Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 2000)
Universities vie for Bend ■The state’s two largest educational institutions want a piece of Central Oregon By Simone Ripke Oregon Daily Emerald If students don’t come to the Uni versity of Oregon, the University might soon come to them — assum ing they live in Central Oregon. The University is one of at least two Oregon University System in stitutions in the process of applying to open a branch campus in Bend. It is already one of 10 schools serv ing Central Oregon Community College through a University Ser vice Center — an administrative of fice that brokers programs from par ticipating universities — and one of seven institutions offering a degree. That means students attending Central Oregon Community College have been able to earn a degree in general science from the University of Oregon for the past three years. Starting this fall those students will also be able to pursue a bachelor’s degree in general social science. University President Dave Frohnmayer said a University branch campus on the Central Ore gon Community College campus might draw more students, both re gionally and internationally, to fur ther their education in that area. Frohnmayer said a University branch campus in Bend would help make'higher education more accessible and fill a long-standing void in Central Oregon. “It’s [neglected] in terms of higher education and upper-division cours es and degree programs,” he said. Shirley Clark, Oregon University System Vice Chancellor for Acade mic Affairs, said proposals for the branch campus are due Dec. 1. She said the question is not so much I r Bend branch campus situation in focus june 2000 The Oregon State Board of Higher Education approved a staff recommendation to request funds and began implementing a branch campus in Central Oregon. December 2000 Campus applica tions for managing the branch cam pus were due. The review process began. January 2001 The chancellor made recommendations to the board for approval. Summer/Fall 2001 Depending on legislative approval of funds, branch campus implementation will offi cially begin and the transition from the University Center to the branch campus will be carried out. whether there will be a branch campus, but who will run the branch campus. So far, officials are only aware of an interest from the University of Oregon and Oregon State Universi ty, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be more applicants. The State Board of Higher Educa tion has already endorsed the branch campus model for a mini mum of five years, after which it will determine whether to modify or continue the program. The opening of the Central Oregon branch cam pus still depends on funding by the State Legislature. The expected start up costs for the first two years come to an estimated $7.2 million. The Board will make a final deci sion once the Oregon University System chancellor makes a recom mendation in January and the new branch campus — run by either the University of Oregon or Oregon State University — will be up and running by next fall. Jim Lussier, vice president of the State Board of Higher Education, said the idea is to use the process of application to ensure that the Bend area is served in a way that fills cur rent voids in higher education. “We’re looking at using that process in a competitive way to get those needs met,” he said. Dick Markwood, dean and direc tor of Central Oregon Community College, said the new branch cam pus will help improve higher edu cation offerings in the Bend area, draw more students and help make the small community college look like other institutions in the state. Markwood said he is confident that both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon could get the job done. “It’s quite obvious to me that ei ther one of them can provide what is needed in Central Oregon,” he said. Greg Nelson, assistant director of general science at the University and the programs it offers through the University Service Center in Bend, said the branch campus will help students in Central Oregon complete their higher education in one place, with one institution. “I think primarily, it will offer a contiguous program with one uni versity,” he said. “What it will do is make it more central.” Nelson said he thinks the Uni versity has just as much of a shot at getting.approval as any other insti tution that might apply. “I think our chances are as good as anybody else’s,” he said. Frohnmayer said if the Universi ty gets the go-ahead, the Bend branch will start serving students next fall. TRI NGLE G R A P H I C S • SCREEN PRINTING EMBROIDERY 344-7268 t riangle<®pond net Not all t-shirts are created equal. You’re buying " your books Do those online-only booksellers really have the books you need at super-low prices? If you want the real deal on textbooks, shop the store you can trust: Your University of Oregon Bookstore. 3SIS UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE Open Daily M-F 7:45-6 / Sat 10-6 / Sun 12-6 on the corner of 13th & Kincaid. The University of Oregon Bookstore is a not-for-profit organization owned by UO students, faculty and staff. All books are 10% off EVERYDAY for current UO students, faculty and staff. \VL CARE. A567UT W/ClAT YOU TUNl4! \VLLIYLY R.EAPE.R. POLLS. 6?Nll_irt @ .JoilycmcfoiJ.fom * Discounted Books Fast Delivery 100% Secure Site SY . r VarsityBooks.com -Software isrfree^but a $4.95 shipping and handling charge will.be applied for each soft ware title ordered. This special offer expires September 30, 2000 or while supplies last. Specific software titles sub|ect to availability Software must be shipped only within the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. This offer is subject to change at anytime without notice. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.
