The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Cory Reed Jack Chapman (right), vice president of the OSU Cascades campus, meets with Joel Fischer, policy advisor for senator Joanne Verger, Tuesday during OSU Day at the Capital.

With no jobs on the market, university enrollment has risen 16 percent at the OSU-Cascades campus alone. The existence for the extended campus, however, is completely dependent on the budget cuts for next year.

There is an expected $4.4 billion deficit in the state's General Fund budget, and lawmakers are not ruling out the closure of the Cascades campus.

President Ed Ray said he doesn't expect the campus to close, and he is doing everything possible to save OSU-Cascades.

He said the state budget situation is currently very difficult and will be for the next two years.

Ray said he has, along with others, provided key legislators with material that makes the case for the continued growth of the Cascades campus. He has also made many trips to Bend to discuss the situation with the community leaders and local media.

Ray said they currently have the support of key legislators such as Judy Stiegler, Gene Whisnant and Chris Telfer, which he feels is crucial and a good start.

"The possible closing of the campus has served as a real wake-up call to the community, and many influential people are speaking up on behalf of the campus," Ray said.

The Cascades campus provides access to higher education for those who live in Central Oregon and for whatever reason, cannot or do not want to leave.

Ray said the campus is developing distinctive programs in outdoor recreation and tourism, general business, secondary education, engineering and other areas that are specifically intended to meet the current and future educational needs of the region.

Becky Johnson, vice provost for academic affairs and international programs, has been serving as the interim dean of OSU-Cascades since January. Ray commended Johnson, saying she has been doing an excellent job.

Johnson said she thinks there are a number of compelling reasons not to close the campus. Central Oregon is one of the fastest growing regions of the state, and has a population of more than 200,000 people.

Continued...

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