More than 200 employees, students, alumni and advocates from Oregon’s seven public universities gathered at the State Capitol in Salem Feb. 12 for University Day 2026, meeting directly with lawmakers during the legislature’s short session.
The University of Oregon delegation joined colleagues from across the state for more than 70 meetings throughout the day. The conversations centered on protecting base operational funding for public universities and preserving need-based financial aid, including the Oregon Opportunity Grant.
The visits took place as lawmakers work to balance Oregon’s state budget during the five-week legislative session. Legislators are reviewing potential adjustments that could affect public university operations and financial aid programs.
The UO state appropriations are a core component of the operating budget that supports academic programs, student services and campus operations. Oregon’s public universities already receive comparatively low per-student funding from the state, which means tuition revenue makes up a larger share of institutional costs. The goal this session is to maintain current funding levels and avoid further reductions that could affect planning, affordability and student access.
Throughout the day, UO students shared personal stories about financial aid, first-generation college experiences and plans to build careers in Oregon. Alumni spoke about how their education prepared them to contribute to local businesses, schools, health systems and public agencies. Those conversations helped connect budget discussions to real experiences.
University Day reflects a coordinated statewide effort among Oregon’s public universities to engage policymakers around shared priorities. UO Advocates connects members of the university community with updates on higher education issues and information about future engagement opportunities.
Faculty and staff interested in receiving updates or participating in future advocacy opportunities may sign up to join UO Advocates.
- The Oregon Impact interactive map highlights how the University of Oregon contributes to communities across the state.
- Additional information about UO’s broader statewide impact is available at https://www.uoregon.edu/leadingfororegon.
- UO Advocates on LinkedIn.
- UO Advocates on Instagram.
—Top photo: UO President Karl Scholz stands with participants at the Oregon State Capitol during University Day 2026.
—UO Government and Community Relations Communications