Education
SOU Board of Trustees approves realignment plan
The Southern Oregon University Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to adopt the SOU Forward fiscal realignment plan – a four-plank strategy that balances expenses with revenue and then prepares the university for strategic growth by diversifying its sources of revenue. The board focused primarily on the plan’s first plank – immediate…
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Don’t Sell Yourself Short, or the Value of a Bachelor’s Degree
A 2018 survey by the Pew Research Center found that nearly all adults believe a college degree is valuable. The data reveals that 61% of adults feel a college education is important while an additional 31% feel a college education is essential. Folks are split, however, on the purpose of…
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Philanthropic giving increasing significantly at SOU
Philanthropic support of SOU has soared over the past five years, the result of an intensive effort to transition the university toward a future of sustainable financial operations and improved student access. New gifts and pledges grew nearly 125% over that period, according to Janet Fratella, vice president for University Advancement and…
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SORIN announces Python or JavaScript Coding Camps
In 2022, SORIN kicked off their initiative to conduct a Python coding and Data science coding camp. We accepted applications from 16 – 23 yr. olds in Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties. The goal was to present competitive options that challenge and educate with a focus on employable skills. SCAN…
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SOU receives solar support from Congress
Southern Oregon University will receive $2 million to support its transition to solar power and energy independence, a result of the federal appropriations bill hammered out through months of negotiations and approved by Congress last week. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon included the solar project in…
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SOU alumnus and Foundation Board member inducted into inventors’ academy
Daniel A. Henderson, a 1984 graduate of Southern Oregon University and emeritus member of the SOU Foundation Board of Trustees, is among 169 innovators worldwide who have been inducted in this year’s class of fellows in the National Academy of Inventors. Henderson is best known for his patented invention of wireless picture and…
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SOU “pathway” programs for Latino/a/x youth get boost from state grant
Southern Oregon University’s pathway programs that introduce local Latino/a/x students to the promise of higher education have received funding that will allow them to rebuild toward pre-pandemic numbers and achievement rates. The highly successful Pirates to Raiders program in the Phoenix-Talent School District and the Bulldogs and Hornets to Raiders…
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Patridge hired as SOU general counsel
Rob Patridge, who has held several high-profile professional and public service positions throughout Oregon, has been hired following a nationwide search to become Southern Oregon University’s in-house attorney. He will begin work as SOU’s general counsel on Dec. 5. “Rob’s varied legal career has been punctuated by innovation and leadership,…
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SOU to expand solar power, move toward energy independence
Southern Oregon University has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Oregon Department of Energy to expand solar power production on campus, in the next step toward its ambitious goal of becoming the first college or university in the U.S. to generate 100 percent of the electricity used on…
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SOU prepares for strategic realignment to solidify financial future
Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey has announced an emerging plan to address an outdated financial model that has left SOU and many other public higher education institutions relying too heavily on tuition revenue to balance their budgets. According to Bailey, the work over the next several months will be…
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Former SOU administrator and consultant appointed to university board
Liz Shelby, who retired from Southern Oregon University after serving as director of government relations and chief of staff, and lobbyist and government relations consultant Iris Maria Chávez have both been appointed by Gov. Kate Brown and confirmed today by the Oregon Senate to serve on the university’s Board of Trustees. They will…
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Lithia & GreenCars pledge historic commitment, set SOU’s philanthropic bedrock
(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University and Medford-based Lithia Motors have announced a philanthropic partnership that will serve as the bedrock of future innovations at SOU. Lithia’s commitment exceeds $12 million and is the largest-ever single gift to the university. The contributions from Lithia Motors (NYSE: LAD) create the Lithia & GreenCars Momentum Fund,…
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