University of Oregon may be going private
Funds appropriated to U of O aren't likely to be dispersed among other public universities
Jeff Gale
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
The word is out that the University of Oregon is looking at the possibility of leaving the Oregon University System.
Dave Frohnmayer, the president of the University of Oregon, was among a group of university presidents who gave mission presentations to the State Board of Higher Education.
University of Oregon's mission statement, to "serve the people of Oregon, the nation, and the world," inspired Frohnmayer to voice the lack of state funding given to the university.
In fact, only 13% of state funding goes to the University of Oregon - the least amount of per student funding of any Oregon university.
In his presentation to the State Board of Education, Frohnmayer outlined why the university should receive more funding than it currently does.
Phil Weiler, spokesperson for the U of O, said that "Frohnmayer gave two proposals in his presentation to the State Board of Education."
The second proposal was that in the absence of more funding, the University of Oregon would need a new system of governance in order to succeed.
"The University of Oregon is the Association of American Universities flagship institution of the OUS," Frohnmayer said.
The OUS is responsible for funding U of O's mission statement or allowing the university to form a new governance.
The proposed system of governance would allow the University of Oregon to find new sources of funding - which it cannot do as a state institution.
University of Oregon would not be the first college in the state to make such a move.
Oregon Health Sciences University became a public corporation in 1995.
Upon its creation, OHSU separated itself from the Oregon State System of Education.
Governance of the university passed from the Board of Higher Education to the OHSU Board of Directors, whose members are nominated by the governor and approved by the Oregon Senate.
The University of Oregon is likely to follow the same formula if it indeed becomes a public corporation.
Dave Frohnmayer, the president of the University of Oregon, was among a group of university presidents who gave mission presentations to the State Board of Higher Education.
University of Oregon's mission statement, to "serve the people of Oregon, the nation, and the world," inspired Frohnmayer to voice the lack of state funding given to the university.
In fact, only 13% of state funding goes to the University of Oregon - the least amount of per student funding of any Oregon university.
In his presentation to the State Board of Education, Frohnmayer outlined why the university should receive more funding than it currently does.
Phil Weiler, spokesperson for the U of O, said that "Frohnmayer gave two proposals in his presentation to the State Board of Education."
The second proposal was that in the absence of more funding, the University of Oregon would need a new system of governance in order to succeed.
"The University of Oregon is the Association of American Universities flagship institution of the OUS," Frohnmayer said.
The OUS is responsible for funding U of O's mission statement or allowing the university to form a new governance.
The proposed system of governance would allow the University of Oregon to find new sources of funding - which it cannot do as a state institution.
University of Oregon would not be the first college in the state to make such a move.
Oregon Health Sciences University became a public corporation in 1995.
Upon its creation, OHSU separated itself from the Oregon State System of Education.
Governance of the university passed from the Board of Higher Education to the OHSU Board of Directors, whose members are nominated by the governor and approved by the Oregon Senate.
The University of Oregon is likely to follow the same formula if it indeed becomes a public corporation.
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