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SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- What a difference a few years makes.
Oregon's university system used to be a virtual wallflower, consistently lagging behind K-12 schools and social services in the race to claim state dollars - and driving up tuition and fees in the process.
This year, though, higher education is the belle of the ball in Salem. Lawmakers have even put off passing a budget for the state's seven universities and 17 community colleges in hopes of finding even more money to dedicate to the system.
Right now, higher education is slated to get $853.2 million in state funding over the next two years _ about $5 million short of what Gov. Ted Kulongoski had originally proposed for the system. Community colleges are to receive $493 million, an increase over current funding levels, but still less than the $529 million that the 17 schools had sought.
To add in more funding, lawmakers are eyeing two sources, said Rep. Larry Galizio, the Tigard Democrat who chairs the subcommittee charged with shaping the various education budgets.
The sources include an extra $8.1 million that was freed up after a recalculation of the state's debt service obligations. An even more tempting target is the $223 million slated to be left over after budget negotiations are wrapped up, money that is typically carried over into the next session.
If it's granted, the extra money would go to a number of different programs, including:
- Support to the state's four regional universities, in Ashland, Klamath Falls, Monmouth and La Grande. These smaller schools have been hard-hit by recent budget cuts; in Ashland, administrators at Southern Oregon University recently eliminated several academic departments, including German and geography.
- The Engineering and Technology Investment Council, or ETIC. The program, aimed at prodding the state's universities to churn out more engineering graduates, is a particular favorite in the business community.
- Faculty salaries, which have consistently lagged those at peer universities, leaving Oregon vulnerable to losing top talent, and missing out on top-tier recruits. Getting the state to just the median salary levels among comparable institutions would require a $46 million investment, said Neil Bryant, a lobbyist for the Oregon University System.
- Managing enrollment growth, which has forced some students to take longer to complete their studies since the classes they need to take are overenrolled.
- Creation of a climate center at Oregon State, to study global warming.
- An extra $2.5 million for extension services, mainly run by Oregon State University and a popular cause among rural legislators, who appreciate the focus on agriculture, timber and the fishing industry.
- Maintaining funding for a student child-care program at the university system. The popular program is at capacity, and has a long waiting list, but no money has been set aside for it as yet.
Universities are also lobbying to be able to retain the interest earnings from their investment income, a wish that was granted by the governor but that lawmakers haven't yet signed off on.
Another wrinkle in the budget: The perennial back-and-forth over tuition, which has increased exponentially over the past few years, rising 99 percent at the community college level alone over the last decade.
The Oregon Student Association has tried to hold the line on the issue this session, pushing legislators to limit tuition increases to 3.4 percent next year. But university officials briefly balked at that this week, citing concerns that classified unions could press for larger cost-of-living increases, leaving them no choice but to increase tuition.
Late this week, though, the two sides agreed that if labor negotiations ending up costing more than the universities can afford, they'll return to the legislature during the one month session scheduled for next February to ask for more state funding; if that's not forthcoming, a tuition increase could be in the works.
Oregon's university system used to be a virtual wallflower, consistently lagging behind K-12 schools and social services in the race to claim state dollars - and driving up tuition and fees in the process.
This year, though, higher education is the belle of the ball in Salem. Lawmakers have even put off passing a budget for the state's seven universities and 17 community colleges in hopes of finding even more money to dedicate to the system.
Right now, higher education is slated to get $853.2 million in state funding over the next two years _ about $5 million short of what Gov. Ted Kulongoski had originally proposed for the system. Community colleges are to receive $493 million, an increase over current funding levels, but still less than the $529 million that the 17 schools had sought.
To add in more funding, lawmakers are eyeing two sources, said Rep. Larry Galizio, the Tigard Democrat who chairs the subcommittee charged with shaping the various education budgets.
The sources include an extra $8.1 million that was freed up after a recalculation of the state's debt service obligations. An even more tempting target is the $223 million slated to be left over after budget negotiations are wrapped up, money that is typically carried over into the next session.
If it's granted, the extra money would go to a number of different programs, including:
- Support to the state's four regional universities, in Ashland, Klamath Falls, Monmouth and La Grande. These smaller schools have been hard-hit by recent budget cuts; in Ashland, administrators at Southern Oregon University recently eliminated several academic departments, including German and geography.
- The Engineering and Technology Investment Council, or ETIC. The program, aimed at prodding the state's universities to churn out more engineering graduates, is a particular favorite in the business community.
- Faculty salaries, which have consistently lagged those at peer universities, leaving Oregon vulnerable to losing top talent, and missing out on top-tier recruits. Getting the state to just the median salary levels among comparable institutions would require a $46 million investment, said Neil Bryant, a lobbyist for the Oregon University System.
- Managing enrollment growth, which has forced some students to take longer to complete their studies since the classes they need to take are overenrolled.
- Creation of a climate center at Oregon State, to study global warming.
- An extra $2.5 million for extension services, mainly run by Oregon State University and a popular cause among rural legislators, who appreciate the focus on agriculture, timber and the fishing industry.
- Maintaining funding for a student child-care program at the university system. The popular program is at capacity, and has a long waiting list, but no money has been set aside for it as yet.
Universities are also lobbying to be able to retain the interest earnings from their investment income, a wish that was granted by the governor but that lawmakers haven't yet signed off on.
Another wrinkle in the budget: The perennial back-and-forth over tuition, which has increased exponentially over the past few years, rising 99 percent at the community college level alone over the last decade.
The Oregon Student Association has tried to hold the line on the issue this session, pushing legislators to limit tuition increases to 3.4 percent next year. But university officials briefly balked at that this week, citing concerns that classified unions could press for larger cost-of-living increases, leaving them no choice but to increase tuition.
Late this week, though, the two sides agreed that if labor negotiations ending up costing more than the universities can afford, they'll return to the legislature during the one month session scheduled for next February to ask for more state funding; if that's not forthcoming, a tuition increase could be in the works.
