Like states across The Country, Oregon continues to put higher education low on it’s list of priorities.

In the last quarter century the State of Oregon has lowered Higher Ed from its priorities, shifting the cost burden onto students and middle class families. (1)

This translates into reduced support for the institutions that power our economy and educate the future workforce:

When you control for inflation, the divestment in higher learning becomes clear. (1)

This puts Oregon’s future labor force deeper and deeper into debt, a nationwide trend  with severe economic ramifications for everyone.

  U.S. student debt threatens economic recovery:

“Average Student loan debt recently topped 25,000, up 25% in ten years.  And the mushrooming debt has direct implications for tax payers, since 8 in 10 of these loans are government issued or granted” — A.P. Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

This crisis in higher education was not inevitable and need not continue.  Take your first step in helping out by signing The Pledge To Support Higher Education Here.

(1) Charts from: OUS Fact Book