Authorizes all public universities in Oregon to offer doctoral degrees, subject to approval by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2715
Sponsored by Representative EVANS (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Allows for all public higher learning schools to offer PhDs that are approved by the
HECC. Limits certain public higher learning schools to five PhD programs until 2044. Blocks public
money to be used for aid to students at certain higher learning schools. (Flesch Readability Score:
60.4).
Authorizes all public universities in Oregon to offer doctoral degrees, subject to approval by the
Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Limits certain public universities to five doctoral pro-
grams until 2044.
Prohibits the commission or any other state agency from using public moneys to award schol-
arships, grants or other types of student financial aid to post-secondary institutions of education
that offer coursework primarily online and have been found to have engaged in fraudulent or
predatory practices against students or prospective students.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to higher education; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 352.011.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Subject to approval by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission under
ORS 350.075 (3)(g) or 352.089 (2), each public university listed in ORS 352.002 may offer doc-
toral degrees.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 1 of this 2025 Act, the Oregon Institute of Tech-
nology, Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University and Western Oregon Uni-
versity may not offer more than five doctoral programs each.
SECTION 3. Section 2 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 1, 2044.
SECTION 4. ORS 352.011 is amended to read:
352.011. [(1) As used in this section, “professional doctoral degree” means a first professional de-
gree, excluding a Doctor of Philosophy degree, that: ]
[(a) Represents a category of qualifications in a professional subject area that requires students to
have previously completed specified undergraduate coursework or obtained previous undergraduate
degrees before enrolling in the professional doctoral degree granting program; and ]
[(b) Is awarded upon completion of a program that provides the knowledge and skills for the re-
cognition, credential or license required for professional practice. ]
[(2)] Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University and Eastern Oregon University
are established as comprehensive universities that offer a full range of baccalaureate programs
and, subject to section 1 of this 2025 Act, graduate programs [ through the master’s degree and the
professional doctoral degree ].
SECTION 5. (1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission or any other state
agency may not use public moneys to award a scholarship, grant or other type of student
financial aid to a post-secondary institution of education if the post-secondary institution of
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 2849
HB 2715
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education:
(a) Offers coursework primarily online; and
(b) Has been found to have engaged in fraudulent or predatory practices against a stu-
dent or prospective student, as determined by:
(A) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission;
(B) A court of this state; or
(C) A public body as defined by ORS 174.109.
(2) As used in this section, “offers coursework primarily online” and “fraudulent or
predatory practices” shall be defined by rule by the Higher Education Coordinating Com-
mission.
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