The hard work of Oregon state treasurer Ted Wheeler and his staff, has crystallized into what I agree Oregon students need in the form of a proposal that will be before the legislature this session called, The Oregon Opportunity Initiative.
The following is some of my thinking on Oregon higher ed., over the years. I am biased, but feel Oregon state treasurer Ted Wheeler's proposal really is wonderful for students. The Oregon Opportunity Initiative, two pieces of legislation, will be before the legislature in Oregon this year. Ted Wheeler's Oregon Opportunity Initiative would potentially be the best thing to hit Oregon post-secondary education since measure 5, but this time in a good way:
"The Opportunity Initiative creates a Constitutionally- dedicated permanent fund that will be invested to generate income. Income from the investment returns will both increase student aid grants in the short-term, and also put Oregon on a path toward a long-term solution to the problem.
The fund will be created by issuing General Obligation Bonds in 2014. Subsequent issues would be made each year until the fund reaches ts goal of producing revenue needed to fully fund the unmet needs of every Oregon student for two years of their post-secondary education. The Act anticipates an issue of $500 million in the coming biennium and continuing smaller (and declining) contributions over the next 30 years.
The fund’s investment returns will generate revenue that will be dedicated to student assistance. To maximize the impact of the grants, the administrators of the program would be asked to design incentives for:
• Critical degree programs in STEM fields.
• Vocational training and other workforce development programs.
• On-time graduation (measured by credits), thereby reducing facility needs for institutions as well as reducing student debt."
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