Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 350 § 350.075 — Powers, duties and functions; investigation of student complaints; rules

Powers, duties and functions; investigation of student complaints; rules. (1) As used in this section, “student access programs” means scholarship, loan, grant and access programs described in ORS chapter 348. (2) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall be guided by the legislative findings in ORS 341.009, 350.001 and 350.005 and the goals and mission of post-secondary education set forth in ORS 350.009 and 350.014. (3) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall: (a) Develop state goals for the state post-secondary education system, including community colleges and public universities listed in ORS 352.002, and for student access programs. (b) Determine strategic investments in the state’s community colleges, public universities and student access programs necessary to achieve state post-secondary education goals. (c) Coordinate the post-secondary elements of data collection and structure, with the advice and recommendation of the state’s independent institutions, community colleges and public universities, as appropriate, in order to construct a state longitudinal data system. (d) Adopt a strategic plan for achieving state post-secondary education goals, taking into consideration the contributions of this state’s independent institutions, philanthropic organizations and other organizations dedicated to helping Oregonians reach state goals. State post-secondary education goals as described in this section should include, but need not be limited to: (A) Increasing the educational attainment of the population; (B) Increasing this state’s global economic competitiveness and the quality of life of its residents; (C) Ensuring affordable access for qualified Oregon students at each college or public university; (D) Removing barriers to on-time completion; and (E) Tracking progress toward meeting the state’s post-secondary education goals established in the strategic plan described in this paragraph. (e)(A) Each biennium, after receiving funding requests from the state’s community colleges and public universities as authorized by law, recommend to the Governor a consolidated higher education agency request budget aligned with the strategic plan described in paragraph (d) of this subsection, including appropriations for: (i) Student access programs; (ii) Public universities listed in ORS 352.002, including but not limited to education and general operations, statewide public services and state-funded debt service; (iii) Community colleges, including but not limited to education and general operations and state-funded debt service; (iv) New facilities or programs; (v) Capital improvements and deferred maintenance; (vi) Special initiatives and investments; and (vii) Any other program, duty or function a public university listed in ORS 352.002 is authorized to undertake. (B) In the development of the consolidated higher education agency request budget: (i) Determine the costs necessary to provide quality post-secondary education; (ii) Solicit input from educators, education policy experts, appropriate legislative committees, students and other persons interested in the development of the funding model; and (iii) Solicit public input regarding educational priorities. (f) Adopt rules governing the distribution of appropriations from the Legislative Assembly to community colleges, public universities listed in ORS 352.002 and student access programs. These rules must be based on allocation formulas developed in consultation with the state’s community colleges and public universities, as appropriate. (g) Approve or disapprove any significant change to the academic program of a community college or a public university listed in ORS 352.002. In reaching a decision under this paragraph, the commission shall consider the recommendation from the community college or public university seeking to make the change to an academic program that is issued pursuant to the obligation of the governing board of a community college or public university to review and approve academic programs. The commission shall ensure that approved programs: (A) Are consistent with the mission statement of the community college or public university; (B) Do not unnecessarily duplicate academic programs offered by Oregon’s other community colleges or public universities; (C) Are not located in a geographic area that will cause undue hardship to Oregon’s other community colleges or public universities; and (D) Are allocated among Oregon’s community colleges and public universities to maximize the achievement of statewide needs and requirements. (h) For public universities listed in ORS 352.002: (A) Approve the mission statement adopted by a governing board of a public university. (B) Review and determine whether a proposed annual increase of resident undergraduate enrollment fees of greater than five percent is appropriate. (C) Advise the Governor and the Legislati