Press Releases

SOU Ashland Vitality Plan addresses long-term sustainability

SOU finalizes Vitality Plan for institutional transformation

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has released the final version of its Vitality Plan, a strategic outline that addresses financial challenges and prepares the university for long-term sustainability and student opportunities. The final version includes a variety of modifications based on suggestions from faculty, staff and students that were submitted after a provisional version […]

Economic impact of SOU Ashland

Economic impact report sees SOU as key resource

(Ashland, Ore.) — A new economic impact study that measures the financial reach of Oregon’s three regional public universities shows that Southern Oregon University has a prominent and growing influence on the prosperity of Jackson County and the Rogue Valley. SOU’s total annual economic impact is $730 million statewide, $532.5 million in southern Oregon and […]

SOU Ashland wildlife photo

Funding for I-5 wildlife crossing gets green light

(Ashland, Ore.) — Good news arrived recently for Southern Oregon University researchers and others who have done preliminary work in the development of a wildlife crossing over Interstate 5 south of Ashland, when the Federal Highway Administration released key funding for the overpass. Oregon was awarded a federal Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program (WCPP) grant of […]

A cybersecurity camp for teens will be held at SOU Ashland

SOU hosts cybersecurity camp for high school students

Oregon teens who are interested in technology have a first-time opportunity this summer to explore cybersecurity careers at a free weeklong camp hosted at Southern Oregon University. The camp is taught by David Pouliot, an associate professor in the SOU Computer Science program, with current Computer Science students at SOU serving as assistants and mentors. […]

SOU Ashland alumni Tiffany Burns and Erika Bare have new book

Two SOU alumni author second book for educators

(Ashland, Ore.) — Two alumni of the SOU School of Education’s administrative licensure program and longtime education leaders in southern Oregon have published their second book together – “A School Leader’s Playbook for Tough Conversations.” Tiffany Burns – a full-time instructor in the School of Education who previously served 12 years as a principal in […]

Papers on computational thinking presented by SOU-led team

SOU-led “computational thinking” team presents papers

(Ashland, Ore.) — An eight-member team – including two faculty members from the Southern Oregon University Computer Science program – presented five papers at this month’s annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, related to an SOU-led project to teach computational thinking skills to elementary school students. Computational thinking refers to a set of […]

Moriah Doepken returns to SOU to direct "Crew Experience" course

SOU Digital Cinema alum directs “Crew Experience”

(Ashland, Ore.) — Los Angeles-based filmmaker Moriah Doepken, a 2020 graduate of Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program, has returned to Ashland this spring to be guest director for the Digital Cinema program’s innovative “Crew Experience” course. “I’m super excited to return to SOU and help make a film back in Ashland,” Doepken said. “Having […]

Energy resilience at SOU Ashland

SOU OK’d to use federal money advancing energy resilience

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has been given a green light to use a $2 million allocation, approved by Congress in December 2022, to promote and advance renewable energy, energy resilience and related programs and partnerships on campus and throughout the region. The work will help to transform the SOU campus into a living […]

New trustees appointed to SOU Ashland board

Six trustees appointed and confirmed to SOU Board

(Ashland, Ore.) – Two new and four continuing members have been appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek and confirmed today by the Oregon Senate to serve on the Board of Trustees of Southern Oregon University. The new trustees are former Oregon State Rep. Peter Buckley and Christopher Geryak, an SOU junior and former student body vice […]

Civics course by SOU Ashland's Prakash Chenjeri

SOU civics course included on select national list

(Ashland, Ore.) — A Southern Oregon University Course – “Civicus: Advancing Civic Education” – has been recognized as a national resource and included on a select list of such classes by the Hoover Institution’s Alliance for Civics in the Academy at Stanford University. The Civicus course at SOU – created and taught by Philosophy professor Prakash […]