Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 350 § 350.775 — Compact provisions

Compact provisions. The terms and provisions of the compact referred to in ORS 350.770 are as follows: ______________________________________________________________________________ ARTICLE I Whereas the future of this nation and of the western states is dependent upon the quality of the education of its youth; and Whereas many of the western states individually do not have sufficient numbers of potential students to warrant the establishment and maintenance within their borders of adequate facilities in all of the essential fields of technical, professional and graduate training, nor do all of the states have the financial ability to furnish within their borders institutions capable of providing acceptable standards of training in all of the fields mentioned above; and Whereas it is believed that the western states, or groups of such states within the region, cooperatively can provide acceptable and efficient educational facilities to meet the needs of the region and of the students thereof: Now, therefore, the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii do hereby covenant and agree as follows: ARTICLE II Each of the compacting states and territories pledges to each of the other compacting states and territories faithful cooperation in carrying out all the purposes of this compact. ARTICLE III The compacting states and territories hereby create the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, hereinafter called the commission. Said commission shall be a body corporate of each compacting state and territory and an agency thereof. The commission shall have all the powers and duties set forth herein, including the power to sue and be sued, and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent action of the respective legislatures of the compacting states and territories. ARTICLE IV The commission shall consist of three resident members from each compacting state or territory. At all times one commissioner from each compacting state or territory shall be an educator engaged in the field of higher education in the state or territory from which he is appointed. The commissioners from each state and territory shall be appointed by the Governor thereof as provided by law in such state or territory. Any commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the state or territory from which he shall have been appointed. The terms of each commissioner shall be four years; provided, however, that the first three commissioners shall be appointed as follows: One for two years, one for three years, and one for four years. Each commissioner shall hold office until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. If any office becomes vacant for any reason, the Governor shall appoint a commissioner to fill the office for the remainder of the unexpired term. ARTICLE V Any business transacted at any meeting of the commission must be by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of compacting states and territories. One or more commissioners from a majority of the compacting states and territories shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Each compacting state and territory represented at any meeting of the commission is entitled to one vote. ARTICLE VI The commission shall elect from its number a chairman and a vice chairman, and may appoint, and at its pleasure dismiss or remove, such officers, agents and employees as may be required to carry out the purpose of this compact; and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and compensation, having due regard for the importance of the responsibilities involved. The commissioners shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses from the funds of the commission. ARTICLE VII The commission shall adopt a seal and bylaws and shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for its management and control. The commission may elect such committees as it deems necessary for the carrying out of its functions. The commission shall establish and maintain an office within one of the compacting states for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time, but in any event must meet at least once a year. The chairman may call upon such additional meetings and upon the request of a majority of the commissioners of three or more compacting states or territories shall call additional meetings. The commission shall submit a budget to the Governor of each compacting state and territory at such time and for such period as may be required. The commission shall, after negotiations with interested institutions, determine the cost of providing the facilities for graduate and professional education for use in its contractual agreements throughout the region. On or before the fifteenth day of J