(1) That an investment in educational opportunities for all Oregonians is an investment in a strong and stable economy and greater personal opportunities;
(2) That the single largest barrier to attending an institution of higher education is lack of finances;
(3) That keeping higher education affordable requires a shared effort and partnership by students, family, the federal government, state government and private philanthropy;
(4) The broad and diverse range of quality post-secondary educational services provided by Oregon’s institutions of higher education, including Oregon’s community colleges, public universities and independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education;
(5) The positive effects on Oregon’s citizens, families and economy of encouraging talented and hardworking students to stay in Oregon to pursue a post-secondary education; and
(6) That, in order to maintain affordable tuition at Oregon’s public universities and community colleges, the Legislative Assembly, through the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, should review tuition affordability on the basis of standards, including the Higher Education Price Index, median family income, enrollment growth and state appropriations made to public universities and community colleges in this state. This review by the Legislative Assembly on tuition and fee increases should occur biennially. [1999 c.1070 §2; 2007 c.802 §2; 2007 c.858 §38; 2011 c.637 §142]