UO may get $10M from state to reduce tuition increases, HECC loses $

Saul Hubbard has the good news in the RG here:

For the UO, the extra money for public universities would translate roughly to an extra $10 million in funding over the next two years. That would more than cover the cost of “buying down” the tuition increase by 4 percent for the upcoming school year, according to a UO spokesman.

UO President Michael Schill said Tuesday the proposed new money would “bring critical tuition relief” and represents an “important step in the right direction” from legislative leaders.

“I hope it is a sign of the state’s continuing commitment to supporting an excellent, accessible higher education system for all Oregonians,” he said, in a prepared statement.

Presumably the reduction will only be for in-state tuition. But it’s not all good news:

UO officials are still lobbying lawmakers for $100 million in state-backed bonds this year to build its new high-tech science campus.

But key lawmakers so far are favoring the governor’s proposal: splitting the $100 million bonding allocation over the next three state budget cycles. That would mean only $34 million in bonds this year.

And UO’s State Affairs Director Hans Bernard passes on his take. Interestingly, the HECC is going to lose 4 positions, while the Oregon Promise – which pays CC tuition for rich kids as well as poor – gets a huge increase:

This afternoon the amendment and budget report to SB 5524, the budget bill for higher education was released. Tomorrow morning, the Education Subcommittee of Ways & Means will hear and work this measure.

Below is an overview of the bill. Please bear in mind that this is NOT YET FINAL and will continue to be subject to changes and negotiations.

Operating Funds
Public University Support Fund: $736,898,583 General Fund

This represents an increase of nearly $70 million, or 10.4%, from the 2015-17 legislatively adopted budget and the Governor’s budget. There is also a recommended budget note that would require the reduction of undergraduate resident tuition at public universities for the next academic year to the following rates:
· UO – 6.56%
· OIT – 5.0%
· PSU – 5.5%
· SOU – 9.0%
· WOU – 6.5%

The recommended budget note also includes the following language: “For the second year of the biennium or the 2018-19 academic year, the expectation is that no public university’s tuition growth shall exceed 5% over the tuition rate for the 2017-18 academic year.”

Financial Aid
Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG)
The OOG is maintained at the CSL level of $146.1 million Total Funds ($125M General Funds). The Governor’s Recommended Budget allocated an increased for this program at $151 million, which would have allowed HECC to make about 5,000 more awards this biennium.

Oregon Promise
The Oregon Promise program will be fully funded at nearly $40 million (just under $35 million General Fund).

State Programs
Funding for the 13 different state programs is increased by $194,096 over CSL, bringing total funding to $39.7 million General Fund. UO’s programs will receive the following:
· Dispute Resolution – $2,634,011
· Signature Research Centers – $1,089,319
· LERC $710,328
· Clinical Legal Education $364,381
· TallWood Design Institute $3,558,605

HECC
The Commission will see a reduction with this budget, with an elimination of approximately 4 positions.

Hans Bernard
Assistant Vice President for State Affairs
Special Assistant to the President – Portland
University of Oregon