The ask: $24 million to expedite land remediation, creating 81 contiguous acres for academic and student housing buildings.
This past fall, OSU-Cascades achieved record-breaking enrollment with 1,313 students attending the Bend campus. After observing a ninth consecutive year of growth, OSU-Cascades must expand to meet the demands of an increasing student population. Advocates are asking for $24 million in bond funding from the legislature for sight work including land remediation for phase three of campus expansion. Investing in OSU-Cascades now allows for accelerated construction and reduced costs for the next several capital construction projects, which will likely include additional student housing.
Central Oregon is the fastest-growing region in the state and needs a campus that can keep up. Producing career-ready and skilled graduates for local and state industry workforces requires continuous investment from the state. Delivering a university education in Central Oregon is a priority OSU is deeply committed to. OSU-Cascades has already contributed more than 5,000 graduates to the regional economy, with OSU-Cascades’ graduates earning 65% more over a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. Ready land makes economic and engineering sense to attract and motivate private and nonprofit partners, and to reduce costs and timelines for campus expansion.
