Latest news with #EasternOregonUniversity
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Four Basin students honored at EOU
Apr. 29—LA GRANDE, Ore. — Four Basin students were among 635 named to the Eastern Oregon University Dean's List for the 2025 winter term, according to an announcement from the university. Qualifying students achieve and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework for the term. Moses Lake: Joselyn Hernandez, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, major Politics/Policy and Public Administration; Kali Kast, College of Education, major Multidisciplinary Studies Othello: Madisen Douglas, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, major Interdisciplinary Studies Warden: Kaya Enriquez, College of Education, major Elementary Education
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Undergrad tuition to rise again at all Oregon's public universities, up nearly 30% from a decade ago
Graduates celebrate at Oregon State University-Cascades in Bend on June 18, 2024. Tuition at the state's largest public university will rise more than 5% for freshman next year. (Photo courtesy of Oregon State University) The average inflation-adjusted cost of undergraduate tuition for Oregon residents at the state's seven public universities next year will be nearly 30% higher than it was a decade ago, following increases being considered or adopted by every university board for the next school year. The state's seven public universities — Eastern Oregon University, Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon and Western Oregon University — are all slated to raise tuition by 3% to 5% for the 2025-26 school year. This comes on top of increases at every university, every year, for the last decade. Any resident tuition increases above 5%, including mandatory fees such as student health fees, require that the universities' boards get approval from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The commission's executive director, Ben Cannon, said in an email the commission doesn't expect tuition increase proposals over 5% based on information it received from the universities. 'However, even smaller increases compound onto years of steady increases in college costs in Oregon, and we continue to be very concerned about financially struggling students and families being priced out of a postsecondary education,' Cannon said. The increases are driven by labor costs and inflation that's touched everything from teaching materials to utility costs and insurance, according to university spokespersons. Cannon added that insufficient levels of state investment are also driving up the costs of enrollment. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is recommending a 6.4% increase in higher education funding for the next two years, including an additional $25 million increase for Oregon Opportunity Grants, the state's needs-based financial aid program, Cannon said. Oregon ranks 32nd among states for public investment in higher education, according to the Colorado-based policy group State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. At every Oregon university, student tuition and fees make up more than half of revenue, one of the highest proportions in the nation, according to a 2022 report commissioned by lawmakers from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, a nonprofit think tank in Colorado. About 25 years ago, public funding accounted for up to 75% of the cost of each full-time employee at an Oregon university. Now, it pays for about 50% or less, researchers found. Oregon's per-pupil funding for full-time college students was found to be about $3,000 less than what California and Washington provide per student. The Board of Trustees at Oregon's largest public university by enrollment approved a 5.3% tuition increase for new resident and nonresident undergrads and a 4.8% tuition hike for returning undergrads. This won't require review by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission because, when taken with student fees, the complete increase in sticker price won't exceed 5%. Tuition will increase nearly 5% for students newly enrolled in Oregon State's online degree programs. Students will also pay higher fees for psychological and student health services at OSU's Corvallis and Bend campuses. About 50% of Oregon State University students are from out of state, and they pay nearly three times as much for tuition as Oregon residents. Resident undergraduates attending full-time in Corvallis will pay more than $15,000 and students in Bend will pay about $14,300. Out-of-state undergraduates will pay about $40,000 for the 2025-26 school year. The University of Oregon Trustees voted to approve a 3.75% tuition increase for resident freshmen enrolled in the fall of 2025 and a 3.25% increase for nonresident freshmen. Tuition at the university in Eugene is locked in for five years for each incoming class of freshman, so that students pay the same tuition for the first five years. Students enrolling full time in the fall of 2025 will pay $16,754 in tuition and fees. That's up from about $16,100 that freshmen who enrolled last year paid. Nonresident students enrolling at the University of Oregon in the fall will pay more than $43,000 per year for their degrees, without accounting for other fees. About half of all students at the University of Oregon are from out of state. Resident, nonresident, undergraduate and graduate students at Portland State University this fall will see all tuition rise by about 5%. That means a full-time resident undergrad at Portland State University will pay about $12,300 per year in tuition and fees, an increase of more than $2,700 in the last six years, or about 29%. Oregon Tech's Tuition Recommendation Committee proposed a 4% tuition increase for 2025 if the Legislature approves Kotek's full request for higher education spending. If the Legislature approves less funding than Kotek recommended, the committee will adopt a 4.5% tuition increase, Ashley VanEssen, a university spokesperson, said in an email. A 4% increase would raise tuition, not including fees, by about $500 each year for students at the university, with campuses Klamath Falls and Portland. Southern Oregon University in Ashland approved a tuition hike that hits just below the state's threshold for review. The university's board greenlit a tuition and enrollment fee increase of 4.99% for resident and nonresident undergrads. That means that in-state full-time students will pay more than $11,500 a year in tuition and fees in 2025, and nonresident students will pay more than $31,500 per year. Resident undergrads at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, about 16 miles west of Salem, will pay nearly 4.7% more for tuition in 2025 than 2024, and nonresident undergrads will pay about 1.6% more than they did last year. Health services fees and business fees will also rise. Western offers the state's second lowest price point for undergraduate tuition at about $11,500 per year in tuition and fees. The approved increases will bring tuition up about $470 per year. Students enrolled at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande will see a tuition hike in the next school year, though it won't exceed 5%, according to Tim Seydel, a university spokesperson. The school's Tuition Advisory Committee has not settled on a number but will recommend that the Board of Trustees vote on 2025-26 tuition at their May meeting, Seydel said in an email. The school currently offers the lowest undergraduate tuition of any Oregon public university, about $11,000 for tuition and fees per year for Oregon residents enrolled full time. 'We want to keep increases low and reasonable and are hopeful that the Oregon Legislature will invest in the state's public universities to help mitigate rising costs,' Seydel said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Reading advocates want state literacy funds directed to teacher training, ‘most neglected' schools
A third-grader at Brooklyn Primary School in a reading lesson led by Eastern Oregon University Professor Ronda Fritz. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) More than 250 Oregon schools since 2023 have gotten some portion of the state's Early Literacy Success Initiative grants, a pot of $90 million meant to pay for new elementary reading curriculum, reading tutors and after-school reading programs, and to train teachers in reading instruction backed by scientific study and review. The term 'science of reading' is used to describe the large body of cognitive and neuroscience showing how the brain learns to read. Since the 1960s, hundreds of studies have been conducted to find the most effective ways to teach kids to read. Evidence shows that the human brain does not learn to read or write naturally but relies on explicit instruction in a specific set of skills. As Gov. Tina Kotek proposes tweaks to the program — and asks the Legislature to approve $100 million more grant funding in the next two-year budget cycle — some literacy advocates are asking that the state direct more of the money to nearly four dozen schools that have the highest needs and require grants be used to pay for training in the 'science of reading' for all K-3 teachers and administrators across the state by the fall of 2027. More than 100 educators signed an open letter drafted by the nonprofit advocacy group Oregon Kids Read asking the Legislature to tie the training requirement to Early Literacy Success Initiative grants. Over the past 25 years, nearly two in five Oregon fourth graders and one in five eighth graders have scored 'below basic' on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often referred to as the nation's report card. That means they struggle to read and understand simple words. The nearly 10,000 elementary school teachers in Oregon learned different methods for teaching reading depending on where they went to college. Many colleges are failing to prepare teachers to teach reading, according to a recent analysis by the National Council on Teacher Quality. On Wednesday, Kotek's proposal to tweak her bedrock literacy initiative — House Bill 3040 — will get a vote in the House Education Committee. It updates the 2023 Early Literacy Success Initiative legislation so that schools could spend their literacy grants on training classroom assistants, not just teachers and administrators. It would also require grant money spent on new reading curriculum for grades K-5 to be used on instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education and would create a regional network of literacy experts housed in the Oregon Department of Education to support school and district literacy specialists and help with coaching. 'As we continue to roll out the Early Literacy Success Initiative, we owe it to our students to stay focused on the details and get this right,' Kotek said in a news release. SPECIAL REPORT: Oregon fails to turn page on reading: $250 million spent in 25 years But advocates at Oregon Kids Read want the governor to go further. In a news release Thursday, they said they are asking Kotek and Legislators to amend the bill to direct 20% of the $100 million grant funding to 42 of the state's 'most neglected' schools. Those schools have the highest percentage of third through fifth graders not reading at grade level since at least 2018. The schools, including Caesar Chavez K-8 School in Portland and Washington Elementary School in Salem, also have a higher than average percentage of students who are Black, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous, rural or experiencing poverty. Of the 42 elementary schools Oregon Kids Read identified, 12 are in the Salem-Keizer School District, the most of any single district in the state. Salem-Keizer is the state's second-largest school district, with about 40,000 students and a higher proportion of low-income students than the state average. Schuberth, a volunteer with the group, said in an email that 20% — or $20 million — would be best used for targeted time with a literacy tutor throughout the school year. That isn't enough for all children in those 42 schools to access reading tutors, 'but it's a start,' Schuberth said. Targeting 20% to those schools would work out to about $476,000 per school, or roughly 20% more than the average $363,000 each school received during the last biennium in literacy grants. 'Families in California had to sue to get their state to do the right thing and target literacy funding to their lowest performing schools,' Angela Uherbelau, founder of Oregon Kids Read, said in the news release. In 2017, students in three LA-area school districts struggling to read sued the state of California for violating their civil rights by denying them a quality education. In a settlement reached three years later, the state agreed to allocate $50 million to improve literacy instruction in 75 California elementary schools where students have the lowest literacy rates. Uherbelau said accountability for spending and student outcomes in reading and writing in the coming years will certainly focus on districts, but 'the buck stops at the state.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 Best Places to Live in Oregon, According to Real Estate Experts
Home to Crater Lake National Park, the Columbia River Gorge, and the stunning Oregon Coast, the Beaver State has a wealth of incredible natural beauty and recreation areas that make it a standout place to live. Together with Oregon's healthy job market (which is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2023 and 2033), its higher education institutions, and a generally relaxed, eco-conscious reputation, the state has a roster of charming towns and vibrant cities that appeal to people looking to relocate. While the housing market in Oregon is competitive—Zillow estimates the average home value is just under $500,000—there are several places that Oregon-based real estate agents and experts recommend for prospective home buyers and renters. Below, find their picks for 10 of the best places to live in Oregon. If you're looking for affordability, charm, access to the Blue Mountains, and a strong sense of community, Kenzie Carlstrom of RE/MAX Key Properties in Bend recommends La Grande. She calls it a 'hidden gem' in Eastern Oregon, and says its historic district is particularly popular, thanks to its 'classic homes with character and larger lots.' The average home value in La Grande is $277,988, and, given the fact that it's home to Eastern Oregon University, Carlstrom says it's ideal for anyone looking to invest in rental properties. 'La Grande is an appealing option for those seeking a slower pace of life, stunning natural surroundings, and lower home prices than many other Oregon cities,' she says. 'Plus, it's the easiest four-hour drive to Portland; hop on I-84, and that's it for your weekend city fix.' It's not hard to understand why Bend has a competitive housing market; Jen Dillard, CEO and founder of the JDRE Team affiliated with Real Broker, calls it a 'paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering year-round recreation from skiing at Mt. Bachelor to hiking, biking, and paddling down the Deschutes River.' Carlstrom adds that Bend has recently experienced a 'strong demand for single-family homes,' which she credits to 'remote work trends, the local biotech industry, and the city's vibrant craft beer scene,' as well as its 'excellent schools and year-round recreation.' Dillard says that prices have 'cooled slightly from pandemic highs,' but inventory remains on the lower end. Per Zillow, the average home price in Bend is over $733,000. Still, if you can find a home within your budget, you'll enjoy all the adventure and modern amenities, including riverfront restaurants and live music venues, that Bend has to offer. Anyone envisioning a classic Pacific Northwest lifestyle without the high prices associated with Portland should have Salem on their shortlist. While the capital of Oregon has a somewhat competitive housing market, Zillow records the average home value as $428,744—19 percent lower than Portland's. Whether you're buying or renting, Salem is the type of place where there's always something to do. The historic Elsinore Theatre hosts live music, comedy, and theater performances, and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, which is part of Willamette University, has a series of rotating and permanent exhibitions to explore. And if you prefer to spend your free time outside? You'll have your pick of nearby trails for biking, running, or walking. There's a high chance that oenophiles looking to invest in real estate will be swayed by this next statement. 'Newberg is the gateway to wine country, and I liken it to buying real estate in Sonoma or Napa 50 years ago,' says Shannon Janssen, a Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialist and real estate broker affiliated with the Portland office of Coldwell Banker Bain. 'The topography is stunning with a mix of rolling hills, farmlands, and vineyards, and the town itself has a quaint little downtown with excellent restaurants and a variety of tasting rooms.' Located just south of Portland, Newberg is a more affordable option for those who want to be within driving distance of Oregon's most populous city. According to Janssen, buyers are usually 'able to find starter homes under $500,000,' and, simultaneously, Newberg 'offers the kind of large acreage view properties that luxury buyers are looking for.' 'The Umpqua Valley's rolling vineyards, mild climate, and outdoor recreation create an idyllic place to call home,' Carlstrom tells Travel + Leisure. Of all cities in this Southern Oregon region, though, her top recommendation is Roseburg, a destination she says has a hefty dose of small-town charm. 'Melrose and Hucrest are among the most desirable neighborhoods, offering a mix of newer homes, historic estates, and riverfront properties,' she says, noting that the real estate market is growing, 'with ample opportunities for return on real estate investments.' In Hucrest, the average home value is around $438,000, while the average home value in Melrose is $614,630. As a Roseburg resident, you'll have outdoor activities at your doorstep, whether you're interested in hiking, rafting, or even wine tasting. Carlstrom notes the proximity to the coast is another perk; in just over 1.5 hours, you can be walking along the beach and taking in an amazing sunset. 'Nestled in the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River and the Hood River Valley is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, windsurfers, hikers, and wine drinkers, and it, hands down, has the most picturesque landscapes,' says Carlstrom. Unfortunately, though, she says Hood River's appeal and its 'small-town, close-knit community' have created a tight real estate market, largely driven by high demand for second homes. But, she says, the town's 'farm-to-table scene, craft breweries, and easy access to Portland' still make it a top place to live in the state. Dillard echoes her sentiment, sharing that there are also great schools and a lovely downtown lined with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. She says the most desired homes are typically found in downtown Hood River, the Westside of Hood River, and The Heights area—and you can expect to pay a pretty penny. Home prices in Hood River continue to increase; as of March 2025, the average home value is $694,592. If you're thinking about relocating to a suburb of Portland, consider Cedar Mill. 'It's closer to downtown Portland than any other suburb in Washington County, yet it feels like a different universe since the two are separated by Forest Park,' says Janssen. 'It's friendly, safe, unpretentious, and has a small-town feel with a weekly farmers market, its own library, and numerous locally owned businesses.' Its list of green flags continues with relatively low property taxes (Oregon property taxes are capped at 1.5 percent) and highly rated schools. That said, she explains that home values have seen 'consistent and steady growth for years and are about 53 percent higher than the greater Portland Metro average.' Zillow estimates the average home value in Cedar Mill is currently just over $835,000. Living in a big city isn't for everyone; some prefer to live where they can prioritize spending time outdoors, preferably by a river. If that rings true for you, Kristen Butz, principal broker at Sunriver Realty, suggests checking out Three Rivers, an area named after the three rivers that flow through it. 'Three Rivers is located south of Bend, southwest of Sunriver, and north of La Pine. The community comprises a diverse group of neighborhoods with varying price ranges,' she explains. Three Rivers is technically an unincorporated area, so you may find that you need to drive into Bend or a larger city for some things, but you don't need to go far to enjoy the natural beauty this part of Oregon is known for. 'From bird watching and boating to neighborhood gatherings, Three Rivers is a wonderful place to call home,' Butz adds. There are both pros and cons to moving to Portland, but for some, the positives may outweigh the high cost of living, traffic, and crime rates. After all, it is one of the greenest cities in the U.S., it attracts a vibrant, creative community, and the job market is home to major employers including Nike, Adidas North America, and Columbia Sportswear. Additionally, the access to all kinds of outdoor recreation—rivers, beaches, and mountains—is hard to beat. Granted, the real estate inventory tends to run low, and the average home value in the city is $531,463. While those looking to invest in real estate may have to be patient, renting is also an option. With average rent estimated to be $1,700, Portland is a solid choice for anyone who wants a mix of city amenities and a relaxed, outdoorsy lifestyle. 'The epicenter of the 'Silicon Forest,' Hillsboro has a lot more to offer than most realize and isn't just about working at Intel,' says Janssen. Located on the west side of the Portland Metro area in the Tualatin Valley, Hillsboro has a strong job market; several large companies—including Applied Materials, Epson, and Thermo Fisher Scientific—join Intel in calling the city their home. The average home value in Hillsboro comes in around $538,00, and Janssen specifically recommends looking at the Orenco Station neighborhood. She nods to its local farmers market, restaurants, shops, and access to the light rail system, and says that its 'abundance of small to midsize townhomes and condos that cater to a low-maintenance, car-free, and carefree lifestyle' tend to appeal to both first-time home buyers and retirees. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposal to send schools $35 million for summer programs comes with literacy strings attached
A third-grader at Brooklyn Primary School in a reading lesson led by Eastern Oregon University Professor Ronda Fritz. (Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle) With just a few months to go before programs would begin, Oregon's Legislature is once again scrambling to pass funding for summer school. A proposal to allocate $35 million in summer learning grants hit some turbulence at its first public hearing Thursday at a meeting of the House Committee on Education due to some last-minute changes and new strings attached. House Bill 2007 would allow schools to apply for summer learning grants if they're used to pay for programs that boost literacy skills and academic outcomes. Narrowing the focus of those grants drew the concern of some education and youth advocacy groups, including the nonprofit Adelante Mujeres, which has used summer grant money in the past to fund programs that foster leadership skills and community involvement among Latina girls and women in Washington County. 'By focusing solely on literacy, the bill undermines the vital work of community-based organizations that provide culturally relevant, wraparound support for students and their families,' wrote Angie Jimenez, family engagement manager for the group, in her testimony. Anna Higgins, a policy director at the nonprofit Foundations for a Better Oregon, expressed similar concerns that the narrow focus of the bill would be counterproductive to summer learning goals, which she said are also about making students feel like they belong at school and boosting attendance and participation. This often means enrichment opportunities and extracurriculars that aren't confined to the classroom. She said House Bill 2007 ignores the recommendations of a legislative work group she served on last year. 'We have a road map now that details a long-term, sustainable vision for summer and after school in Oregon, and this bill, as it currently is, does not yet follow that road map,' she said. 'We are particularly concerned about its ability to advance equitable outcomes for kids, especially those who experience the least support in a traditional school setting.' Bill sponsors state Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, and state Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, defended the literacy-specific focus of the bill, and said they would introduce an amendment expanding who can apply for grants and more clarity about for what purposes money can be used before a committee vote scheduled for Monday. Sollman said other money, including millions from the High School Success Fund, is available for other priorities like credit recovery. 'This isn't the only, singular summer learning program,' she said. 'We have these different patchworks that can provide this.' In the aftermath of COVID and school closures, the need for summer learning programs to help students catch up gained urgency in the Legislature. Former Sens. Peter Courtney and Michael Dembrow, Democrats from Salem and Portland, respectively, even proposed investing in robust summer learning programs could be a runway for eventually introducing year-round school. In 2021, schools received more than $200 million, and in 2022 they were allocated $150 million. But in 2023, the Legislature did not send schools any additional summer school money, and instead hoped they would spend the last of their federal COVID-relief dollars. Schools cut programs and some nonprofits stopped offering summer programs altogether. Last year, schools didn't learn until April whether they'd receive a portion of $30 million in summer grants. For some, the money came too late to expand their offerings. Most smaller school districts need to finish their summer program planning by April, and most larger districts start planning as early as October. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
