• First, the Board must reconnect postsecondary education to its statewide mission: Access. First and foremost, we must provide an opportunity for every Oregon citizen to go to a college or university in Oregon of their choice.

• Second, that access must be to postsecondary education programs that achieve an Excellence in the field such that our graduates are sought after by the global economy. It is access to a quality postsecondary education that will allow Oregon to take its place in the knowledge economy and that will drive Oregon’s growth.

• Third, this means that we must spend state dollars effectively by targeting investment to programs that drive economic growth and that give us a return on our investment that aligns with our goals of access and excellence.

• Fourth, to that end we must stop the disinvestment and pursue a strategy of reinvestment in postsecondary education

The Governor appointed former Governor Neil Goldschmidt to serve in one of two positions currently vacant on the Board of Higher Education.

The Governor also announced that four of the remaining board members - Jim Lussier, Leslie Lehmann, Kerry Barnett and Phyllis Wustenberg - have offered their resignations in order to allow the Governor to reconstitute the Board with new members focused on delivering the Governor’s postsecondary education initiative.

“I want to thank the current Board of Higher Education members for their service and commitment to our state,” said the Governor. “I have spoken to each of them about this initiative and they are enthusiastic and supportive. I commend these members for their dedication to postsecondary education and for their assistance to me in fulfilling these important objectives.”