Oregon State University
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

OSU participates in policy issues with one full time professional faculty member dedicated to state issues and one full time professional faculty member dedicated to federal policy issues. As a research intensive institution, and with strengths in forestry, agriculture, natural resources and engineering, OSU faculty and staff serve as experts in their fields and are frequently called upon by elected officials to provide guidance during policy discussions. OSU has had several scientists serve on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. More locally, large part of the Oregon spotted owl debate was informed by expertise from OSU via a task force that worked with Vice President Gore and President Clinton in the early 1990s. OSU, with its land, sea, space and sun grant status and strong background in natural resources and energy issues and has advocated for funding for research in solar, wave and wind energy, bio-based materials, alternative transportation and many other areas. Because of it's role as a land grant university, OSU advocates for policies that improve the lives of the people of Oregon. Publicly funded programs advocated for include OSU Extension, Master Recyclers, Master Gardner, Climate Masters, 4H programs, and others. These programs focus on sustainability throughout the state. Most significant with respect to OSU's land grant designation is the policy advice provided through OSU Extension, Sea Grant Extension and other sub units. Local decision making bodies like watershed councils, city councils, county commissions and numerous other entities receive frequent policy advice and direction from Extension and its affiliates. OSU is an integral part of the Corvallis community and is one of the largest driving forces for sustainability locally. OSU is the largest partner in the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, an organization that advocates for a more sustainable community. Amongst the work of the Coalition is a Community Sustainability Action Plan that was submitted to and approved by the Corvallis City Council. OSU students in the past few years have also advocated for a Styrofoam ban and plastic bag ban within the city and improved funding of city transit for all of Corvallis. In 2007, OSU advocated for the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which offered grants to establish sustainability programs at institutions of higher education.