From the President – November 12, 2025

From the President – November 12, 2025

EOU Advocacy

Dear EOU Community,

Higher education has undergone dramatic shifts in the past year, and EOU strongly maintains its commitment to student success amid these challenges. Last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with the Oregon delegation regarding our concerns about some of the new uncertainties we face. We asked for their advocacy around Pell and TRIO grants, as well as graduate student funding. In addition, I shared our work in fighting to close the equity gaps between rural versus urban and suburban post secondary attainment. 

This may seem like a tough time to put student needs front and center, because there are a lot of competing needs in this state and in our country; however, I continue to believe that higher education can be a solution to many of the issues we face.  

Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) updated universities and community colleges on its process for prioritizing the request of Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) to engage in “scenario planning” around cuts to state agencies. HECC aims “to prioritize reductions that would have the least impact on students, particularly the most vulnerable.” They are still working through the process and soliciting feedback from universities and community colleges. At present, their plans do not exceed more than 5% cuts to the Public University Support Fund, and they are looking at all funding categories.  

A lot of work happens right here at EOU to push for greater rural post-secondary attainment. I had the pleasure of visiting this year’s Investigators of Science event. This clever yearly event invited students to uncover the culprit in a Halloween party murder mystery using scientific investigation. I was excited to welcome students from around our region to this interactive STEM (Chemistry, Biology, Math, and Computer Science) experience. This event has become so popular that registration had to be shut down early, with over 100 applicants from 19 schools. Special thanks to Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center for organizing, the La Grande Soroptimists and the Richland Section of the American Chemical Society for their sponsorship, and our faculty volunteers (11!) from Chemistry, Biology, Math, Psychology, Health and Human Performance, and Theater, and our student volunteers (44!) from the Chemistry Club, Biology Club, Math Club, OHSU Nursing, and Theater for making this such an incredible experience. 

Our Financial Aid Office (FAO) staff are fostering a college-going culture too, and supporting enrollment before students even arrive at EOU by partnering with local high schools for FAFSA nights. By meeting seniors and families where they are, the FAO team is answering questions, clearing up confusion, and reducing stress. These visits make positive impacts by helping more seniors complete the FAFSA on time and unlock grants and scholarships. Fall 2025 visits have included Imbler, Joseph, Enterprise, Pine Eagle, Grant Union, Prairie City, La Grande, Union, and Cove.

I often get questions about the number of faculty and staff at the university, and we submit many reports about our staffing levels to the state, the federal government, and other agencies and associations. Our three categories of employees include faculty, classified staff, and administrative professionals, each of which accounts for about one-third of our employees. Our numbers vary according to which report you view. 

I am always proud of the good work we do at EOU – truly, there is so much to celebrate! Our faculty, staff, and students are advancing excellence every day. The good work we do at EOU requires faculty and staff, and we’ve taken on a number of projects that serve our community, have a positive effect on future college-going among youth, and support child development. EOU employs staff in both our Head Start and GO STEM Programs, which are fully grant-funded. We serve a large number of community members with these projects, and the benefit of their contributions to the university is undeniable!

Our student-athletes continue being champions both in and outside of the classroom. EOU captured three of the five possible titles in the Cascade Collegiate Conference this year – Men’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, and Men’s Cross Country. In addition, Coach Jessy Watson of Men’s Soccer won Coach of the Year, and Ben Welch earned his 32nd career Coach of the Year honor and 14th for Men’s Cross Country. Congratulations to all of our coaches, players, and the leadership of Athletics for such a winning season!

Many thanks to our ROTC for leading the flag-raising ceremony and to the EOU Choir for beautifully performing the National Anthem as we honored Veterans Day together. I was sorry to have to miss this due to business travel, but the pictures on social media showed just how beautiful the occasion was!  

Hang in there! We’re almost at Thanksgiving break, when we can all have a welcome respite!

Sincerely,

Kelly A. Ryan, Ph.D.
President