Chancellor recommends OSU for new Bend branch

PORTLAND (AP) - Oregon State University should be selected to manage the state's first branch university campus, the chancellor of the Oregon University System said today.

OSU and the University of Oregon have been vying for months for the branch, to be located at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. The State Board of Higher Education will vote on Chancellor Joe Cox's recommendation Feb. 16.

Both schools submitted proposals before the Dec. 1 deadline.

Tim White, OSU's provost and executive vice president, was cautiously optimistic about the recommendation, calling the choice a "major evolution for OSU."

"This is a natural step in the evolution of our university and it's entirely consistent with our mission as a land grant university," he said. "There are watershed events and this is one of them."

OSU's proposal relies on having lower-division work done by students at the community college, then allowing them to move directly into upper division classes and programs offered by OSU and its partner campuses - Eastern Oregon University in La Grande and the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls.

It promises the delivery of nine undergraduate majors, two graduate majors, four minors and one graduate certification program during the first two years of operation, with classes starting next fall.

Bend is one of the fastest growing regions in the state, making it ideal for a branch campus that would extend COCC into a four-year institution.

White said OSU's emphasis on agriculture, engineering, technology, sports and tourism programs likely helped it secure Cox's recommendation.

"These are things that really resonate with the needs of Central Oregon," he said.

If OSU is awarded the Bend campus, White said its success could determine if and when OSU will expand into other parts of Oregon.

Meanwhile, University of Oregon officials said they haven't given up on the branch campus.

"We are surprised and deeply disappointed with the OSU staff recommendation," said Maureen Shine, UO director of communications. "I can tell you our proposal would educate more students with more faculty at a lower cost per student."

OSU expects to enroll 180 students the first year, while UO's proposal expected an enrollment of 246 students. After five years, OSU plans for 594 students compared to UO's 900.

Cox said OSU's existing programs gave it an advantage over UO. "The university's presence through Extension and other outreach services offers an established infrastructure to support new initiatives," he said.

Implementation of the new branch still requires start-up funding by the Oregon Legislature.

A $7.2 million request for 2001-2003 is now pending before state lawmakers.

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