Oregon lawmakers provided Southern Oregon University a $15 million emergency funding provision after the state’s governor signed it into law. The appropriation routes money through Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission and comes with reporting requirements and conditions tied to plans for delivering higher education in southern Oregon without ongoing increases in state support. Under the measure, SOU and the commission must submit a report detailing operating plans through June 2027, and SOU must begin filing monthly financial statements and updated cash-flow forecasts starting next month. The funding is intended to address short-term liquidity risks that university leaders said could affect the institution’s ability to meet obligations. The emergency lifeline follows earlier actions: the university previously warned of a projected cash deficit of $7.4 million by June 2027 and adopted a plan to axe 23 programs and lay off 18 employees after years of fiscal crises and enrollment declines. The new state conditions increase pressure on the university to stabilize finances while restructuring its program profile.