Date: October 9th, 2024

Dear OSA Community,

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.

The decision to close our doors was not made lightly. For several years, OSA has faced challenges related to our organizational structure and funding mechanisms, which have made it increasingly difficult to maintain sustainable operations. These challenges, coupled with the tragic loss of a staff member and the critical injury of our Executive Director in a car accident in July of 2024, have made it implausible for OSA to continue operating.

We recognize that the decision to close OSA will be impactful to the students, alumni, and community members who have been part of our decades-long journey. The connections made within OSA, and the Oregon Students of Color Coalition (OSCC) and Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance (OSERA), have led to lifelong friendships, professional partnerships, and networks of leaders who continue to support and inspire one another long after leaving the organization. These relationships are a testament to the community OSA built – a community rooted in shared purpose, respect, and friendship.

We are proud of what we have accomplished. Through persistent legislative advocacy and grassroots organizing, we have secured billions in state funding for public universities and community colleges, expanded access to financial aid and tuition equity, and championed policies that have promoted equity in education and addressed the most pressing issues students face. Through strong partnerships with student governments across Oregon, we have provided essential training, mentorship, and resources to help student leaders develop the skills and knowledge needed to become powerful advocates for their peers.

The decision to close OSA comes during a perilous time for higher education. Rising tuition costs and escalating student debt are making it more difficult than ever before for students to access and complete their college education. The need for collective student advocacy remains as important as ever. While this chapter of student advocacy in Oregon is coming to a close, we remain confident in students’ ability to build towards a better future. We firmly believe that the students of Oregon will continue to rise to the occasion, ready to adapt and innovate as they continue the fight for a world where higher education is a right for all – not a privilege for the few.

We thank the countless staff, board members, coalition partners, and student leaders who have given their time, energy, and passion to OSA over the years. Together, we have made a difference, and it has been an honor to serve Oregon’s students. We leave behind not just a legacy, but a call to action. To every student, organizer, and advocate: your voice matters, and your work is needed. We’ve continually been inspired by the voices that have risen up through OSA, and we are confident that those voices will go on to lead the future of student advocacy. The fight for a better future for all students is far from over.

In Solidarity,

The Oregon Student Association