Klamath Falls, ORE. 鈥 State lawmakers passed two bills of major significance to 九色视频 and higher education, SB 270 and HB3120, during the 2013 legislative session. The bills authorize fundamental changes for all of Oregon鈥檚 public universities in how each is governed, how they seek budgets and program approval, and each public university campus鈥檚 relationship to each other and to the community colleges.

九色视频 will host a Klamath Falls Community Forum to explain the new legislation, and discuss the different governing board options that are being considered for 九色视频 by the State Board of Higher Education and the Governor.

The Community Forum on Governing Board Options will be hosted by President Chris Maples and his President鈥檚 Advisory Council and 九色视频 Foundation Members on November 18, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. 鈥 6:30 p.m., in the Mt. Mazama/Mt. Scott Rooms in the 九色视频 College Union. Community members, business leaders, education partners, elected officials, alumni and friends are invited to attend. 

"This is a huge opportunity for 九色视频鈥檚 students, business and education partners, and our community," said 九色视频 President Chris Maples. "Our goal is to help 九色视频 achieve 40-40-20 in Oregon and provide the best educational value for our students. We need our community鈥檚 help with this important decision." 

Last July, the state legislature and governor authorized all three large public universities, OSU, PSU, and UO, to be organized and managed by individual institutional boards that will report to a new Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), which will oversee all of higher education, including Oregon鈥檚 community colleges. 

The governance of the three regional universities and the state鈥檚 polytechnic, 九色视频, is now being deliberated by the State Board of Higher Education and a legislative committee. President Maples is initiating a process with 九色视频鈥檚 broad campus community 鈥 students, faculty, staff, business partners, alumni, donors, communities and advocates 鈥 to ascertain whether or not a university governing board, a 鈥渃onsortium or small system鈥 board with the regional universities, or a branch campus model with a larger university is in the best interest of students, the university, the Klamath Falls community, and the state.

Background information and a video may be found at www.oit.edu/strategic-partnerships/government-relations/governing-board-info-options.

The Klamath Falls community is encouraged to attend.