Legislative News & Information
Now is the time to take action to secure adequate funding for higher education. Please contact your legislator and ask him or her to fund the governor's budget for higher education.
Higher Education Budget Hearing
April 25, 3 pm, State Capitol Hearing Room F. (Please note that the date and time are subject to change. PSU-AAUP will notify you of any changes.)
PSU-AAUP is renting buses to take faculty and students to Salem. The goal is to pack the hearing room with higher education supporters. "Invest in Faculty" t-shirts and budget talking points will be provided.Contact PSU-AAUP to reserve your seat.
Contact Your Legislator Now
Now is the time to contact your legislator about the higher education budget. Tell them you support the Governor's higher education budget. Click here to find your Senator or Representative in Salem.
Contact Key Legislators Now
Please contact the following key legislators about the higher education budget. List of key legislators. Contact information for Senators and Representatives on the Oregon Legislature Website .
PSU-AAUP Higher Education Budget Talking Points
Committees are the heart of Oregon's legislative process. The committee process provides legislators more opportunity to closely study a measure than would be possible in a floor debate. Committees may hear from many people who support o oppose the measure.
Giving public testimony before a legislative committee can be a exciting and fulfilling experience if you are prepared. Your testimony may influence the committee's action. It also becomes part of the permanent record and may be used in future research.
Listed below are suggestions to help make your presentatio successful.
Know Your AudienceThe members of the committee are "citizen legislators." They care that you have taken time out of your day to come and testify before them.
• Be respectful.
• Don't accuse committee members of causing your particular problem.
• Resist the temptation to scold, put down, or insult the decision makers or other witnesses. This tactic will likely alienate them from your cause.
Know the Issue
• Support your personal opinions with as many facts as possible.• Be knowledgeable of the "other side of the story." You may be asked to discuss the differences. Draw from your own knowledge and experience.
Be Familiar with the Committee Process
• Know the location of the building, the meeting room, and the meeting time.
• Agendas will be posted outside the meeting room. Check to make sure the measure you are interested in has not been removed from the agenda. The measures may not be heard in the printed order.
• If possible, attend a committee meeting before you testify to become familiar with the process and room layout.
• When you arrive at the meeting, sign the witness registration sheet. Witnesses are not necessarily called in chronological order.
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Presenting Your Written Testimony
1. When you are called to testify, give copies of your testimony to committee staff before you begin your presentation. The number of copies requested is printed on the bottom of the committee meeting agenda.
2. Begin your presentation by addressing the chairperson first, then members of the committee. "Chair___, members of the committee . . ."
3. For the record, state your name, address, and the organization or group you represent.
4. State whether you support or oppose the legislative measure being heard and briefly explain. Do not read your testimony to the committee word for word. Prepare an outline.
5. Keep in mind you may have a ten minute version of your testimony-- be prepared to summarize it in one minute--that may be all the time you are allowed!
6. Thank the committee members and offer to answer any questions. "Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today. I would be happy to answer any questions."
7. When a member asks you a question respond: "Chair ______, Senator/Representative (state name), the answer to your question is . . ."
8. Relax! The members understand that this can be an intimidating experience--they don't expect a perfect presentation.
Group Testimony
• Select several people to cover different topics so the testimony is not repetitive.
• Address the problem, possible solutions, and your group's best
solution.
Accomodation Needed?
If you require special accommodation in order to testify before a committee, please contact the committee administrator or support staff 24 hours BEFORE the meeting with your request.
Contact Numbers: (503) 986-1813 or (503) 986-1187
TDD (503) 986-1467 (inside Salem)
1-800-332-2313 (outside Salem)
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS
Portland State University ChapterHigher Education Budget Information
Who is PSU-AAUP?
• PSU-AAUP is the collective bargaining agent and professional organization for 1100 full-time faculty members and academic professionals at Portland State University.
• Faculty and academic professionals teach and advise more than 24,284 students, conduct and publish cutting-edge research, and engage the Portland area community via outreach activities.
Oregon Higher Education FactsBetween1991 and 2006:
• Number of students enrolled at PSU has increased 70%.
• Tuition at PSU has increased 54%.
• Cost of living in Portland has increased 49%.
• Higher education’s share of the state general fund has decreased from 10.3% to 6%.
• Oregon has had the largest decline in state funding per student in the nation.
• Faculty salaries at PSU have not increased/increased X% when adjusted for inflation.
• Number of part-time and non-tenure track PSU faculty members is now 66.7%.
• Faculty recruitment has failed 33% of all searches mostly due to low salaries.15 Years of Disinvestment higher education + skyrocketing student enrollment =
unaffordable tuition
overcrowded classrooms
unmanageable faculty workloads
high faculty turn overPriority #1: Invest in PSU’s Growing Enrollment
• PSU is the only public university in Oregon with a steadily growing student enrollment.
• OUS is not funding PSU equitably. For the 2005-07 biennium, PSU was funded at 2001-2002 enrollment rates, or 20,185 students, when actual enrollment for 2005-2006 was 24,015. That’s a 19% of total enrollment not funded!Priority #2: Invest in Quality Higher Education for All Oregonians
• Oregon ranks 46th in per student funding for postsecondary education.
• Reduce student to PSU faculty ratio from 33:1 to OUS average of 24:1 to improve student learning.
• Reduce faculty “brain drain” by funding PSU faculty salaries on par with the average of comparator universities.
• Increase the number of tenure-track faculty to improve the quality of education.
• Invest in PSU student success by hiring more admissions counselors and academic and career advisors.
• Invest in PSU classrooms, laboratories, and teaching technology.Priority #3: Invest in Oregon’s Future
Oregonians with a post-secondary degree are more likely to:
• Earn a family wage,
• Pay more income taxes,
• Start new businesses,
• Remain in Oregon, and
• Invest time and money in Oregon communities.Oregonians with a post-secondary degree are less likely to:
• Live in poverty,
• Use Oregon’s public health and welfare services,
• Be arrested and serve time in prison, and
• Leave the state for employment opportunities.
Ways & Means Committee on Education
Rep. Larry Galizio, Chair
Sen. Richard Devlin, Vice Chair
Sen. Ryan Deckert
Sen. Frank Morse
Sen. Bruce Starr
Sen. Vicki Walker
Rep. Phil Barnhart
Rep. David Edwards
Rep. Bob Jenson
Rep. Susan MorganWays & Means Co- Chairs
Sen. Kurt Schrader
Rep. Mary NolanHouse Education Subcommittee on Higher Education
Rep. Peter Buckley, Chair
Rep. Brian Clem, VC
Rep. Jerry Krummel
Rep. Mitch Greenlick
Rep. John LimSenate Education and General Government Committee
Sen. Vicki Walker, Chair
Sen. Jeff Kruse, VC
Sen. Rick Metsger
Sen. Frank Morse
Sen. Ben WestlundFind Senators and Representatives
