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 investment as both an economic and civic priority. Multiple speakers asked for measures to reduce tuition pressure, expand student supports and preserve part-time faculty positions. "For every dollar that we invest in education, we get a fivefold return on investment," Treasure Valley Community College President Dana Young told the committee.

Why this matters: speakers said reduced federal support and broader fiscal uncertainty make state decisions on higher-education and student-support funding more consequential for rural campuses and for low-income, first-generation, and rural students.

Details from testimony: speakers requested continuation or increases in the Public University Support Fund (specific bill references included SB 604 and institutional requests), support for EOU Head Start and the governor's Early Learning allocation, funding for campus benefits navigators, and appropriations for college-access programs such as HB 2997. Several speakers also urged funding for open educational resources and for programs that support part-time faculty pay parity (referenced HB 2669 by advocates).

Speakers

- Kelly Ryan — President, Eastern Oregon University (university) - Oren Kikoa — Transfer student / Summer Bridge participant (student) - Anthony Stenson, Ph.D. — Psychology professor and faculty union head, Eastern Oregon University (faculty) - Dana Young, Ed.D. — President, Treasure Valley Community College (higher education) - Robert Kling — Director, EOU Head Start (program director) - Pamela Frederick Williams — Benefits navigator, Eastern Oregon University (staff) - Natalie Coria Vasquez — College Possible student, Eastern Oregon University (student) - Dustin Ellis — Professor, Eastern Oregon University (faculty) - Paul Noward — History professor, Eastern Oregon University (faculty) - Beth Upshaw — retired EOU staff and community advocate (citizen)

Authorities

- type: "bill", name/description: "Public University Support Fund / SB 604 (budget discussions)", referenced_by: ["Kelly Ryan","Anthony Stenson","Dustin Ellis"] - type: "bill", name/description: "HB 2997 (College access and success)", referenced_by: ["Natalie Coria Vasquez","Dustin Ellis"] - type: "bill", name/description: "HB 3182 (basic needs for students)", referenced_by: ["Pamela Frederick Williams","Dave Dallas"] - type: "bill", name/description: "HB 3183 (open educational resources)", referenced_by: ["Dave Dallas","Dustin Ellis"] - type: "bill", name/description: "HB 2669 (higher education pay parity; referenced by advocacy groups)", referenced_by: ["Holly Oakes Miller"] - type: "bill", name/description: "Head Start funding request (Governor's proposed allocation / DELC ask)", referenced_by: ["Robert Kling"]

Actions: []

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clarifying_details:[{"category":"ranking","detail":"Speaker said Oregon ranks 40th in the nation for public higher education funding","value":"40","source_speaker":"Anthony Stenson"},{"category":"Head Start funding","detail":"Requested alignment with governor's budget allocation to Department of Early Learning and Care to maintain current service level","value":"not specified","source_speaker":"Robert Kling"},{"category":"College access","detail":"College Possible supports first-generation students with coaching and financial-aid navigation","value":"not specified","source_speaker":"Natalie Coria Vasquez"}]

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