(1) The current and future need for higher education services in Oregon is too great and too diverse to be met by government-sponsored institutions alone.

(2) From the early 1840s the citizens of Oregon, through private initiative, have created and sustained a variety of independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education, irrevocably organized as public benefit corporations in service to the people of Oregon. For the purposes of ORS 350.600 to 350.620, "independent institutions" or "independent higher education" refers to such institutions.

(3) These independent institutions:

(a) Conduct teaching, research and public service of high quality, contributing substantially to the preparation of a professional workforce, to the intellectual and cultural quality of life in Oregon and to the individual character of social responsibility so highly prized in this state and nation;

(b) Provide a major share of all post-secondary education in Oregon, at the lowest cost to the taxpayer;

(c) Add meaningful and valued diversity to the array of post-secondary educational opportunities available to Oregonians;

(d) Are accessible to qualified students of all ethnic backgrounds and from all socioeconomic levels;

(e) Annually attract thousands of talented people to Oregon from other regions of the country and the world;

(f) Provide unique local opportunities in higher education that many Oregonians would otherwise leave the state to find;

(g) Attract and sustain voluntary donations of private time, treasure and talent from thousands of citizens in public service toward fulfilling the educational needs of the larger community; and

(h) Constitute a sizable economic enterprise.

(4) The educational capital and services of these independent institutions are essential to meeting the current and future higher educational needs of Oregon’s citizens. [Formerly 352.665]