UO E-clips, Dec. 20

Differential tuition aces the test (Business Week): In a business venture, greater value equals greater cost. Higher education is wise to follow that model by raising the tuition for business courses, which can propel grads into better-paying careers, as well as classes in certain other subjects, such as science and engineering, that cost the school more to deliver. The practice, known as differential tuition (BusinessWeek, 12/4/07), especially makes sense for public schools, which often need to compete with prestigious private ones. Any extra monies that public colleges charge students can go toward luring celebrated professors and updating equipment and facilities. … The University of Oregon charges "programmatic resource fees," not just to business majors but also to students majoring in certain other subjects that require special equipment, materials, or faculty services.

Oregonians see moderate income growth (Bend Bulletin): Oregon fell in the middle among states’ personal income growth between the second and third quarters of 2007, according to a Bureau of Economic Analysis report released Wednesday. Oregon ranked 26th, posting a 1.4 percent increase overall from the second to third quarters. Oregon reported a seasonally adjusted $131.5 billion in total personal income for the third quarter, up from $129.7 billion in the second quarter. … “They use a very broad definition of ‘job-seekers,’” said Timothy Duy, adjunct assistant professor of economics at the University of Oregon and author of the Central Oregon Business Index.