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CLEAR Temp: 50 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 26, 2002 Zinser: SOU prepared to graduate to a larger scale By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University President Elisabeth Zinser painted visions of a larger institution that offers more programs in Medford at Wednesday’s all-campus meeting. Campus selected for liberal arts symposium ASHLAND — Southern Oregon University’s public liberal arts and sciences status has been spotlighted by national organizations. The university was selected as the Northwest site for a nationwide dialogue. It was also invited to join a 20-member council that promotes superior undergraduate education. SOU is one of 11 U.S. sites that will hold community/campus dialogues on an initiative to increase pubic understanding of liberal arts education. It’s part of an effort by the Association of American Colleges and Universities to advance liberal arts undergraduate education. Community members will join business, government and educational leaders from 1 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the SOU Art Building. Other sites for the forums include Duke University, the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan. Rogue Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology are co-hosts of the event. Registration is available at SOU’s Web site — www.sou.edu — under the community/campus dialogue link. Others can register at the door. For information, call 552-8181. SOU has been invited to apply for membership in the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Most members are in rural or small-town settings. Characteristics include personal interaction with faculty, small classes and opportunities for faculty-supervised research. Council members include The Evergreen State College in Washington; Sonoma State University in Santa Rosa, Calif.; New College of Florida; and University of North Carolina at Asheville. SOU’s application is due in October. An accreditation team will visit the campus. SOU will learn if it’s accepted in June 2003. Zinser revealed that new Oregon University System Chancellor Richard Jarvis might seek to increase total state enrollment if the Legislature provides support and authority. SOU would increase from 5,465 students last year to 7,000 by 2010 under the chancellor’s "work in progress" deal with the Legislature, she said. Zinser spoke about the ambitious vision after reminding the audience of the university’s current budget realities — SOU has taken the state university system’s hardest hit with a 10 percent cut in state funding this biennium. Several factors would make an enrollment increase possible, Zinser said. "That’s because we are going to have a better reputation ... and we’ll have more opportunities outside Ashland," said Zinser. Most of the growth would come in Medford, she said. Mayor Lindsay Berryman, Zinser and others are assessing the needs in Medford. SOU will work with Rogue Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology to serve the area. One of the first steps will be to determine what facilities SOU needs in addition to its current sites. "We can bring a new level of opportunity to the Medford area," said Zinser. Besides continuing education and bachelor’s degree completion programs, SOU might also offer graduate degrees. "We could be a broker," said Zinser. Under the arrangement, Stanford University or the University of California at Berkeley might offer classes, she said. SOU also will explore joint opportunities with the University of Oregon. UO President Dave Frohnmayer and others will meet with their counterparts from SOU later this fall. Collaborations in the fine and performing arts and the sciences are among the possibilities, said Zinser. Zinser urged colleagues to "have a vision to jump into this area of new, practical liberal learning." The public is increasingly aware of the value of combining liberal arts education with professional studies, she said. SOU’s mission statement reflects that approach. An invitation to join the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges recognizes that SOU is already moving in this area. Alliances with the council and other groups would help increase SOU’s reputation, said Zinser. "We still haven’t gotten to the point where people understand there’s some costs associated with that mission," said Zinser. Zinser first reported on the institution’s latest budget developments. Decreasing state tax revenues have led to cuts in SOU’s budget. SOU’s reduction in state support during the current biennium will total $3.5 million. The figure could jump to $4 million if voters in January do not pass an income tax increase referred by the Legislature earlier this month. SOU has already reduced expenses by $2.5 million and will budget for further cuts in the year ahead. SOU’s 10 percent drop in state support was the largest percentage cut among all Oregon University System schools. Five other institutions had reductions in the 9 percent range. The University of Oregon had a 7.3 percent cut. The cuts have led to more students per class, fewer class offerings and reductions in services. SOU has left 31 vacant teaching and administration positions unfilled over the last year. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S