SOU board orders sustainability plan amid budget crisis

5 articles · Updated · KDRV · May 9

At Ashland, Oregon, trustees said Southern Oregon University could run out of operating cash by June 2026 and must submit sustainability and implementation plans before 18 June.
The move follows a Deloitte review tied to $15m in state bridge funding, with roughly $20m in structural budget improvements proposed from fiscal 2026.
Officials said the changes could significantly reshape academic programmes, operations, services and jobs, with monthly board progress reports required from 1 July to protect long-term viability.

Can SOU's leaders defy a consultant's drastic cuts and still secure the $15 million state bailout needed for survival?

Is SOU's crisis a preview of what awaits other public universities facing a national decline in college-age students?

To survive, must Southern Oregon University sacrifice cherished arts programs for a purely workforce-focused future?