Eastern Oregon speakers urge Ways and Means to boost higher-education and student-support funding

At a Joint Committee on Ways and Means public hearing at Eastern Oregon University, university leaders, students and education advocates urged the committee to increase funding for public higher education and for campus and community student-support programs.

Kelly Ryan, president of Eastern Oregon University, told the committee she welcomed the legislators and framed the hearing as an opportunity for the university and region to advocate directly for state support. "EOU is embedded in our region, from educating and training tomorrow's workforce ... to partnerships with schools, community colleges, nonprofits, and municipalities," Ryan said.

Student speakers and faculty emphasized programs that assist historically underrepresented or first-generation students. Oren Kikoa, a transfer student and Summer Bridge participant at EOU, described Summer Bridge as a program that helped him gain confidence, leadership roles and a seat on EOU's Board of Trustees; he asked the committee to support continued funding for programs that serve underrepresented students. Doctor Anthony Stenson, a psychology professor and head of the faculty union at EOU, asked the committee to increase allocations to the Public University Support Fund and the Oregon Opportunity Grant, saying regional institutions are "in serious need of support."

Several speakers connected higher-education funding to student basic needs and campus services. Robert Kling, director of EOU Head Start, urged stable funding for Head Start and asked that the Legislature support the governor's allocation to the Department of Early Learning and Care to preserve existing services. Pamela Frederick Williams, benefits navigator at EOU, described students who face food and housing insecurity and urged continued funding for campus navigator positions and related basic-needs programs.

Representatives of College Possible and local graduates asked the committee to fund college-access programs. Natalie Coria Vasquez, a College Possible student at EOU, described the program's role in guiding first-generation students through applications, testing and financial-aid processes. Multiple speakers asked lawmakers to support HB 2997 (College access and success support), HB 3182 (basic needs for students), and HB 3183 (open educational resources), as well as continued funding for the Public University Support Fund (as reflected in SB 604 and related budget packages).

Education advocates and faculty framed higher-education…