This says a lot about their priorities.
Oregon universities maintain $7M DEI payroll amid multimillion-dollar budget cuts
Portland State University is eliminating two academic departments and 36 full-time positions as it confronts a $35 million deficit, while it and two other Oregon public universities maintain more than 90 DEI-related positions costing more than $7.2 million annually.
PSU will eliminate its Conflict Resolution and University Studies departments and reduce six others under its final plan. The university says 36 full-time positions will be involuntarily eliminated and three more reduced to part time.
Meanwhile, PSU, Oregon State University, and the University of Oregon maintain 92 DEI-related positions costing a combined $7,255,758, an Oregon Scholars analysis of university salary data found.
PSU’s vice president for Global Diversity and Inclusion was listed at $199,500 in the salary data. Oregon State’s corresponding vice president was listed at $264,852, while the University of Oregon’s corresponding vice president was listed at $319,300.
PSU says enrollment has fallen 23 percent since 2019 while operating costs have increased. The university has already eliminated 61.8 full-time-equivalent positions and reported $13.2 million in savings for fiscal year 2026-27, according to a university update.
Other Oregon universities are also reducing expenses. Oregon State approved an average 5.1 percent university-wide expense reduction beginning July 1 after academic and administrative units developed scenarios for cuts of 3 percent, 5 percent, and 7 percent.
The University of Oregon is considering reductions across academic and administrative units as it works to eliminate a $65 million structural budget deficit. President Karl Scholz directed university leaders to model reductions of 5 percent, 10 percent, and 15 percent across portfolios, according to a July message.
The university says declining out-of-state enrollment is among several factors contributing to its financial problems. UO expects to identify $65 million in reductions during the fall, according to a university update.
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