Ore. colleges, universities ask Salem: Restore cut spending

The leaders of every public college and university in Oregon are asking the Legislature to restore budget cuts, rebuild educational programs and help families reach the middle class — and stay there.

An open letter from the presidents of Oregon’s seven universities and 17 community colleges was delivered this week to legislators, asking them to restore funding to pre-recession levels.

The message echoes what the Joint Ways and Means Committee heard in April field hearings across the state: Restore capacity and improve the opportunities for students, employers and Oregon’s economy.

A decade of disinvestment across the spectrum of higher education has battered programs and resulted in massive tuition hikes, which has made it more difficult for Oregonians to obtain the degrees and certificates they need and employers require, the officials said.

The letter says, in part: “The right investments today will do more than make post-secondary education more affordable. They will make a vital post-secondary education possible for many, bolster Oregon’s economic competitiveness, and offer a path to reach the middle class.”

For the 2015-17 biennium, public universities are requesting a $755 million appropriation and community colleges are seeking $550 million. Those minimum investments will help ensure Oregon students have an accessible path to post-secondary education and job training programs.

“What we’re asking for — $755 million for universities, $550 million for community colleges – would help break the cycle of growing student debt and lost opportunity,” says Portland State University President Wim Wiewel. “This investment would help keep Oregon’s economy on the upswing.”

“The quality of the future for students, families, employers and our economy is directly tied to the health of Oregon community colleges and universities,” said Greg Hamann, president of Linn-Benton Community College. “Restoring the cuts today across the continuum of higher education will open doors to more opportunities.”

The next several weeks are a critical time at the Legislature, as lawmakers will start making final decisions on the state’s $18 billion general fund budget, once a new state revenue forecast is released on Friday.

Leaders of Oregon’s community colleges and universities are urging legislative leaders to ensure opportunity for thousands of Oregonians.