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Dean Jesse Longhurst Letter in Opposition To New Education Degrees in Oregon

Southern Oregon University Dean of Education Jesse Longhurst submitted her opposition to creating new education degrees at five community colleges in the state.

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107 views2 pages

Dean Jesse Longhurst Letter in Opposition To New Education Degrees in Oregon

Southern Oregon University Dean of Education Jesse Longhurst submitted her opposition to creating new education degrees at five community colleges in the state.

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The College Fix
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$0) Southern OREGON DIUNIVERSITY August 7, 2025 ‘The Higher Education Coordinating Commission 8225 25th Street SE Salem, OR 97302 Attn: Director Ben Cannon & CWDD Director Donna Lewelling Email: [email protected], donna,[email protected] Dear Directors Cannon and Lewelling: We are writing to provide feedback on the proposed Education Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree at the community college level in Oregon. While we understand and appreciate the intent behind this proposal, we believe that the introduction of BAS programs at community colleges is unnecessary. We are concerned that it would result in the duplication of services already available at institutions like Southern Oregon University while simultaneously stretching scarce public dollars even thinner. We are further concerned that it could jeopardize long-standing, positive partnerships between regional universities and community colleges. Particularly in rural Oregon, our institutions rely on each other. Creating a parallel system of community college BAS programs would not only be redundant but would put us in direct competition with our community college partners, This has the potential to damage both sets of institutions, and negatively impact our K-12 teacher pipeline. Southern Oregon University currently offers nationally accredited (AAQEP) educator preparation programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level as well as a wide array of endorsements. We have been responsive to partners’ feedback, and continually adapt our offerings and instruction modalities to better serve the region. SOU offers flexible course delivery, designed to support distance learners, working adults, school district employees and students with varying schedules. These include online, evening, school-embedded and hybrid courses as well as allowing students to complete clinical practice in their own: communities. SOU’s programs have been developed in partnership with Rogue Community College and other regional community colleges. We have built robust articulation agreements, distance-accessible modalities, flexible schedules and transfer maps that support place-bound students. The proposed BAS could undermine those efforts, resulting in a dispersal of resources that will fracture transfer agreements and strong regional partnerships. 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard ‘Ashland, Oregon 97520 $0} Southern OREGON WIUNIVERSITY While community colleges are vitally important for Oregon’s education system, the resources required to establish and sustain BAS programs, particularly those designed to produce licensed teachers, would be better utilized in strengthening and enhancing existing educator preparation programs. Another important avenue of support could be in enhancing the coordination of the community college-regional university partnerships that are the foundation of academic success. Introducing the BAS in Education at the community college level risks diluting the educational offerings currently available and eroding the long-standing collaborative partnerships between SOU and our community college colleagues. Furthermore, jeopardizing the ability of any rural institution to offer these vital degree pathways will ultimately harm our public primary education system. At this critical juncture, with so much uncertainty in the future of support for K-12 education, we cannot risk the likely negative consequences of this proposed change. ‘Thank you for considering our concerns regarding this important issue. Sincerely, — ma Dr. Jesse Longhurst Dean of the School of Education 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard Ashland, Oregon 97520

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