Title 30, Education and Culture

The Legislative Assembly declares that all state agencies and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission should pursue policies and engage in practices that enhance the vitality of independent higher education in Oregon and should cooperate with the state’s independent institut…

The Legislative Assembly declares that it is an important public interest, and an appropriate objective of the state, that Oregonians who need financial assistance to attend an independent institution in Oregon should have access to state financial aid. [Formerly 352.672]

The Legislative Assembly declares its ongoing interest in state policies that: (1) Enhance the ability of independent institutions to sustain and expand their services in Oregon; (2) Complement, assist and strengthen existing or planned programs and activities of independent inst…

It is hereby determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding that: (1) Independent institutions of higher education in the state educate a substantial share of all post-secondary students in Oregon and such nonpublic institutions make an important contribution to post-…

As used in ORS 350.630 to 350.655, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Private and independent institutions of higher education” or “institution” means any nonpublic and nonprofit college or university in the State of Oregon accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colle…

(1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission may enter into contracts with private and independent institutions of higher education for the performance of nonsectarian educational services to assist the state in providing educational opportunities for Oregon students. (2) The…

Payments to private and independent institutions of higher education under contracts entered into under ORS 350.640 shall be determined by the Director of the Office of Student Access and Completion on a uniform rate for every 45 quarter hours, or equivalent, of approved and regi…

In accordance with any applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission may make such reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary or proper to carry out ORS 350.630 to 350.655. [Formerly 352.750]

If a part of ORS 350.630 to 350.655 is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of ORS 350.630 to 350.655 is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable fr…

As used in ORS 350.665 to 350.695, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Education facilities” means real or personal property owned or operated by an educational institution and used to provide post-secondary education. “Education facilities” includes administrative office…

In order to provide the people of this state with access to quality post-secondary education at a reasonable cost, and to provide an educated workforce which promotes economic development within this state, the Legislative Assembly authorizes municipalities to finance education f…

Except as otherwise provided in ORS 350.685, a municipality shall have all powers necessary to finance education facilities in accordance with ORS 350.665 to 350.695, including the power: (1) To borrow money and to issue revenue bonds to finance education facilities costs or to r…

(1) Revenue bonds shall be payable solely from that portion of education facility revenues which the municipality pledges therefor in the resolution authorizing issuance of revenue bonds. (2) A municipality may authorize the issuance of revenue bonds by resolution or nonemergency…

Revenue bonds shall not be a general bond of any municipality nor a charge upon the tax revenues of any municipality, and shall be secured solely by the education facility revenues pledged to their payment. [Formerly 352.810]

All powers and duties provided in ORS 350.665 to 350.695 may be exercised or discharged by two or more municipalities acting jointly. A municipality may issue revenue bonds to finance education facilities located within the boundaries of another municipality. [Formerly 352.815]

Notwithstanding ORS chapter 294, education facility revenues and the proceeds of revenue bonds may be invested in any classes of security which are described in the resolution authorizing issuance of the revenue bonds or are otherwise approved by the municipality. [Formerly 352.8…

The Legislative Assembly finds that: (1) It is in the interest of this state and its people that Oregon residents have access to the post-secondary institutions in the Northwest which best provide for the educational needs of those students; (2) The people of Oregon and their pos…

(1) In addition to any interstate agreements entered into under ORS 350.750, the Governor shall encourage interstate agreements with Washington, Idaho and California. Such agreements shall be in accordance with ORS 190.410 to 190.440 and shall: (a) Provide for full-time equivalen…

The Western Regional Higher Education Compact is ratified and approved and the adherence of this state to its provisions, upon ratification and approval by any five or more of the states or territories therein named, is declared. [Formerly 351.770]

The terms and provisions of the compact referred to in ORS 350.770 are as follows: ______________________________________________________________________________ ARTICLE I Whereas the future of this nation and of the western states is dependent upon the quality of the education o…

Upon ratification and approval of the Western Regional Higher Education Compact by any five or more of the specified states or territories, the Governor of this state shall execute the compact on behalf of this state and perform any other acts which may be deemed requisite to its…

(1) The Governor shall appoint the Oregon members of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. (2) The qualifications and terms of office of the members of the commission for this state shall conform with the provisions of Article IV of the compact. (3) The Governor…

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, public universities listed in ORS 352.002, the Oregon Health and Science University and the Oregon members of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education are authorized to take any action necessary to achieving the ends of …

(1) Prior to June 1 of each even-numbered year, the Oregon members of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education shall determine the quotas of Oregon students for whom various kinds of educational service should be purchased in out-of-state institutions during the nex…

(1) Any Oregon resident desiring to take advantage of the Western Regional Higher Education Compact may make application to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for out-of-state educational service. From such applicants the commission shall select students to fill the quo…

(1) The governing boards of public universities listed in ORS 352.002 and the Oregon Health and Science University Board of Directors may contract with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education to furnish educational service in their respective Oregon public universi…

The act of registering to vote by a student who is attending a post-secondary institution of education has no effect in determining that student’s eligibility to participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Educatio…

The following are established as public universities in the State of Oregon: (1) University of Oregon. (2) Oregon State University. (3) Portland State University. (4) Oregon Institute of Technology. (5) Western Oregon University. (6) Southern Oregon University. (7) Eastern Oregon…

(1) As used in this section, “professional doctoral degree” means a first professional degree, excluding a Doctor of Philosophy degree, that: (a) Represents a category of qualifications in a professional subject area that requires students to have previously completed specified u…

Eastern Oregon University is designated and shall be known as Oregon’s Rural University. [2018 c.6 §1]

Oregon Institute of Technology is designated and shall be known as Oregon’s Polytechnic University. [2021 c.224 §1]

Portland State University is designated and shall be known as Oregon’s Urban Research University. [2025 c.254 §1]

Public universities listed in ORS 352.002 shall cooperate with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission in the development of a state comprehensive education plan including post-secondary education and in review of the universities’ programs and budget. The public universitie…

(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that the State of Oregon will benefit from having public universities with governing boards that: (a) Provide transparency, public accountability and support for the university. (b) Are close to and closely focused on the individual university. …

Chapter 768, Oregon Laws 2013, is intended to preserve the autonomy of the public universities listed in ORS 352.002. [2013 c.768 §172a; 2017 c.440 §8] Note: 352.027 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 352 or any ser…

As used in ORS 352.025 to 352.146 and 352.388 to 352.415: (1) “Governing board” means a governing board of a public university listed in ORS 352.002 that manages the affairs of the university by exercising and carrying out all of the powers, rights and duties that are expressly c…

A public university listed in ORS 352.002 is a governmental entity performing governmental functions and exercising governmental powers. A public university listed in ORS 352.002 is not considered a unit of local or municipal government or a state agency, board, commission or ins…

(1) A public university listed in ORS 352.002 is created to carry out public missions and services in keeping with principles of public accountability and fundamental public policy, guided by the legislative findings in ORS 350.001 and 350.005 and consistent with the goals and mi…

(1) A governing board is established for each of the following public universities: (a) University of Oregon; (b) Portland State University; (c) Oregon State University; (d) Eastern Oregon University; (e) Oregon Institute of Technology; (f) Southern Oregon University; and (g) Wes…

(1) On an annual basis, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall submit to the Legislative Assembly an evaluation of public universities listed in ORS 352.002. Each public university must be evaluated in the manner required by this section once every two years. As part …

(1) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, each public university listed in ORS 352.002 shall submit to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission a report that is a concise narrative identifying: (a) Legislative mandates imposed on public universities; (b) The imp…

(1) A governing board for a public university must be formed and maintained as provided in this section. (2)(a) A governing board shall consist of between 12 and 16 voting members and two nonvoting members. The Governor shall appoint all of the 12 to 16 voting members of the gove…

Notwithstanding the term of office specified in ORS 352.076, the term of a member appointed to a governing board by the Governor may be adjusted so that one-half, as nearly as possible, of the members of the board are appointed biennially. [2013 c.768 §7; 2017 c.440 §11]

(1) A public university listed in ORS 352.002 may: (a) Acquire, receive, hold, keep, pledge, control, convey, manage, use, lend, expend and invest all moneys, appropriations, gifts, bequests, stock and revenue from any source. (b) Borrow money for the needs of the university in s…

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall: (1) Provide regular opportunities for members of governing boards from all public universities listed in ORS 352.002 to meet and discuss issues related to: (a) The work of governing boards; and (b) Higher education throughout Or…

(1) A public university listed in ORS 352.002 shall adopt a mission statement for the university, and shall forward the statement to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. (2) A public university listed in ORS 352.002 shall submit any significant change in the university’s…