University presidents say budget could decimate Oregon's higher ed - Andy Giegerich, Portland Business Journal

The presidents of Oregon's seven public universities said students can expect double-digit tuition increases if lawmakers don't boost funding during the next legislative session. The warning comes in response to Gov. Kate Brown's proposed budget, which legislators will shape during the coming six months. "For two decades, universities have had to cut staffing and services for students and raise tuition to meet the challenges of funding losses and scarce budgets," the university presidents wrote in a letter backed by faculty and student groups. "The impacts of these large tuition increases and reduction in services have taken their toll on Oregonians. Retention rates, and at many universities graduation rates, are down or stagnant and many students can no longer piece together a financial aid package of grants, loans, and work sufficient to fund a college education. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/01/19/university-presidents-say-budget-could-decimate.html