Former University President Urges Oregon to Give Its 3 Largest Universities More Autonomy

In the face of dwindling state support for higher education, Oregon should convert its three largest public universities into public corporations to make it easier for them to raise money, David B. Frohnmayer, who recently retired as president of the University of Oregon, recommends in a report released today by the Oregon University System. The report calls for giving the University of Oregon and Oregon State and Portland State Universities the type of autonomy that the Oregon Health and Science University acquired in the 1990s, when it became a state-assisted public corporation. A legislative leader quoted in The Oregonian seemed receptive to the idea but said it was unlikely that the Legislature could take it up in its 2010 session, which will be short and focused on the state’s budget problems.