It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of the Oregon Student Association (OSA) after almost 50 years of student-led advocacy across the state. Since 1975, OSA has empowered future leaders and unified students across Oregon to build collective power to advocate for policies that create a more equitable and accessible higher education system. OSA has worked tirelessly for decades to ensure that the voices and rights of students were heard and respected at every level of decision-making.

“A new survey of more than 1,200 students attending Oregon’s higher education institutions shows that concerns about finding and paying for a place to live, affording food and other living expenses, and maintaining mental health are among the top issues they face.

‘Housing, student basic needs and mental health were at the top of nearly every ranking, across every campus, across every demographic group,’ said Nick Keough, legislative director for statewide student advocacy nonprofit Oregon Student Association. ‘I think that just goes to show the urgency of these issues.’”

By Tiffany Camhi - Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)

“Earlier this month, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission approved the agency’s recommended budget for the 2025-27 fiscal year. That approved budget is $25 million less than what Oregon’s public universities need to continue current programs and services.”

By Audrey Schlotter, Miriam Hassan, and Brenda Rocio Martinez - OregonLive / The Oregonian: Letters to the Editor

Schlotter is president of Associated Students of Oregon State University. Hassan is president of Associated Students of University of Oregon. Rocio Martinez is president of Associated Students of Western Oregon University.

The second phase of the OSA Issue Choosing Process asks students to rank student issues on the OSA Statewide Student Survey that are being considered for future legislative action. OSA administered the OSA Statewide Student Survey to students across Oregon’s college and universities from February 2024 - May 2024. This report overviews the results of the OSA Statewide Student Survey. The survey results are highly influential to setting OSA’s legislative agenda for the 2025 Legislative Session.

We wanted to provide you all with an update on Joseph’s recovery process and share this photo from José’s celebration of life last month. We want to extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support from our community. Your support gives us strength and hope as we navigate this challenging time. Thank you. ❤️

“The board tasked with broad oversight of Oregon’s public universities and community colleges signed off on its $4.75 billion budget proposal Thursday. But the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission was not happy with it.

‘[W]e are seriously concerned that at the funding levels described within our [agency recommended budget], Oregon will hinder progress towards state goals for postsecondary education and training,’ read a letter approved by commissioners and signed by Chair Sandy Rowe, who is also a member of OPB’s board of directors.”

By Rob Manning - Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)

“A directive by Gov. Tina Kotek that state agencies keep their requests for new funding in the 2025-27 biennium to a minimum has stoked alarm from higher education advocates, who argue the cap could be detrimental to an already underfunded college system.

The state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission begrudgingly approved a budget request Thursday that asked for only $31 million in new general fund money beyond what the state says colleges and universities need to keep operating as they do now.”

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian / OregonLive

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you about a tragic incident involving two OSA staff members, José Zapata and Joseph Cruz, who were on their way to an OSA staff retreat. On July 1st, 2024, a severe, head-on car collision occurred on Highway 20 in Lincoln County and resulted in multiple casualties. Sadly, José was among the two fatalities. Joseph was critically injured and is currently in stable condition.

“National Student Clearinghouse reports show Oregon’s overall college-going rate fell by 8 percentage points in two years once the pandemic hit.

For students of color except Asian Americans, the decline was even worse, widening existing college-going gaps.”

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian / OregonLive

“An annual report from a prominent higher education association ranks Oregon 44th in the nation for public higher education funding.”

By Alex Baumhardt - Oregon Capital Chronicle

Over the last week, students at Portland State University and the University of Oregon have joined in nationwide Pro-Palestine student protests calling for higher education institutions across the country to divest and end all relationships with entities with ties to Israel and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Largely, student protests have taken the form of non-violent demonstration – with students at the University of Oregon establishing a 100+ tent encampment on campus and students at Portland State University occupying Millar Library. Click below to read our full statement on the ongoing student demonstrations.

“Incoming freshmen at Oregon’s public universities will pay record tuition for the upcoming school year, with all seven of the state’s public universities hiking the cost again. Nearly every one of the schools has increased tuition every year for the past 10 years, making average tuition at Oregon’s public universities today about 26% higher than it was a decade ago, according to the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission.”

By Alex Baumhardt - Oregon Capital Chronicle

“HB 4162 was initiated by OSA, in partnership with Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Swipe Out Hunger and Open Oregon Educational Resources Program. Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon Communications Lead, Jacki Ward Kehrwald, said that the support of basic needs ‘felt short sighted’ as legislators overlooked the importance of basic needs. ‘It's the right thing to do, ethically, to support students in crisis. It's also a strategic investment in the future of Oregon, to invest in students facing crises and support them when they're pursuing their degree,; Ward Kehrwald said.”

By Ysabella Sosa - Daily Emerald

Let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the student wins from the 2024 Legislative Session!

While we didn’t win everything in the end, including the Student Emergency Needs Package, student voices and OSA were critical to securing other policy wins and investments in post-secondary education during the session

The 2024 Short Legislative Session was a relatively challenging landscape for the Oregon Student Association and student’s priorities, although there were some hopeful prospects and legislative wins for post-secondary education. The 35-day legislative session, which occurs every two years and is focused on amendments and adjustments to the state’s budget, and consideration of outstanding bills from the prior session, officially concluded on Thursday, March 7th, 2024.

We are disappointed to share that HB 4162: The Student Emergency Needs Package did not move forward during the 2024 Legislative Session. While we always understood this was a potential outcome with the high-speed and limited nature of the short session, we are heartbroken and confused by the Oregon State Legislature’s failure to make this emergency investment in student basic needs and textbook affordability.

“‘[ASUO] wanted to advocate for the emergency relief package because there is such high food insecurity in general, resource insecurity with the high cost of attendance, and there's so many things that students are lacking in their wraparound support,’ ASUO’s Secretary of Campus Health and Safety Madison Studer said.”

By Ysabella Sosa - Daily Emerald

“On February 14th, over 80 college students from all across the state flocked to the capitol in Salem to tell state legislators about two bills that are on their minds: HB 4162, the Student Emergency Needs Package, and SB 1596, the Right to Repair. If passed, both of these bills would have a big impact on Oregon students and their communities. Students met with over sixty legislators to ask for their support.”

By Brenna Stevens - OSPIRG

“The Student Emergency Needs Package, HB 4162, looks to help the state’s public college and university students with the rising costs of housing, food and transportation. The proposal would appropriate a total of $6 million from the state’s general fund to go toward student basic needs and textbook affordability programs.”

By Tiffany Camhi - OPB

“Carissa O'Donnell and Chloé Webster, presidents of the Oregon State and University of Oregon student governments, testified this week in front of the Legislature to ask for more resources for financially needy students. A delay in federal and state financial aid awards is further complicating college planning for those students, many of whom still don't know how much financial help they'll get for next school year.”

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian