Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, and Western Oregon University are facing financial pressure due to changing demographic and economic variables. There are fewer 18-24 year olds in Oregon. These universities, collectively known as the technical and regional universities, plus Portland State University (or the TRU+ universities); their students, staff, and faculty; and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) came together to prioritize investments in actions that will foster the long term financial sustainability of the TRU+ universities in ways that also ensure equitable student success.
HECC’s 2023-25 budget bill (HB 5025) allocated $6,164,482 one-time General Fund and $18,735,518 special purpose appropriation to the Emergency Board for potential HECC grants to assist the TRU+ universities with long term financial sustainability. Oregon is one of the only states to proactively invest in helping its TRU+ universities adapt to changing demographic and economic realities. In 2024, Oregon Solutions was asked to support a project team, which recommended an allocation approach for that $18,735,518 that included the following:
- Predictable criteria tied to legislative intent, demographic and economic reality, and the needs of students
- A review process for proposed projects
- Ways to support ongoing collaboration across all five TRU+ universities
- An equitable allocation of funds across TRU+ universities.
The recommendation from the project team was unanimously endorsed by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Some of the background documents include:
- The consensus Declaration of Cooperation (PDF) from the project team;
- The HECC recommendation
- A report from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) (PDF) summarizing their recommendations
- A report from the five TRU+ universities (PDF) on recommended project investments