SOU Latest News

SOU makes Campus Pride list

SOU on Campus Pride’s “Best of the Best” list for 11th year

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has earned Campus Pride’s top ranking for the 11th consecutive year as one of the nation’s top 30, “Best of the Best” LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities.  Campus Pride is a nonprofit that supports and improves campus life for LGBTQ+ people on campuses nationwide. SOU is the only Oregon institution […]

Michael Parker, sculpture

The convivial artist: engaged teaching & art with Michael Parker

Michael Parker is no ordinary teacher and no ordinary artist. In fact, his enthusiasm for teaching socially engaged art is exhilarating. His teaching philosophy resonates with students as it’s situated in the relational and the inspired, which is what many young artists are looking for when entering the arts discipline in college. Since his arrival […]

Digital Cinema students on location

Digital Cinema at SOU offers options for all

Southern Oregon University’s hands-on Digital Cinema program now offers aspiring filmmakers three bachelor’s degree options and nine stand-alone certificates that prepare graduates for careers in film and entertainment. Students can choose to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in Digital Cinema Production Arts or a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in […]

SRC open for smoke respite

SOU opens indoor track for smoke respite

(Ashland, Ore.) — Campus Recreation at Southern Oregon University is continuing to help community members find refuge from the area’s wildfire smoke. The Student Recreation Center (SRC) will offer free admission for the general public to its elevated, indoor walking and running track – a popular smoke-free haven ­– for two-hour windows Monday through Friday, […]

General education requirements at SOU will be pared down and refocused

SOU streamlines and refocuses general education requirements

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will join a groundbreaking trend among universities across the country when fall term begins in September – the core, “general education” courses that students of all majors must take to earn their undergraduate degrees will be pared down and focused on six skills or “capacities” that students need and […]

Britt Gardens archaeological dig

SOU Laboratory of Anthropology receives grant for Britt analysis

(Ashland, Ore.) — The Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology has received a grant of about $16,000 from a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to complete a “faunal analysis” of artifacts unearthed during 2010-11 digs at Jacksonville’s Peter Britt Gardens. The excavations by SOULA were conducted as the city of Jacksonville prepared for a restoration […]

SOU transitions to schools rather than divisions

SOU shifts to four academic “schools”

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s 46 undergraduate and 10 graduate-level academic programs will be distributed among four “schools” rather than the university’s seven current “divisions” when the 2023-24 academic year begins in September. The organizational shift will eventually eliminate the cost of three director-level positions and will build greater efficiency into SOU’s administrative structure. […]

Early learning consortium receives grant

SOU and early learning consortium awarded $1.75 million grant

(Ashland, Ore.) — The Early Childhood Development program at Southern Oregon University will receive a $1.75 million grant from the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Learning Division to lead and expand a collaborative effort to provide education and support for early-learning professionals in the region. SOU will become the fiscal agent and lead institution for […]

Southern Exposure switches to summer schedule

Southern Exposure published biweekly for summer

Southern Exposure, Southern Oregon University’s curated e-newsletter, will switch to an every-other week publication schedule for the rest of the summer, following today’s issue. Its next installment will be published on Tuesday, July 11. Southern Exposure has been delivered by email to all SOU students and employees on Tuesdays since February 2021. It offers a […]

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 […]