Oregon Public Broadcasting

Former University of Oregon president Dave Frohnmayer made an urgent plea for increased funding and greater indepedence for the state's universities.

Frohnmayer supports allowing the state's three largest public universities – Portland State, Oregon State, and University of Oregon – to become public corporations, like Oregon Health and Science University.

OHSU is in a unique position in the state because it can attract big money for medical research. But Frohnmayer says OHSU's autonomy has helped it raise outside money and cut costs.

Dave Frohnmayer: "No one is trying to clone OHSU and say that the model being used in the healthcare system is what we would use on the ground in Oregon. But every one of those institutions, PSU, OSU, and U of O, that once those restrictions are removed or lessened, I'm sure they'd make better use of taxpayer, student, and federal government dollars."

Frohnmayer made his case in a new white paper he wrote as a paid consultant to the university system chancellor.

The former UO president also calls for doubling the state's higher ed budget to $1.5 billion.

The governor's office says a panel studying possible overhaul of state government will take a look at Frohnmayer's suggestions.