SENATOR MAJORITY LEADER DIANE ROSENBAUM DISTRICT 21 - PORTLAND CHAIR, SENATE RULES COMMITTEE

News Release

March 29, 2011 

Contact: Molly Woon, (503) 986-1074, molly.woon@state.or.us

Statement from Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum

on passage of Tuition Equity Bill

SALEM – Below is a statement from Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum on the passage of SB 742, legislation that grants in-state tuition to students entering the Oregon University System that have attended and graduated from an Oregon high school, been admitted to an Oregon University, and who are actively working toward U.S. citizenship:

“Tuition Equity is about continuing our state’s commitment to its students. The students who will benefit from SB 742 have attended a U.S. school for at least five years, graduated from an Oregon high school, and are on the path to citizenship. By allowing a student to stay in Oregon and attend college, we’re keeping some of our best and our brightest in the state. This is the right thing to do.

This bill gives students fair tuition rates, nothing more. Students will still have to earn their entrance into public universities. In the long run, this bill will help us improve our workforce, by allowing Oregon high school graduates to stay in the state and pursue higher education.

Tuition equity will cost Oregon taxpayers absolutely nothing; it’s not a free pass to college for anyone. In fact, it would actually bring more tuition dollars into the Oregon University System because students who would otherwise be unable to attend college will enroll.

This is important legislation, but nothing is dramatically altered by SB 742. Only about 100 students will be affected by this bill the next 7 years. This is not a large number of students, but it will make a life-changing difference to those who are able to attend college. They have worked hard and through higher education they will be able to make a contribution to the future success of Oregon.”   

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