The University of Oregon faces a $25 million gap under Governor Kate Brown’s proposed budget. U of O administrators, students and alumni Thursday urged state lawmakers to put more money into higher education.
The U of O Board of Trustees last week voted to raise tuition by 10.6 percent for in-state students and 3 percent for out-of-state.
Schill: “We shouldn’t have to do that. And the reason for that is that the state has increasingly de-funded higher education and pushed the cost onto our students and their families.”
University of Oregon President Michael Schill met with legislators along with student Liz Beltran. She’s from Newport and has been able to fund her education with scholarships.
Beltran: “There’s a lot of people that are in the position that I am and are just as qualified to be receiving an education. That is very disappointing to me seeing that I have a sister that would also like to attend college.”
If the state puts more money toward higher ed, the U of O will reduce the tuition increase. The UO is also planning to lay off up to 75 non-tenured faculty to cope with budget shortfalls.