The Oregon University System Board of Higher Education recently added new members to its ranks by filling newly created seats and replacing members vacating their seats. The board, which governs all seven state-funded higher education institutions, including Portland State, has seen fit to create three new positions in addition to the 12 pre-existing seats, coming out to a grand total of 15. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber already filled one of the new seats by appointing Orcilia Zúñiga Forbes. James Middleton will be replacing Preston Pulims, current president of Portland Community College, who has served a full four-year term on the board.
The board addresses all policy affairs and issues regarding Oregon’s state-funded universities, and the efforts it makes directly affect the functionality of PSU and the education that students receive. Affairs that the board addresses range from maintaining caps on maximum student tuition to approving new academic programs and degrees.
Diane Saunders, Board of Higher Education director of communications, explained the board’s roles with respect to tuition and costs of attending university, saying, “One obvious one is student tuition rate approval which board ultimately takes the vote on.” The board handles adjustments in the cost to students and makes decisions regarding changes such as tuition hikes. “The board makes the determination of the final budget proposal for the governor of all Oregon public higher education. They separate the dollars into different areas,” Saunders said.
Saunders noted that even with the required caps on student tuition, the lack of public investment in education is fueling the ever-pressing issue of rising costs for students. “Lately, we haven’t gotten a lot of help from the state. For example, if you build a new student center, it is now revenue that pays for the debt, seeing as the state is pulling out,” she said.
The board comprises both public and university administration officials and Oregon college students as well. “There are two students from various Oregon campuses on the board. Every two years the students are switched or reappointed. A PSU student served two years ago. They are full-voting members just like any other member, with the same authorities and powers,” Saunders said.
Newly appointed Forbes made clear her strong belief in higher education and its importance in establishing, maintaining and promoting strong communities. “I am an advocate for higher education. It is so important for us as individuals to make those contributions not in the terms of careers but for communities,” she said.
Forbes has extensive experience in the area of education. She has two master’s degrees in public health, a doctorate in educational policy and served as dean of Student Life and vice president for Student Affairs at PSU. “I was at PSU for 23 years and have also worked as the vice president at University of New Mexico,” she said.
Forbes is still unsure of what her exact role will be while serving on the board and won’t be certain until July 1, when the new legislation will go into effect. “I don’t know at this point. There will be a committee assignment. The chairman has not assigned me yet,” she said. “I don’t know what will be on the agenda until July.”
While Forbes prepares to take on her new position, Middleton will take over for Pulims as part of the academic standards committee. Middleton explained that the committee “deals with instructional issues, not legal issues. It looks at instructional programs, degree requirements as oppose to finance.”
Middleton, president of Central Oregon Community College, will also officially begin his term July 1. “I look to being part of the ongoing solution to the challenges that we face as a state and the opportunities that we see as an investment board and recognition of the importance of higher education,” Middleton said. ■