OSU-Cascades Seeks Funding for Student Health and Recreation Center

With support from OSU and the Central Oregon legislative delegation, OSU-Cascades is seeking $42 million in capital funding to remediate 24 acres of the former landfill and build a Student Health and Recreation Center. Students have been seeking the recreation center since 2017, when they began raising $20 million in student fees for the new building.

Here’s Why

Studies show optimum wellness is essential for student retention, academic progress and degree completion.
Students, including those with disabilities, chronic illness or financial need, deserve and need equitable access to health resources.
OSU-Cascades is Oregon’s only public university campus without health and recreation facilities.

The Project: Student Health & Recreation Center + 24 Acres of Land Remediation

A 40,000 gsf building dedicated to supporting students’ optimum wellness.

Mental and Clinical Health

Clinical health services
Mental health counseling

Physical Activity and Health

Flexible spaces for varied activities
Two all-purpose recreation field
Equipment storage

The Ask: $42 Million in State Support

Breakdown

Total Project Cost is $84 Million

$27 Million for Land Remediation
$57 Million for Building Construction, Infrastructure

Funding Sources

$20 Million in Student Fees (OSU-Cascades students voted in 2017 to increase fees to help fund a health and recreation center)
$22 Million in OSU debt, grants and gifts
$42 Million requested in state support

The Impact of Student Physical Activity

2% increase in five-year graduation rates, plus improvement in first-year student retention.
Up to 8% more retention of first-generation students
+.2 GPA

Sources: “Collegiate Recreation Participation and Retention,” Sage Journal (2013); “The Influence of University Recreation Centers on Student Return and Retention during COVID-19,” Sage Journal (2022); “Physical Health and Wellness Linked to Student Success,” Inside Higher Ed (May 2023)

The Project: 24 Acres of Land Remediation

Ready Land for a Student Health & Recreation Center and to Accelerate Central Oregon’s Economy

The final step in the transformation of a brownfield to buildable campus land.

The state’s investment starting in 2013 in the largest parcel of undeveloped land near downtown Bend — a former demolition landfill and pumice mine — to build and open a university campus in Central Oregon is reaping rewards.

But there is more work to be done to complete the remaining land remediation and set the stage for a decade of future growth, including:

Student Health and Recreation Center
Student apartment housing, financed by OSU, will help ease housing challenges in Central Oregon and provide convenient access for continuing students.
Two or more academic buildings to keep up with enrollment growth.

This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.