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The linkages between expanding access and affordability -- and thus
greater educational attainment -- and an inclusive, sustainable economy
have never been stronger. Our ability to live and work in the community
of our choice relies on a supply of qualified workers who make it possible
for Oregonians to thrive and survive the many times in our lives when
we must count on others.
The Governor's doubling of the Oregon Opportunity Grant in
his Recommended Budget could have the greatest, single impact on access
and affordability for students than any other effort made in recent years.
Combined with moderating tuition increases and wise use of fee remissions,
these budget proposals have the potential to help Oregon's most economically
challenged citizens to access postsecondary education.
Access
and Affordability Group
Starting with the structure of the Oregon Opportunity
Grant, the Access
and Affordability Working Group of the State Board of Higher Education
convened a diverse group of campus and community leaders to examine how
the grant program could better serve students. Currently, only one-third
of income-eligible students are awarded Opportunity grants because funds
fall short; average grants cover only about 11% of students' cost of
attendance. This can lead to high levels of borrowing for the students
most in need of financial assistance. Working with the Oregon Student
Assistance Commission, community colleges, private colleges, and many
other partners the working group has made expanding Opportunity Grant
funding a priority.
Proposed Policy Priorities for the Oregon Opportunity Grant
- Base student eligibility on family income and assets for dependent
students (student income and assets for unmarried independent students)
- Align Oregon Opportunity Grant eligibility with Pell Grant eligibility
(extends grant eligibility to middle-income families)
- Fund all eligible students
- Base actual award levels on recognized maximum educational costs
- Link state grant program to Oregon K-12 reform
- Extend grant to include eligible part-time students
State grand aid per enrolled undergraduate student in 2002-03
Low-income Students and Self-Help
The "self-help" components of paying for college, including students working and borrowing loans, are generally at least half of how low-income students cover costs, even after all other federal and state aid is received. These students often must borrow more than their middle- and upper-income counterparts to make up for the "family help" component
that others are often able to receive. Average cumulative loan debt for
OUS students who must borrow is currently more than $22,000.
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Tuition:
Current and Historical
Tuition increases in the Governor's Recommended Budget
Each OUS campus is currently completing an analysis of the level of
tuition increases needed to ensure access, affordability, and quality
of instruction and services. Within the Governor's Recommended Budget
are tuition increases averaging no more than 7% the first year of the
biennium and 5% the second year across the system. Tuition increases
are tied to the level of investment made in higher education through
the General Fund. When campuses do not receive funding to cover all of
the students enrolled in the System, they frequently must use tuition
increases to ensure access and quality are maintained.
Tuition Mitigation Plan
Compelled by double-digit tuition increases, the Board took decisive
action to reduce college costs for the 2004-05 academic year. Approving
a tuition mitigation plan in June 2004, the Board set a ceiling on tuition
charges, lowering average increases from the original 14% to 10% for
resident undergraduates (at 15 credit hours). Using $2.4 million of savings
from the Chancellor's Office reorganization, the Board funded the mitigation
without putting further strains on the campuses.
Tuition and Fees: Current and Historical
Tuition and fees in OUS have grown an average of 21% over a two-year
period and 46% over a five-year period (at 15 credit hours, resident
student), stretching student resources and available financial aid. Average
tuition and fees 2004-05 in OUS institutions equals $5,037 (up 10% from
$4,561 in 2003-04). The current range is $4,332 at WOU to $5,670 at UO.
OUS Undergraduate Resident Tuition and Fees
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Fee remissions, also known as fee waivers or tuition discounts, are
an important financial aid component that enables campuses to supplement
available state, federal and other aid, further expanding access and
increasing affordability, and creating an inclusive, diverse campus.
Seventy percent (70%) of programmatic fee remissions recipients
are low- or moderate-income students who receive some type
of need-based financial aid. Because an Oregon Revised Statute prohibits
use of General Fund for student aid, fee remissions provide a way to
help our neediest students meet their tuition costs and keep student
loan borrowing at a reasonable level.
OUS Fee Remission Amount:
1997-98 to 2004-05
(Dollars in millions)
OUS
Fee Remission Amount:
1997-98 to 2004-05
(Dollars in millions) |
Academic Year |
Graduate Assistant |
Programmatic* |
1997-98 |
$ 13.2 |
$ 20.2 |
1998-99 |
13.7 |
20.3 |
1999-00 |
14.4 |
18.2 |
2000-01 |
15.6 |
18.9 |
2001-02 |
17.3 |
23.9 |
2002-03 |
20.3 |
31.6 |
2003-04 |
21.0 |
34.7 |
2004-05 (est.) |
23.1 |
28.4 |
*Programmatic fee remissions
addresses affordability and access for low-income and under-served
students, diversity, and high achievers |
Overall, fee remissions are a unique financial aid tool for campuses
in that they impact several areas important to students and our state
and respond to Board priorities of: Affordability (supplemental
tuition grant); Access (diversity initiative); High
achievers (diversity and campus programs); Geographic
diversity (WUE and international); Research (contracts
and grants); and Graduate students (grad assistant).
In 2003 the Legislature issued a Budget Note limiting programmatic fee
remissions to no more than 8% of gross tuition revenues; prior to this
fee remissions averaged 8.7% of tuition revenues. The Governor’s
Recommended Budget (GRB) supports a phase-out of the current legislative
limit on fee remissions, with an increase in the limit on undergraduate
programmatic fee remissions for 2005-2007 to 10% from the current 8%
of gross tuition revenue, and then the elimination of the limits in 2007-2009.
Graduate student fee remissions are used primarily to support students
who are teaching assistants and teaching fellows. Graduate fee remissions
were limited to $47 million for OUS in 2003-2005 by the Budget Note.
The GRB removes this limit for the 2005-2007 biennium. Maintaining the
current limit would cause a reduction in the number of graduate assistants
or in the amount of the remission or compensation that these students
would receive.
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Delivery & Productivity Group
Today in Oregon we lose thousands of students along the pathways that
lead to college and to associate's and bachelor's degrees. The Excellence
in Delivery and Productivity Working Group of the State Board of Higher
Education is working with a cross-sector group of stakeholders to determine
how to increase the flow of students in the pipeline and reduce the numbers
who drop out along the way.
The Group's focus revolves around creating seamless transfer from
one educational sector to the next - such as from high school to
college, and from community college to a 4-year university. Opportunities
for more Oregonians to receive an undergraduate degree must be expanded
and improved through alignment and connections that:
- Enable community college students to seamlessly apply earned
credits to an OUS bachelor's degree through improved dual-enrollment
partnerships and the Statewide Oregon Transfer Module
- Improve graduation rates for OUS institutions
- Accelerate the time-to-degree for OUS undergraduates
- Improve delivery of academic programs to OUS students by
more strategic use of on-line education and other practices.
Technology can be used across education sectors (K-16) in Oregon
to increase efficiency and empower more students to prepare
for and
graduate from an OUS institution through use of a student transfer
process that provides self-advising and student tracking, and
college placement
for high school seniors and adult learners returning to school.
This
is an important initiative of the Excellence in Delivery & Productivity
Working Group and funding was included in the Governor's Recommended
Budget.
Increased opportunities for students to earn college credits while
in high school - including the use of advanced placement courses,
distance education and college-high school programs - can improve
academic preparedness for postsecondary education, improve retention
rates, and accelerate students' time-to-degree, thus decreasing the
cost barriers of a higher education and increasing the number of
students who can access college and earn a degree.
A cross-sector group of community college and university faculty
and professional staff are focusing more attention on retention efforts,
such as academic advising for populations with lower degree-attainment
rates, thus resulting in improved retention rates and more Oregonians
receiving college degrees.
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Across Oregon, educational attainment rates vary, in some cases dramatically,
by county. Only in recent years have Oregonians in rural and more
remote
areas of the state had such a high level of access to postsecondary
education.
Between the expansion of distance learning options, a new OSU campus
in
Bend, two university centers, and 17 community colleges, students
across
the state can fulfill their higher education goals. But we still
have to
do better to ensure equitable access to all students so that they
can go
to school, work and live in their own communities.
Click here to access
a map on Enrollment of Oregon Students by Oregon County and Institution,
Fall 2004
Click here to access a chart on Enrollment of Oregon Students by Oregon
County and Institution at TIme of Entry, Fall 2004 Headcount
Click here to access
a map on Percent of Oregon Adults 25 and
Older with a Bachelor's Degree, by County (2000)
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