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OSU's presence felt throughout Oregon
Wide-range research programs, in addition to extension offices, put $1.5 billion into Oregon's economy
Lauren Sigel
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
Universities across Oregon have some big shoes to fill, considering the economic footprint of Oregon State is estimated to exceed $1.5 billion per year, which is more than any other university or college in the state.
This figure is up 50 percent from a decade ago, partly due to higher enrollment rates.
"As the state's only institution rated in the most active tier of research universities by the Carnegie Foundation, we're increasingly aware of our role as an economic catalyst and engine," said OSU President Ed Ray.
Oregon State is one of two universities in America to hold all four land, sea, space and sun grants. The other is Cornell University.
That means OSU has one of the broadest, most diverse research programs in the nation. The range of research programs is so wide that OSU has earned the Carnegie Foundation's premiere designation, reserved for campuses with notably high research activity.
The economic footprint includes the dollars that are spent and increases in the state's economy as a result of OSU's presence.
That money includes salaries to employees, which are then spent throughout the state in various forms.
"We're not even measuring the impact to the wheat farmer, where we are helping them be more profitable and have a better crop," said Rebecca Johnson, OSU vice provost for Academic Affairs and International Programs, in an article by the Gazette-Times.
OSU has indented the economy of Oregon in more ways than one. A recent example is the use of a laser imprint system to "label" pears in a joint project between OSU and the Oregon Department of Agriculture at the OSU Food Innovation Center.
The laser system doesn't hurt the fruit and enhances food security in that the labels can't be peeled off.
The university's widespread financial influence stems from OSU's presence in every Oregon county, either through a research center, an extension office or an experiment station.
OSU's economic output in each of the 36 counties ranges from more than a combined $652 million in Benton and Linn counties to over $100,000 in Wheeler County.
Fifteen counties show more than $1 million in economic output related to OSU. Furthermore, OSU expenditures led to some 16,000 full- and part-time jobs for Oregonians statewide.
"Every taxpayer in the state can look to these numbers with confidence and know that their investments in Oregon State are paying significant, valuable dividends," Johnson said in an OSU Media release.
Lauren Sigel, news writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
This figure is up 50 percent from a decade ago, partly due to higher enrollment rates.
"As the state's only institution rated in the most active tier of research universities by the Carnegie Foundation, we're increasingly aware of our role as an economic catalyst and engine," said OSU President Ed Ray.
Oregon State is one of two universities in America to hold all four land, sea, space and sun grants. The other is Cornell University.
That means OSU has one of the broadest, most diverse research programs in the nation. The range of research programs is so wide that OSU has earned the Carnegie Foundation's premiere designation, reserved for campuses with notably high research activity.
The economic footprint includes the dollars that are spent and increases in the state's economy as a result of OSU's presence.
That money includes salaries to employees, which are then spent throughout the state in various forms.
"We're not even measuring the impact to the wheat farmer, where we are helping them be more profitable and have a better crop," said Rebecca Johnson, OSU vice provost for Academic Affairs and International Programs, in an article by the Gazette-Times.
OSU has indented the economy of Oregon in more ways than one. A recent example is the use of a laser imprint system to "label" pears in a joint project between OSU and the Oregon Department of Agriculture at the OSU Food Innovation Center.
The laser system doesn't hurt the fruit and enhances food security in that the labels can't be peeled off.
The university's widespread financial influence stems from OSU's presence in every Oregon county, either through a research center, an extension office or an experiment station.
OSU's economic output in each of the 36 counties ranges from more than a combined $652 million in Benton and Linn counties to over $100,000 in Wheeler County.
Fifteen counties show more than $1 million in economic output related to OSU. Furthermore, OSU expenditures led to some 16,000 full- and part-time jobs for Oregonians statewide.
"Every taxpayer in the state can look to these numbers with confidence and know that their investments in Oregon State are paying significant, valuable dividends," Johnson said in an OSU Media release.
Lauren Sigel, news writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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