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Alum troubled by WOU’s leadership
While it’s been frustrating to read, I appreciate The Itemizer-Observer’s coverage of Western Oregon University’s struggles of late. As an alum, I’m greatly disturbed by the lack of leadership in Monmouth.
Yes, the pandemic forced program and staffing cuts. The problems, however, were pre-pandemic. An OPB article reported that from 2011 to today, WOU has dropped 25% in enrollment. This is inexcusable. In that same period of time, the state of Oregon grew from 3.87 million people to 4.28 million, nearly a 400,000 increase — yet WOU is decreasing.
WOU doesn’t need to become an impersonal, large university. It’s strength is its small setting with excellent faculty-to-student interaction. But a steady enrollment climb is needed for the survival and strength of the school. I’m surprised after a decade of declines that the university didn’t hit a crisis point years ago, revamping how they are ....

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