Higher ed budget proposal is unacceptable

As the president of the Associated Students of Southern Oregon University (ASSOU) and a senior at SOU, I am one of many students who have benefitted from Oregon’s public universities.

During my time at SOU, I have had the opportunity to step into leadership in our student-led clubs, benefited from the TRIO Program for first-generation college students like myself, live in university housing, obtain student financial aid to help finance my higher education in preparation of my future career.

Governor Kotek’s recommended budget, released earlier this month is a bad proposal, which doesn’t fully address the costs of keeping current levels of operations. This could jeopardize the ability of SOU and other public universities to continue to provide critical student services and jeopardize Oregon’s future.

At SOU, we’ve seen the impacts of reduced state funding for years, including higher tuition to compensate for the state’s lack of investment; continuing this is not sustainable. It pushes students out of Oregon to other states that invest far more in their students and public universities.

Universities, including SOU, have made it clear that they need an additional $275 million investment this year in order to avoid tuition hikes, service reductions, and other adjustments that will impact students like me and weaken the state’s workforce pipeline. The governor’s budget still comes up at least $195 million short of what’s required. Students are counting on our Legislature to make up the difference, and so is Oregon’s future economic growth. Please don’t let us down.

Tiana Gilliland / Ashland