Last-minute funding to reduce rise in tuition

A last-minute legislative infusion of $15 million into the Oregon University System’s operating budget is set to reduce in-state undergraduate tuition increases from 4.5 to 3.5 percent in what Dr. Melody Rose, the interim chancellor of OUS, called “the lowest [tuition] increase in many years.”

State bonds aid PSU construction projects

Recently approved state bonds—$64 million worth—will aid PSU in expanding the School of Business Administration and reshaping the Peter W. Stott Center. The funding comes as part of a larger, $743.5 million funding effort across the state to improve Oregon’s universities and community colleges.

University of Oregon arms its campus police officers

On June 21, in a 7-0 vote, the State Board of Higher Education elected to arm the University of Oregon’s campus police officers. The University of Oregon Police Department’s 11 sworn police officers were able to carry firearms in the line of duty immediately following the ruling.

SBA receives $250K donation

At Portland State, business is booming—the School of Business Administration, that is. With a nationally recognized Master of Business Administration program and enrollment numbers hitting record highs, space inside Portland State’s SBA building is getting tight, and the building is in line for a major renovation. Luckily, the future of the SBA program and its students got a little brighter with a $250,000 donation from Tektronix last week.

Committee meets to explore OSA and OCCSA merger

An investigative committee of student government representatives from all over the state met for the first time on Friday to explore the possibility of a merger between the Oregon Student Association and the Oregon Community College Association.

PSU rally encourages innovation

Portland State’s Intellectual and Innovation Property department’s online innovation research rally ended Sunday. The purpose of the rally was to connect participants (and their projects and ideas) with innovators and research faculty who could then determine how to help. The IIP also gave out three cash awards ranging from $5,000–20,000 as funding for development and research to encourage innovators and researchers to share their ideas. Winners will be chosen in the beginning of September.