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About Oregon State University

Oregon State University began as Corvallis College in 1858, just prior to being awarded land grant status in the late 1860s. The second Morrill Act of 1890 and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 further provided for the teaching, research, and extension programs at the institution. Today, OSU is one of only two universities in the United States with land, sea, space, and sun grant designations, and thus has been selected by the federal government to be a nexus of teaching and research that benefits the country and the world. OSU is ranked 81st among the top 200 research institutions, and last year University faculty and staff attracted more than $177 million in research funding. At the same time, OSU has become even more instrumental to the well-being of Oregon itself, providing the accessible education and practical research that Oregon residents and businesses need to thrive in changing times.

Oregon State University is a comprehensive public research university and a member of the Oregon University System (OUS). With programs and faculty located in every Oregon county, OSU views the state as its campus, working in partnership with community colleges and other OUS institutions to provide access to educational programs. OSU’s student body is comprised of nearly 19,000 students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. The entering students have an average high school GPA of 3.48. Strengths include forestry, oceanography, tsunami research, engineering, nanotechnology, marine biology, agricultural sciences, and nutrition at the famed Linus Pauling Institute. OSU’s athletic teams are also top tier and compete in the Pac-10 conference.

University President Ed Ray came to Oregon State in 2003. Previously he served as the Executive Vice President and Provost for The Ohio State University. He was also a member of the economics faculty at Ohio State for more than 30 years. President Ray has brought new direction to Oregon State, recruiting a cadre of talented leadership and developing a strategic plan which will help guide the University’s first comprehensive campaign.

OSU's Mission and Goals

Oregon State University is committed to a rigorous focus on academic excellence in all aspects of its mission: teaching, research, and outreach and engagement. The OSU Strategic Plan rests on a set of three fundamental goals: provide outstanding academic programs, enhance the teaching and learning environment, and increase investment in academic priorities. A Statement of Vision and Core Values supports these goals. Phase II adheres, with minor changes, to the vision and goals presented in the 2004 document.

OSU prepares talented young people from all backgrounds to be leaders and productive members of our society by helping them become critical thinkers, global citizens and skilled professionals. Its alumni are leaders in business, industry, service and education sectors of Oregon and the world. OSU has degree programs that produce graduates who now and in the future will sustain areas critical to Oregon's economic vitality, including energy, health, nutrition and green development. The University is a significant contributor to the State's economy and economic development, and its core competencies are an excellent fit with Oregon's needs and priorities. While the global economy struggles with the consequences of mismanagement of the natural world as well as crises in health and nutrition, OSU carries a legacy of knowledge-driven stewardship of the environment and a track record of developing technology and approaches to help create more effective and equitable systems for addressing health, food and other human systems.

Progress has been measured annually against a set of Strategic Plan metrics. The Office of the Provost issues yearly reports on performance. A metrics-based assessment of progress, including 2013 targets will be found at the same web page.

Outstanding programs, people, and location make Oregon State an exciting and vibrant university; one that is internationally renowned. For more information on OSU, its mission, and strategic plan, visit www.oregonstate.edu.