Board of Higher Ed Reviews Campus Performance and Goals

PORTLAND, November 4 – The State Board of Higher Education (the “Board) met today at Portland State University, reviewing campus performance and target-setting reports, among other action and report items covered by the Board.

 

Campus Performance     Each OUS institution president presented a brief report on 2005 campus performance results and targets (see http://www.ous.edu/board/meetingmaterials.htm, 11-04 docket, Appendix B for campus-specific reports). The reports provide current and historical performance results for the seven OUS institutions based on targeted goals. There are 13 primary performance indicators for the campuses, and each university sets targets for 5 of those, plus 2 campus-specific indicators. These performance and target-setting reports are one piece of a larger OUS accountability, monitoring, and planning effort, which helps to inform policy at both the campus and the Board levels. Each campus has diverse missions, students, and markets, so it would be misleading to provide comparative information on these measures; thus the data are provided on a campus basis, allowing for assessments based on each institution’s own goals and accomplishments.

 

Indicators for which each campus sets and tracks targets include: freshman retention rate; total degrees awarded; degrees in shortage areas; graduate satisfaction; and research and development expenditures.  Other indicators monitored for which no targets are set include: total credit enrollment; new undergraduate enrollment; freshman graduation rate; graduate success; students per full-time faculty; faculty compensation; philanthropy; and internships.

 

Campus specific targeted indicators are: Eastern Oregon University tracks regional participation at EOU, and high school outreach; Oregon Institute of Technology tracks women in engineering fields, and degree completion rates; Oregon State University tracks high GPA high school graduates, and student diversity; Portland State University tracks science and engineering R&D, and community-service learning; Southern Oregon University tracks transfer student graduation rate, and philanthropy; University of Oregon tracks faculty compensation, and research and economic development index; and Western Oregon University tracks transfer student completion, and first-generation student retention.

 

Capital Budget     Jay Kenton, OUS vice chancellor for finance and administration, reported that in the 2005 Legislative Session a budget note directed OUS to identify to the Legislative Emergency Board capital construction projects for which the Board might seek Article XI-G bond authorization through 2013.  The Legislature now expects the OUS to obtain authorization for any bond proceeds before raising funds for them. Thus, campuses must present any anticipated capital projects for which they will seek donations over the next 8 years at the January 2006 meeting of the Emergency Board. Kenton said that since 1997, the legislature has allowed gifts and grants to be considered as the required General Fund match for XI-G bonds. In 2005, as campuses have become more successful in fundraising, the Board asked the Legislature for higher amounts of bonds than in the past ten years to complete projects to meet campus growth and renovation needs with enrollment increases. 

 

After discussing the new requirements outlined in the 2005 Budget Note, the Board approved authorization for the Chancellor or designee to present to the January 2006 Legislative Emergency Board a report on 2007-2013 capital projects for which the Board may request Article XI-G bond proceeds to be matched with gift funds, as required by the budget note attached to the Adopted 2005-2007 OUS Capital Construction Budget.

 

OUS Research Council     Board Directory Kirby Dyess described a proposal to establish an OUS Research Council which would serve as an advisory council to the Board on research issues within the System. This body would promote collaborations in research within OUS and with outside entities. The Council would also ensure that best practices are utilized in areas such as research commercialization, publishing, and consulting with industry.  Assuring effective tech transfer and commercialization would also be an important role of the Council.  Dyess noted that it is important that OUS take advantage of opportunities in commercialization, and that these include OUS regional institutions as well. The Council would reinforce the important connections between instruction and research. Communicating the excellence in OUS research in the state and outside, especially the spires of excellence, would also be an important role of the Council.  After discussion, the Board approved the establishment of the OUS Research Council.

 

In other actions and discussion at today’s meeting, the Board and/or Committees:     

 

Authorized the OUS to proceed with preparation of a request to the Emergency Board for release of funds, totaling $2,081,250, earmarked by the Legislature for the OUS portion of the Integrated K-16 Data Transfer System project. Prior to this request, the project partners – including OUS, the Department of Education, and the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development – will report to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on proposed performance measures for the Data System.

Accepted the Quarterly Budget Projections Summary for September 30, 2005.

Accepted the Investment Report of September 30, 2005.

Repealed its OUS Pooled Endowment Funds Investment Policy and adopted the changes to its Internal Management Directives relating to investment management; and accepted the proposed changes to the Oregon State Treasury Investment Manual policies and procedures.

Heard a financial update report on the PSU University Place, showing that revenues exceeded projections, and that conference and banquet bookings are up 16% over last year.

Discussed the development of a policy guiding the long-term debt program at the OUS, and reviewed a draft policy statement and rationale.

Approved Eastern Oregon University’s request to reallocate their Certificates of Participation financing by reducing the approved network upgrade project from $100,000 to $30,000, and including a desktop computer replacement project for $70,000.

Discussed the University of Oregon proposal to sell the land now occupied by the Westmoreland Apartment Complex, and use the proceeds for other strategic capital acquisitions; and heard testimony from UO leadership and from current Westmoreland residents and other interested parties.  UO leadership will provide an interim report to the Board in January regarding plans to address current residents’ concerns, such as housing and childcare issues.

Authorized new OUS programs: Portland State University, establishment of an instructional program leading to a Graduate Certificate in Transportation, effective immediately; University of Oregon, instructional program leading to a Ph.D in Landscape Architecture, effective Fall 2006.

Heard updates from some Board committees, University Presidents, and the Provosts Council.

Heard a report form the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate, including an IFS produced report on a definition of academic quality and indicators used to measure this.

Heard public testimony from PSU faculty on faculty salaries, and additional testimony on the concerns of adjunct faculty.

Heard a report from the Oregon Student Association.