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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: February 24, 2007 Education, political leaders discuss education funding needs By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings Tidings file photo Freshman physics major Ethan Smith studies in the library at Southern Oregon University Tuesday, Jan. 23. Smith says he is uncertain about continuing at SOU amid uncertain times and changes. Students and educators warned legislators Friday afternoon that failing to fund higher education in the state of Oregon is a losing bid for everyone, but SOU has suffered more than any other school. About 75 people gathered in the Meese Room of Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library to participate in a joint meeting between the Oregon Senate Committee on Education and General Government and the House Education Committee on funding higher education. Chancellor of the Oregon University System George Pernsteiner, Southern Oregon University President Mary Cullinan, and Margie Lowe, policy adviser to Gov. Ted Kulongoski's office addressed the committee along with students, faculty and staff from SOU. Statewide, general fund dollars and federal funds for higher education have dropped proportionally, Pernsteiner said, putting more of the pressure to fund universities on tuition and fees. General fund monies for the state public university system dropped from 26 percent of funding during the 1999-2001 biennium to 16 percent in the 2005-2007 biennium. During the same period, the student share of higher education funding surpassed what the state pays to fund its institutions, Pernsteiner said. The reductions in state general fund spending on higher education resulted in declining enrollment and increased tuition statewide, Pernsteiner said, with Southern Oregon University affected the most. "It seems this university is suffering more than others," said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, chair of the Senate Committee on Education and General Government. Walker said even 30 years ago college didn't seem affordable but, "It seems to be worse now than ever." At SOU, seven years of declining enrollment and decreased revenues forced the university to increase funding, President Mary Cullinan said. Between 1999 and 2006, the university saw a decrease of 615 full-time students. During the same period, overall revenues increased only 23 percent, Cullinan said. On March 12, Cullinan will release a formal retrenchment plan. After two comment periods and a provisional plan that outlines cutting three majors and about 50 positions, the university is planning to cut costs to save about $4 million. "One might say we are trapped in a revenue-static environment," Cullinan said. "In the current fiscal year, general fund resources are more or less fixed; tuition revenues are constrained by enrollment decline and no other significant infusions of cash are likely." Donavan Grace Weil, a geology student at SOU, spoke about her life as a mother with a disabled partner. Weil, 25, said in her current situation, SOU is her only option. The potential loss of the geology program could mean students like her would drop out, she said. She pleaded that legislators find a way to fund higher education so talented people do not give up their education because they can't afford it. The state will see more negative effects if it does not spend more on higher education, she said. "In the next three years, it is estimated that 87 percent of new jobs in Oregon will require a college degree," Weil said. "Yet, we are cutting the funding to our university system, crippling our ability to provide the necessary work force to attract new business to Oregon and shortchanging our current population." Gov. Ted Kulongoski's proposed budget allocates $6.09 billion of the $14.9 billion proposed to public schools. Cullinan and Chancellor Pernsteiner said it would be a step in the right direction, but will not solve the university system's immediate problems. For students like Kathleen Gamer, a student and single mother, state funding could mean the difference between college or no college for her and her son. Gamer leaned into the microphone, and with a shaky voice, expressed her concerns that the state support those making an effort to better themselves. "As a non-traditional, single mother, with a son in the Oregon school system, I am concerned with our education system, and I would personally lose all hope for a future for me and my son if we do not change this dangerous trend of disinvestment in higher education." Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, chair of the house education committee, said earlier this week he wants to increase funding for higher education. "What is happening at Southern Oregon University is a direct result of our state's refusal to adequately fund higher education over the past six years," Buckley said. "It is crucial for us to bring stability to state revenues and to increase our investment in education. We have neglected to do so for far too long, and the price we are paying now is high." The joint committee also heard public hearings on Senate Bill 334 the Shared Responsibility Proposal (which would restructure the Oregon Opportunity Grant to share higher education funding between the student, state, family and federal government) and House Bill 2579, which would increase the number of directors appointed to the state board of higher education. Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected] . Current Comments: Stop the damn wars, impeach Bush and fund education. We need a leader, not a "mad" decision maker; we need to take care of ourselves, not the rich and powerful; we need hundreds of billions of dollars here in the US for health, education, and peace of mind. Let's figure out global warming, not how to take other countries oil. Let's try and save lives, not destroy entire civilizations! When the president(excuse the useless use of that term) claims billions for war, we the poeple of the US, lose! don popejoy ( [email protected] ) - spokane wa - February 24th, 5:50 PM I just want to comment on the fact that we are struggling to keep the university in business so that everybody on campus will continue with our education. I do hope and pray that the board of higher education are still working on plans on how to increase the funding for SOU. As a student who is a junior,and majoring in Communication (with the emphasis of video productions), I hope things will turn out great, not only for the sake of my future, but everybody else's too. Michael D. Fox - Ashland, OR - February 24th, 9:55 PM The handwriting has been on the wall for some time: you can't keep charging more for less. The university is built on a pre-industrial age model, with nobles, priests and peasants, and technology is allowing the peasants to revolt. Minor league state schools ape their wealthy, privately endowed superiors with lucrative contracts, tenure, sabbaticals, featherbed jobs, palatial buildings, and now cry when people resist paying for them. To SOU: you've forgotten your original mission. Change or die! nofreelunch - ashland, OR - February 25th, 8:01 AM i would strongly doubt ethan smith's commitment in college. he is a known drunk and has been arrested for publicly exposing himself on various occasions, one of which i know for a fact to be at a bar mitzvah. his distrust of many minorities is most likely an underlying quality of his raciscm, which i have encountered on many an instance. Dan Roxtar - Fall Creek, Oregon - February 25th, 10:18 AM ethan smith is a stand up guy john arbuckle - eugene,OR - February 25th, 2:49 PM If the football program was dropped, and maybe the entire athletic program, SOU could possibly recreate itself along the lines of Reed College. Tuition would be higher, but the outcome of a solid Fine Arts, Humanities focus would be more beneficial to the community than what is being generated today with students coming to classes without books or interest beyond sports. Thomas - ashland - February 25th, 2:53 PM Where's the public promotion of this state university in this plan? Most Oregon students now never see any brochure or ad about SOU, definitely the sunniest, warmest, and most scenic place to go to college in Oregon. Git out there and SELL this terrific school, SOU Administration! Dwight Spencer, Ph.D. - Portland - February 25th, 9:28 PM I'm wondering if Ashland, the only city in Oregon with a sales tax, could use that tax for school funding. I believe the tax was first instituted to combat the damage of the 1996 flood. I would assume that in the past eleven years, the damage has been restored. Therefore, use the tax to help fund SOU and as Dwight in Portland said, promote this school. Ashland is the best town in Oregon, and SOU is the best college. The best years of my life were in Ashland attending SOU. Advertise this gem. Matt Body - Atlanta, Georgia - February 26th, 8:08 AM The football program at SOU not only pays for itself (in student tuition and revenues generated by concessions), it has also agreed to divertsome of its tuition revenue to partially support other departments in President Cullinan's proposed budget for the next school year. Additionally, its participants, the athletes, get excellent grades and participate in many other aspects of campus life. Inform yourself before suggesting cuts to programs. President Cullinan did. Colleen - Ashland, OR - February 26th, 8:14 AM My suggestion is to drop the out-of-state tuition expense. I would love to come to SOU, but because I live on the other side of the line called the California border, SOU wants me to pay twice as much as an Oregon resident. Yes, they have a WUE scholarship, but that only reduces the "extra" by half. I'm sure many students from California, Washington and other states would like to attend SOU, but why should we pay so much more? prospective student - California - February 26th, 1:11 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us