Oregon's best students are leaving the state for college or going to private schools. He reiterated that Governor Kitzhaber wants fundamental change in higher ed. and will put money into such change. If the OUS changes, there will be money. However, he cautioned, if the OUS expects this extra money, it can't be business as usual. Higher ed. must figure out how to make the case that change has occurred - the change must be demonstrable.
Studies show people value higher ed.
President Frohnmeyer responded that institutions in the OUS are not one another's competitors - the competitors are outside Oregon. R. Cease noted that Oregon has disinvested in higher ed. Senator Castillo, who represents district 20, said that it's difficult to get adequate investment in higher ed. This will continue even though there's been a lot of information available to senators to show the importance of higher ed. When asked by R. Cease what's most important for faculty to say to legislative candidates and legislators, the senator said you have to show what the state gets back from higher ed.