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I have serious concerns about the bonding portion on the UO New Partnership proposal.  If we allow the UO to have a $800 MILLION bond, it would nearly max out our debt capacity and prevent Oregon’s other public universities from erecting a building for 5-10 years.  Also, as we have seen through the last couple of years, the endowment market is quite unstable. The average endowment is down 25-35% from 3 years ago. That means that if the New Partnership had gone into effect as recently as 2007, it could have already LOST $240 MILLION - or more - of the taxpayers’ money on a high risk investment.  This proposal is too large of a risk!

posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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Tuition Equity is needed if Oregon wants to stay competitive.  We are already investing in their lives (K-12 education), just to have them priced out of a higher education.  These students have no access to financial aid or students loan...and tuition equity would still not allow students to have access to these things.  However, as out-of-state tuition is nearly 3X more expensive than in-state tuition, students cannot afford higher education at the out-of-state tuition.  

Tuition Equity would capitalize on the investment we already made on these students.  By giving them an opportunity to get an college education, they will be able to give more back to the state. 

Also, addressing the comments by Dee when she called in, these students are already paying taxes and contributing to the state.  The myth that undocumented people do not pay taxes is widely spread, and just that, a myth.  Additionally, the more educated these students become, the more they are able to contribute to income tax to the state.

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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