News

Testimony of Clarence Hein, PSU Advocate

Ways and Means Sub-Committee on Education

Lakeridge High School

April 19, 2005

Chair Devlin, I am Clarence Hein and I am here representing the Portland State University Advocates. The PSU Advocates are affiliated with the PSU Alumni Association and represent alumni and friends of the University. I am a graduate of two public universities – I received my bachelor’s degree in 1965 from PSU and a master’s degree from the University of Washington in 1969. My career mainly has been in communications: First, in the news business with newspapers and broadcasting; Then, in community relations work with public schools from K-12 to higher education. I worked at PSU from 1978 until my retirement a couple years ago, mainly in the President’s office. I grew up in Portland and am pleased that I have been able to stay in this community and give back to my university.

I give you this background because, had it not been for Portland State, a forward-looking employer (Tektronix) who helped with college costs, and the G.I. Bill I probably would not have attended college at all. I understand all too well the value of accessibility and quality in higher education.

I am here tonight to thank you for your support of higher education, specifically Portland State University. I also am here to urge you, despite tight finances, to make investment in higher education a priority.

I want to comment briefly on budget priorities for higher education.

First, PSU has experienced tremendous increases in enrollment – and expects an increase in the fall. In 1995, PSU served just over 14,000 students. This fall, the University’s enrollment exceeded 24,000 students. Therefore, a priority for limited funds must be instruction – undergraduate and graduate – and we urge you to continue the premise of the RAM funding model approved in 1999, which means state funds follow students.

Second, because access and excellence are two sides of the same coin at PSU, the Advocates urge you to support the Governor’s plans for increasing financial aid and allowing the universities to use tuition remissions to attract highly talented students.

Third, while students are the heart of a university, faculty are the soul of a campus. Excellent faculty bring excellent students. Excellent faculty bring additional resources to the state in the form of research grants. And they bring national recognition to the university and to Oregon. The Advocates support increasing faculty salaries as a priority for state funding.

Finally, the Governor has made investment in capital construction at OUS institutions a priority, focusing on deferred maintenance. As part of this package, Portland State University would receive funding to renovate and upgrade Shattuck Hall, an old elementary school which needs to be made accessible, as well as have improvements made for energy efficiency. Deferred maintenance is a challenge at every public university and it is especially difficult to address because it simply doesn’t have the appeal for donors that new building construction has – it is hard to put a donor name on a new fuse box or steam line. Yet, ignoring this problem simply compounds it over time.

Obviously more than these four priorities need funding from the state to help higher education remain competitive. These are the priorities of the PSU Advocates and reflect the immediate needs of Portland State, Oregon’s largest university.

Thank you.