus — run by either the University of Oregon or Oregon State University — will be up and running by next fall.
Jim Lussier, vice president of the State Board of Higher Education, said the idea is to use the process of application to ensure that the Bend area is served in a way that fills current voids in higher education.
“We’re looking at using that process in a competitive way to get those needs met,” he said.
Dick Markwood, dean and director of Central Oregon Community College, said the new branch campus will help improve higher education offerings in the Bend area, draw more students and help make the small community college look like other institutions in the state.
Markwood said he is confident that both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon could get the job done.
“It’s quite obvious to me that either one of them can provide what is needed in Central Oregon,” he said.
Greg Nelson, assistant director of general science at the University and the programs it offers through the University Service Center in Bend, said the branch campus will help students in Central Oregon complete their higher education in one place, with one institution.
“I think primarily, it will offer a contiguous program with one university,” he said. “What it will do is make it more central.”
Nelson said he thinks the University has just as much of a shot at getting approval as any other institution that might apply.
“I think our chances are as good as anybody else’s,” he said.
Frohnmayer said if the University gets the go-ahead, the Bend branch will start serving students next fall.