Governor Speaks to Student Organization; Calls for More Post-Secondary Ed Funding

OSU students like these hope to avoid drastic efforts like this protest in Salem from two years ago Photo By: Tim King

(CORVALLIS) - Governor Ted Kulongoski today met with students from Oregon State University`s Associated Student organization and discussed the need for continued investment in post-secondary education. He also discussed a letter he sent to the student group last week, in which he said that he supported several of their initiatives, including child care for students, help with financial aid and college applications and their opposition to a high aid-high tuition model of financing education. `It is essential that we continue to invest in Oregon`s college students. Without the GI bill, I would not have been able to accomplish what I have done we need to give the next generation the same opportunity," said Governor Kulongoski. Governor Kulongoski cited the growing need for help navigating the financial aid and application processes, particularly for low-income students. He said that he supported the expansion of ASPIRE, which seeks to help first-generation and low-income students with financial aid applications. He also said that he supports the expansion of child care for university and community college students, and would look into state funding to do so. The Governor reiterated his opposition to a high-aid � high tuition model, citing the problems with unstable funding for universities as a stumbling block to this idea. Governor Kulongoski discussed his plan for an Education Enterprise in Oregon, which is both a financial commitment from the state and an innovative way to move students from one level of education to another. Governor Kulongoski`s plan would fund the entire education system from Pre-K through graduate school and workforce education at 61% of the state budget. It would also require that the educational system be given a 10% increase every year, to ensure that Oregon`s schools and universities are on the path to be the best in the nation. The Education Enterprise would also enable students to transfer credits, apply for dual enrollment at institutions and finish their degrees in a timely manner. `I want to see all of our students have the opportunity to do what I did to go to college, even though I had nothing more than the willingness to work hard," said Governor Kulongoski. `And I want our students to stay in Oregon when they graduate, so that they can use the degrees they have earned to make our state a better place to live."