Student Physical and Mental Health Matters
Support equitable student access.
Here's Why
- Studies show optimum wellness is essential for student retention, academic progress and degree completion.
- Students, including those with disabilities, chronic illness or financial need, deserve and need equitable access to health resources
- OSU-Cascades is Oregon’s only public university campus without health and recreation facilities.
The Project: Student Health & Recreation Center + 24 Acres of Land Remediation
A 40,000 gsf building dedicated to supporting students’ optimum wellness.
Mental and Clinical Health
- Clinical health services
- Mental health counseling
Physical Activity and Health
- Flexible spaces for varied activities
- Two all-purpose recreation fields
- Equipment storage
The Ask: $42 Million in State Support
Breakdown
Total Project Cost is $84 Million
- $27 Million for Land Remediation
- $57 Million for Building Construction, Infrastructure
Funding Sources
- $20 Million in Student Fees (OSU-Cascades students voted in 2019 to increase fees to help fund a health and recreation center)
- $22 Million in OSU debt, grants and gifts
- $42 Million requested in state support
The Impact of Student Physical Activity
- 2% increase in five-year graduation rates, plus improvement in first-year student retention.
- Up to 8% more retention of first-generation students
- +.2 GPA
Sources: “Collegiate Recreation Participation and Retention,” Sage Journal (2013); “The Influence of University Recreation Centers on Student Return and Retention during COVID-19,” Sage Journal (2022); "Physical Health and Wellness Linked to Student Success," Inside Higher Ed (May 2023)
The Project: 24 Acres of Land Remediation
Ready Land for a Student Health & Recreation Center and to Accelerate Central Oregon’s Economy
The final step in the transformation of a brownfield to buildable campus land.
The state’s investment starting in 2013 in the largest parcel of undeveloped land near downtown Bend — a former demolition landfill and pumice mine — to build and open a university campus in Central Oregon is reaping rewards.
But there is more work to be done to complete the remaining land remediation and set the stage for a decade of future growth, including:
- Student Health and Recreation Center
- Student apartment housing, financed by OSU, will help ease housing challenges in Central Oregon and provide convenient access for continuing students.
- Two or more academic buildings to keep up with enrollment growth.
Contributing Talent to Central Oregon’s Communities
5,625 Degrees Awarded Since 2001
Economic
Impact
According to a study by ECONorthwest, by 2025
OSU-Cascades will contribute:
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$196.8m in Statewide Economic Output
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2,083 Jobs
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$3.44m Additional Annual State Income Taxes
OSU-Cascades Students
Need Support
The student body reflects the demographics of an underserved, regional community.
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53% of Oregon Students are Central Oregonians
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29% High Financial Need
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24% First Generation
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23% U.S. Minority Students
Region Needs
Skilled Workers
Central Oregon has the second highest job growth rate in Oregon. Degrees offered at OSU-Cascades tie directly to those jobs.