“Alex Aghdaei, a political science student at the University of Oregon and chair of the executive committee of the nonprofit Oregon Student Association, said the university today compared to a decade ago is enrolling far fewer low-income students eligible for federal Pell grants and a smaller share of students from Oregon. Despite larger enrollment of higher-paying out-of-state students, and a growing donation fund reaching nearly $3 billion in assets, tuition has continued to increase.”

By Alex Baumhardt - Oregon Capitol Chronicle

We are so excited to announce and invite students to participate in a Student Lobby Day on February 14th, hosted by the Oregon Student Association and the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group! Join us for a day of lobbying as we advocate for basic needs funding, textbook affordability, and right to repair legislation. Click below for more event details!

“Nick Keough, legislative director for the Oregon Student Association, said students are struggling to pay for textbooks, housing, transportation, health care and their living expenses. ‘Financial aid programs and scholarships designed for low-income students fail to cover the bulk of their needs and do not reach the costs associated with attendance, such as food, housing, textbooks, transportation, etc.’” Keough said.

By Lynne Terry - Oregon Capitol Chronicle

The first phase of the OSA Issue Choosing Process involves an Open Submission Period for OSA Issue Briefs. OSA accepted issue briefs from students from October 2023 - January 2024. This report is a collection of OSA Issue Briefs that were completed by students across Oregon in preparation of Oregon’s 2025 Legislative Session. These briefs not only reflect the diverse perspectives and concerns of the student body but also guide OSA's legislative advocacy efforts towards effecting positive change on behalf of Oregon's students.

“Survivors of sexual assaults on Oregon university campuses shared their stories and called for change this legislative session. That change is now underway with a new law that calls on institutions of higher learning to change some policies and to publish the number of sexual assaults reported on campus.”

By Christina Giardinelli - KATU

“With Biden’s plan blocked by SCOTUS, borrowers find themselves closer to reaching $2 trillion of student debt. Now more than ever, we need to end this crisis.”

By Shanna Hayes and Sabrina Calazans — The Nation

Oregon’s community college students were more able to afford the cost of college during the pandemic than at any point in the last decade, according to new state data that shows just 25% faced unaffordable costs.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

The 2023 Long Legislative Session was immensely successful for the Oregon Student Association and post-secondary education policy. The 160-day legislative session, which occurs every two years and is focused on enacting laws and administering the state’s budget, officially concluded on Sunday, June 25th, 2023.

The budget includes more than $1 billion to be distributed among Oregon’s public universities, $800 million for the state’s community colleges and more than $300 million for the Oregon Opportunity Grant — the statewide financial aid program for low-income Oregonians. The budget also includes roughly $24 million to continue the Oregon Tribal Student Grant, an aid program for students from Oregon tribes the legislature authorized last year.

By Meerah Powell - OPB

The education subcommittee of the Legislature’s funding arm on Thursday recommended spending more money on Oregon’s colleges, universities and scholarship programs than top government leaders proposed earlier this year.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

The legislation supported by Lane SGA would increase funding to the school, including increased funding for the Health Clinic through HB 2002, and increased funds for grants and scholarships through the Oregon Opportunity Grant and Oregon Tribal Grant.

By Molly Newhard - The LCC Torch

Several dozen college students gathered in Salem to voice their concerns about budget cuts to higher education. The rally was one of at least three that took place at the Capitol throughout Thursday, and was organized by the student-run nonprofit Oregon Student Association.

By Alex Baumhardt - Oregon Capitol Chronicle

Oregon's community colleges and universities say they are facing potential cuts on campus heading into the 2023-25 biennium if budget proposals recommended by Oregon leaders are adopted as proposed.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

A bill moving through the Oregon Legislature could smooth out those speed bumps. If passed, House Bill 2395 would make access easier to Naloxone, and it would protect the people who distribute it from liability. It would also decriminalize providing drug testing strips at public places, including on university campuses where drug use has shifted from being a risky but somewhat expected part of college life to a more serious and potentially deadly situation.

By Meerah Powell - OPB

Oregon lawmakers are considering bills that would make it easier for incarcerated individuals to pursue higher education and expand their college and career options after release.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

House Bill 3456 would require all Oregon’s public and private colleges and universities to regularly survey their students and file reports on sexual misconduct on campus. It would also require them to provide students with new supports, including an amnesty policy for students reporting assault and annual campus trainings on preventing sexual violence.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

If passed, the bill would break down barriers to obtaining naloxone by making it available for free in public buildings including libraries and churches, among other places

By Nicole Hayden - The Oregonian/OregonLive

The Oregonian/OregonLive found that three of the state’s public universities are currently withholding the transcripts of more than 20,000 former students over debts as little as $5. Thousands more students are likely impacted by the practice at other public and private universities and community colleges throughout the state.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

After a year of visiting campuses and speaking with students around the state, a legislative task force focused on improving higher education outcomes for Oregon’s underrepresented students approved a final report on Tuesday, solidifying 22 recommendations ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission unanimously approved a budget request Thursday that includes a fourfold increase in funding for financial aid grants for Oregon students.

By Sami Edge - The Oregonian/OregonLive