A study of gender-affirming care is co-authored by SOU's Travis Campbell

SOU economist co-authors study on gender-affirming care, reduced suicide risk

(Ashland, Ore.) — Travis Campbell, an assistant professor of economics at Southern Oregon University, is the lead author of a collaborative research paper that suggests providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth reduces their risk for suicide attempts.

The paper, “Hormone Therapy, Suicidal Risk and Transgender Youth in the United States,” was published in the most recent edition of the American Economic Association’s Papers and Proceedings. It found that hormone replacement therapy appears to result in a 14.4 percent decrease in the likelihood of those transgender youth ever attempting suicide.

“By comparing transgender youth who begin hormone therapy to those who begin one year later, our research provides evidence of hormone therapy meaningfully improving the mental health of the recipients,” Campbell said. “This insight suggests that legislation restricting access to gender-affirming care may have large, negative impacts on the lives of transgender youth.”

The study comes as many states have tightened restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Bans on such care for minors have been enacted in 20 states – most of them this year – and similar legislation is pending in at least eight others.

In their study, Campbell and co-authors Samuel Mann of Vanderbilt University, Duc Hien Nguyen of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Yana Rodgers of Rutgers University analyzed data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey – the largest-ever assessment of transgender people. More than 27,700 respondents across the U.S. participated in the survey.

Survey data indicated that gender-affirming care reduces what is known as “gender dysphoria” – a sense of distress among some who feel their assigned sex at birth does not match their gender identity. Reducing gender dysphoria, in turn, decreased suicide risk – particularly among those for whom therapy is initiated at ages 14 or 15.

The research found no statistically significant relationship between gender-affirming care and suicide risk among transgender adults – potentially because some transgender youth who are the most at-risk have already attempted suicide, the study’s authors have suggested.

Campbell and Rodgers published a separate study this year – “Conversion therapy, suicidality and running away: An analysis of transgender youth in the U.S.” – in the Journal of Health Economics. That study, which is also based on data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, found that the controversial practice of “conversion therapy” increases the risk of suicide attempts among transgender youth by 55 percent, and increases the likelihood of running away from home by 128 percent. Conversion therapy is the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation – or gender identity or expression – to conform with heterosexual norms.

Campbell joined the SOU Economics faculty after earning his Ph.D. in economics last year from the University of Massachusetts. His research applies microeconomics to social justice issues, including economic inequalities based on race, gender and sexuality. His classes at SOU include Micro and Macroeconomics, Quantitative Methods and Application, Healthcare Economics, Labor Economics and Gender Issues in Economics.

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Availability of overdose rescue kits expands across campus

Availability of overdose reversal drug expands across SOU campus

SOU’s four-year-old initiative to make naloxone rescue kits widely available has expanded to 24 fixed locations across campus plus three Campus Public Safety patrol vehicles, as opioid overdoses continue to rise throughout the region and state.

The rescue kits – with nasal spray containers of the overdose reversal medication naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan – are located primarily in easy-to-find fire extinguisher and AED cabinets in most SOU buildings. They can be found in the Shasta, McLoughlin, Cox, Susanne Homes and Madrone residence halls; the Greensprings Complex; Ivy Hall in the Cascade Complex; the Digital Media Center; the Education/Psychology, Theatre, Music, Art, Computer Services and Science buildings; The Hawk; the Facilities, Maintenance and Planning building; the Raider Stadium Training Room; Stevenson Union; Hannon Library; Lithia Motors Pavillion; the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the Campbell Center; and Churchill, Britt and Taylor Halls.

The kits enable friends or passersby to save the lives of those experiencing opioid overdoses. Heroin and methadone, along with prescription pain medications such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, hydromorphone, morphine, oxymorphone, fentanyl and buprenorphine all are considered opioids.

Oregon saw a total of 1,114 opioid deaths from April 2021 to April 2022, the most recent year for which figures are available from Oregon Health & Science University. That’s an 18.5% increase over the previous year – a period in which overdose deaths nationwide increased by 6.9%. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office reported 91 opioid overdose deaths in the 2021 calendar year, compared to 41 in 2020 and 16 in 2019.

Naloxone can legally be possessed and administered in Oregon, and was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter sales. It has no narcotic effects, and works by reversing opioid-induced depression of the respiratory and central nervous systems.

The nasal spray is easy to use, but familiarity with the procedures is advised. Self-training tools include a nine-minute video with details on how and when to administer naloxone, and a step-by-step description of the medication’s use.

All Native American students to receive in-state tuition

SOU offers in-state tuition to all Native American students

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will extend in-state tuition benefits to members of all federally recognized Native American tribes beginning this fall, regardless of where they live. Annual savings under the policy change for Native American students from outside Oregon will range from nearly $5,000 to more than $18,000, depending on where they live.

“SOU has deep respect for the cultural heritage that our Native American students embody,” SOU President Rick Bailey said. “The university is also committed to providing opportunities for all first-generation and other non-traditional students to pursue their academic dreams. We believe that our entire university community will benefit from encouraging the enrolled members of tribes across the country to join us at SOU and enrich our campus.”

SOU joins Portland State University and Oregon State University in creating new opportunities this summer for Native American students nationwide to receive in-state tuition. Those changes follow Oregon’s recent investment in college access for in-state Native students through the Oregon Tribal Student Grant Program, which covers the average cost of attendance after all other federal and state grants or scholarships are applied.

A simplified process at SOU will allow Native American students from outside Oregon to apply for in-state tuition during the admission application process by submitting documentation of their membership in any of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. Those students will still be considered out-of-state students, but will be assessed in-state tuition rates. Current students who may qualify for the discounted rates may submit tribal documentation to the registrar’s office, and any student with questions about the new policy should contact the admissions office.

SOU offers a variety of opportunities for Native American students and is involved in ongoing efforts to strengthen its ties with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and those of northern California, developing memoranda of understanding with some that recognize mutual educational interests and spell out benefits ranging from financial aid opportunities to mentorship programs.

The Native American Studies program at SOU has added both faculty and course offerings in recent years, and was instrumental last year in initiating an Indigenous Gardens Network to restore areas where “first foods” and other culturally significant items can be cultivated, harvested and made accessible to Indigenous people. SOU’s Konaway Nika Tillicum residential summer program for Native American Youth has grown to include an online program for families, and the Native American Student Union has remained active throughout the pandemic.

The university also adopted a “land acknowledgement” last year, recognizing that the SOU campus lies on the ancestral homelands of the area’s Native American tribes; the full acknowledgement may be read at meetings or gatherings on the SOU campus.

The number of existing SOU students who may be affected by the changed policy on in-state tuition is unclear. A total of 251 SOU students identified as being American Indian or Alaskan Native when they enrolled last fall, and 167 of those were from Oregon. However, the “ethnicity tags” on enrollment documents are self-reported and non-exclusive – students can choose multiple, single or no ethnicities. Of those who identified as being American Indian or Alaskan Native, just 11 chose the additional option of identifying themselves as being affiliated with any of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes.

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President Bailey in monthly podcast

SOU president answers students in podcast episode #4

Sustainability at the Student Recreation Center

SOU green buildings project in full swing, improving campus sustainability

SOU has walked its talk on sustainability over the past three years, completing eight new green building projects – with four of them including new solar arrays. The Sustainability at SOU program is committed to promoting an environmentally friendly culture and implementing more sustainability features campus-wide.

“It’s really important for us to demonstrate new ways of doing things to build a better world to live in,” SOU Sustainability and Recycling Manager Becs Walker said in an interview with SOU News.

The Student Recreation Center on campus has abundant sustainable features throughout the facility, including brand-new solar panels, electricity-free workout machines, and fully paperless operations – exchanging paper towel dispensers for air hand drying units in all bathrooms, and using reusable cloths for cleaning the equipment. The SRC has been awarded LEED Gold certification, which is a green building certification system that assesses things like air quality, energy use and overall sustainability. SOU has a goal to reach at least LEED Silver or the equivalent on all buildings on campus.

There are three buildings on campus that currently fall under the “net-zero” category, meaning they create more energy than they spend: the Athletics Storage at Raider Stadium, the Farm’s Storage Barn and the Outdoor Program Equipment Storage Building. None of the three buildings have heating and cooling units, which greatly lowers the energy cost. They also feature new solar arrays, generating energy to power the buildings’ electrical equipment.

SOU has spent the last four years hard at work trying to reduce the energy cost and increase sustainability across campus, and the efforts aren’t done. Britt Hall is currently being completely remodeled, with new sustainable features in mind – and has a LEED Silver certification pending. There’s been a long standing goal to promote sustainability in all ways at SOU, whether it’s through education, campus life or facilities.

Please enjoy this video tour of the SRC’s sustainability features, led by Director of Campus Recreation Hugues Lecomte, and Sustainability and Recycling Manager Becs Walker.

Click here to learn more about campus sustainability, and all the work being done to keep the campus green.

campus climate survey underway at SOU

Experiences, beliefs and opinions sampled in ongoing “campus climate” study

SOU students and employees have until May 24 to participate in a 15-minute, online “campus climate” survey that will measure experiences, beliefs and opinions about diversity, equity and inclusion at the university, and serve as a baseline to gauge future progress and to make future comparisons of  SOU’s climate with that of other institutions.

Incentives to take part in the survey include a variety of random drawings: for each of two $50 gift cards, and for numerous $10 food truck vouchers, with the total number determined by level of participation.

Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Toya Cooper and SOU’s EDI  Leadership Team contracted with SoundRocket, a Michigan-based survey research organization that specializes in higher education consultation. Respondents’ answers to the survey will remain anonymous, and will be used to determine steps the university can take to develop and grow a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.

“The data will help SOU gain a baseline for the climate, which can be measured against data collected from future iterations of the survey,” Cooper and the EDI team said. “The survey will be used to inform policy, programmatic efforts and practices aimed at SOU’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where all learners flourish.”

The survey began on May 3 and will remain open through Tuesday, May 24. SOU students and employees began receiving invitations by email on May 3, and a reminder on May 4, both with links to the survey.

SOU undertook a similar campus climate survey two years ago, but that was conducted on a different platform so it is important for all members of the campus community to participate in the current survey, to gain a more accurate reflection of all perspectives.

Most questions for the survey are part of SoundRocket’s standard survey for equity, diversity and inclusion. A handful of other, SOU-specific questions were developed collaboratively by SOU and the vendor.

The incentives are intended to reward participation and generate enough responses to produce valid data. The two $50 gift cards will be widely usable, such as Visa or Mastercard. The $10 meal vouchers will be for use at either of two food trucks – Empanada Caba and Sultan’s Delight – that will visit campus from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 2. Three SOU musical groups will perform during the food truck event.

A total of 50 meal vouchers will be given to randomly selected student participants if the overall response rate is 30 percent; the number will rise to 200 vouchers for a 40 percent response rate and to 340 vouchers for a 50 percent rate. For employees, there will be 30 vouchers for a 30 percent response rate, 40 vouchers for a 40 percent rate and 60 vouchers for a 50 percent rate.

Video tour of The Farm at SOU

The Farm at SOU is gearing up for the 2022 growing season

The Farm at SOU has begun its 2022 growing season, with more than 40 different crops planted, the resumption of a popular community agriculture program and the introduction of a new one.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares are again available for participants who wish to receive weekly produce boxes and, for the first time, The Farm is growing and preparing to sell garden starts. Both programs are open to community members, regardless of their relationship with SOU.

The Farm is a community-based and student-powered operation, located near the SOU campus on North Walker Street. It provides learning opportunities for students and locally-grown food for SOU students, employees and local residents.

The CSA program, which enables subscribers to receive fresh produce from the farm each week, is expected to have crops ready to harvest and on people’s tables by mid-May and continue into September. Members of the CSA will get a share of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown on the Farm, from corn and lettuce to peaches and apples. Those who would like to subscribe for shares of The Farm’s products can follow this link to join the CSA program.

“We farmers at SOU are passionate about having people eat good food,” said Vincent Smith, Division Director for SOU’s Division of Business, Communication and the Environment, and The Farm’s primary overseer.

One of The Farm’s goals has been to promote self-sustaining agriculture in the community, which has led this year to the sale of plant starts for use in home gardens. All plants sold will be fully mature nursery starts, ready to plant upon purchasing. Plant starts are available for purchase here.

Please enjoy this short video featuring a tour of The Farm and its crops by Vincent Smith and SOU environmental science graduate student Elizabeth Mackey.

Learn more about the Farm here.

SOU Rotaract Club raises $10k

SOU Rotaract Club raises $10,000 for ShelterBox

The SOU Rotaract Club has now raised $10,000 in a three-year fund-raising commitment to ShelterBox, a charity that works in international disaster relief by providing families with shelter and other supplies.

Students from the club did multiple fundraisers, including selling Christmas decorations, hosting an Easter egg hunt and volunteering at local events. It is part of a three-year commitment made by the club to raise money for ShelterBox.

ShelterBox was established in 2000, and has since provided disaster relief in 97 different countries. The organization, an official partner organization of Rotary International, offers relief to displaced families who have lost their homes due to natural disasters. Families are given shelter boxes that each contain a large tent “house,” water purification kit, blankets and other equipment.

SOU’s current chapter of Rotaract – an entry-level version of Rotary International, geared toward young adults – was formed less than five years ago, and now has a steady core of active members and several others who have been interested in specific club projects. Rotaract chapters must take on both local projects and “world service” projects each year.

SOU’s Rotaract Club went all in on ShelterBox, resulting in a huge fundraising landmark. They’re not done yet though, with plans to continue fundraising for ShelterBox and increase student engagement during the 2022-23 academic year.

Students looking for a great way to get involved with their community and gain leadership skills in a fun environment can contact SOU’s Rotaract Club to learn about membership opportunities. More information is available on the club’s Twitter page or its website.

SOU News sat down with the club’s president, Teal Hamner, to discuss the club and the ShelterBox fundraising in this podcast interview below.

Story and photos by Nash Bennett, SOU Marketing and Communications student writer

The Cambia Health Foundation has awarded a grant to the SOU Foundation to support an SOU behavioral health micro-credential program

SOU awarded Cambia Health grant for behavioral health program

(Ashland, Ore.) — The Southern Oregon University Foundation is among seven higher education organizations in the West to receive grant funding from the Portland-based Cambia Health Foundation to increase diversity among students in health care programs and to expand outreach to potential health care students in underrepresented communities.

The Cambia Health Foundation is providing a two-year, $50,000 grant to the SOU Foundation for the “Southern Oregon Mental and Behavioral Health Pathways Initiative,” which will support training and increase the diversity of school and health care providers who offer behavioral supports for students.

About $35,000 will be used for scholarship assistance to paraprofessionals who complete professional development workshops at SOU as a first step toward the university’s “Foundations of School Mental and Behavioral Health” micro-credential. About $10,000 will be used to develop and teach additional workshops in the micro-credential program and about $5,000 will pay for marketing and communications expenses. Any unused portion of the course development or support money will revert to scholarship use.

“This micro-credential program represents an exciting new area of collaboration between SOU and our local K-12 and community partners,” said John King, director for education, health and leadership at SOU. “Together, we are pooling resources and expertise to train both current and new employees to better support the behavioral health needs of students throughout southern Oregon.”

The Cambia Health Foundation is donating a total of $320,000 to help fund seven higher education initiatives – through the SOU Foundation, University of Idaho Foundation, University of Utah Foundation, Utah Valley University Foundation, University of Washington Foundation, Eastern Washington University Foundation and Oregon Health & Science University in combination with Portland State University.

Cambia Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Cambia Health Solutions, a nonprofit health care company and the parent of various other companies including Regence, a member of the Northwest’s Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The foundation has funded more than $80 million in grants since 2007.

The current round of health equity grants are intended to help diversify the health care workforce and increase patient satisfaction, access to care and responsiveness to underserved populations.

“This regional health care workforce diversity initiative looks to break down the barriers of entry and completion of post-secondary health care education programs for minority and underrepresented students,” said Peggy Maguire, the president of Cambia Health Foundation. “Ultimately, our goal is to foster a diverse workforce that is culturally and linguistically representative of the communities it serves, to improve access to and quality of care while advancing health equity.”

SOU’s Foundations of School Mental and Behavioral Health micro-credential program is aimed at pre-kindergarten through high school teachers, classroom assistants and classified staff. The program, offered collaboratively with local K-12 school districts and community mental health agencies, prepares students to provide behavioral health assistance in a culturally appropriate and trauma-informed manner.

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Philanthropic support soaring at SOU

SOU offers new, accelerated option for bachelor’s degree plus MBA

(Ashland, Ore.) — The SOU School of Business has launched a new, accelerated option for its MBA program that will enable eligible students to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration in as little as four years, and save time and money on their educational pathway.

“This is an opportunity for high-achieving undergraduate students to fast-track their academic experiences and get a head start on their careers,” said Rene Ordonez, coordinator of SOU’s graduate programs in business. “Participants will graduate and enter the workforce as holders of full bachelor’s degrees and MBAs.”

The Accelerated MBA program offers a “3+1” option for students participating in SOU’s existing, three-year undergraduate programs – the Accelerated Baccalaureate (AccBacc)  or the Jackson/Josephine Pledge (JackJo). Students with “superior” GPA or standardized test scores are eligible for the Accelerated Baccalaureate program, and the JackJo Pledge program is available for graduates from Jackson or Josephine county high schools who meet other specific academic requirements.

Students from those programs can choose the “3+1” option to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four years, taking some graduate-level elective courses during their first three years and finishing SOU’s Evening MBA program with required, core classes during a fourth year.

They will reduce their time in school and take advantage of lower tuition by taking some graduate-level classes as undergrads, potentially saving as much as $20,000.

The new, accelerated program also offers an option for students in traditional, four-year undergraduate programs who are earning at least a 3.0 GPA by the start of their senior year. Students choosing the “4+1” option will complete bachelor’s degree requirements and simultaneously begin MBA coursework during their fourth year, then will finish the remaining core classes for their MBA during a fifth year.

Participants choosing either the “3+1” or the “4+1” option will also benefit academically from being part of a professional cohort, and may also qualify for financial aid.

“It is imperative for the student to work closely with his/her undergraduate faculty advisor and the MBA program advisor during their participation in the program in order to optimize the financial and completion-time benefits accorded by the program,” Ordonez said.

Those seeking more information on the Accelerated MBA program should contact Ordonez at ordonez@sou.edu or (541) 552-6720, or MBA coordinator Douglas Daley, Jr., at daleyd@sou.edu or (541) 552-8113.

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