Oregon State Board of Higher Education

History

The board was first known as the Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula and maintained that name from 1909 to 1929. In 1929 the Oregon Legislature passed chapter 251, Oregon Laws 1929, that officially unified the state's public universities under the auspices of the newly renamed "Oregon State Board of Higher Education". Part of that law abolished each public school's board of regents and created a nine-member State Board of Higher Education. Becky Johnson, the first person whose appointment to a state Commission was subject to Senate approval, served on the Board from 1962 - 1975.

Former Governor of Oregon Neil Goldschmidt was appointed and selected as the board's president in January 2004, but the Senate confirmation process that approved his appointment also led to revelations of a decades-old sex scandal. Goldschmidt resigned from the board three months after his appointment. Governor Ted Kulongoski took the unusual step of assuming the board presidency following Goldschmidt's resignation.

The most recent addition to the Board was Jim Francesconi, former Portland City Councillor and mayoral candidate. He was confirmed by a vote of 28-1 in February, 2007, with Senator Vicki Walker casting the sole "no" vote, and Senator Rick Metsger absent.

Both the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and the Oregon University System closed permanently on June 30, 2015. Most of the authorizations and programs of those two agencies were assumed by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission, which was formed in 2011 and expanded by the legislature in 2013 when independent boards were established for Oregon State University, University of Oregon, and Portland State University.

References

References

1. "Oregon State Board of Education Policies". Oregon University System.
2. State ex rel. Oregon State Dental Ass'n et al. v. Smith et al. (1954), 201 Or. 288; 270 P.2d 142.
3. Jim Witty. (2007-01-03). "Philanthropist Becky Johnson leaves legacy". The Bend Bulletin.
4. (2004-01-27). "Board of Higher Ed Elects Neil Goldschmidt as its President". Oregon University System.
5. "Update April - May 2004".
6. Schmidt, Peter. "Sex Scandal Complicates Overhaul of Oregon University System". The Chronicle of Higher Education.
7. (2007-02-23). "Francesconi appointed to Board of Higher Education". Portland Business Journal.
8. "Gubernatorial Appointments Submitted to the Senate - 2007 Regular Session".
9. "Governor Ted Kulongoski Press Release".
10. Lane, Dee. (2007-02-22). "All but one vote for Francesconi".
11. "Oregon University System Home".
12. "Higher Education Coordinating Commission changes".