In 2009, David Frohnmayer, president emeritus of the University of Oregon, released a report commissioned by the Oregon University System (OUS) Office of the Chancellor in which he proposed converting the state’s three research universities into public corporations governed by local boards. At the time, The Oregonian reported that the Oregon State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) and the seven university presidents were considering policy options in response to this proposal. In the 2009-2010 legislative interim, Senator Mark Haas, chair of the Senate Education and General Governance Committee, formed a Legislative Work Group on Higher Education to address the issues raised in Frohnmayer's report. The workgroup’s efforts led to the introduction of Senate Bill 242 (2011). Senate Bill 242 (2011) created the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to coordinate higher education policies and goals with the OUS. Two years later, Senate Bill 270 (2013) created individual governing boards for the University of Oregon and Portland State University and offered the same option to the other five public universities (Oregon State University, Western Oregon State University, Eastern Oregon State University, Southern Oregon State University, and Oregon Institute of Technology). Senate Bill 80 (2015) fully abolished the OUS, the OUS chancellor’s office, and the SBHE, transferring SBHE's remaining responsibilities to the HECC.¹⁾

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