Oregon State University is a public research university in Corvallis, Oregon. As of 2026, the university claims to have 38,125 total students, of whom 11,491 are “students of color.” The university also claims to be the third best university “for solving climate change.” ¹

The school operates an “Office of Institutional Diversity” that is dedicated to advancing “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” The university’s college of business operates a “Center for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Business,” including training on how to be “ally to women in the workplace (designed especially for men)” and “recognizing and addressing bias.” The university claims to have won five national awards for equity and inclusion. ^{2 3}

Background

Oregon State University is a public research university in Corvallis, Oregon that was established in 1868. As of 2026, it claims to have over 239,000 alumni with a median mid-career salary of $128,200. The university also claimed to have 38,125 total students, of whom 11,491 were “students of color.” The university also claims to be the third-best university “for solving climate change.” ¹

Palestinian Advocacy Encampments

In May of 2024, Oregon State University reported that encampments were being set up to protest Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza. In a statement concerning these protests, the university stated participants “were immediately informed that they were disrupting university operations and in violation of university policies, including the Freedom of Speech and Expression Policy.” In June, the encampments dispersed. The university claims that it did not negotiate with protesters; the university claims to have held discussions with members of its community over concerns about the conflict, while calling the encampments “unauthorized” and insisted that those “found violating the law or the OSU Student Code of Conduct will be held accountable according to established OSU procedures.” ⁴

The executive council of the university’s union of graduate students, the Coalition of Graduate Employees-AFT Local 6069 at Oregon State University, released a solidarity statement concerning the May 2024 demonstrations that expressed support for “continued demonstrations at Oregon State University” and called “for an end to the genocide of Gazans in Palestine.” The statement characterized the university’s approach as “hostile” and condemned proposal to potentially use force to clear out the encampments. ⁵

Equity and Inclusion Programs

Oregon State University claims that it is “committed to supporting students from all backgrounds and immigration statuses. DACA and undocumented students should connect with the Office of Admissions to ensure their application gets completed and processed correctly.” ²

The university also participates in offering “Tuition Equity,” which it claims is in accordance with an “Oregon house bill that provides certain students an exemption from nonresident tuition and fees at Oregon public universities.” The group states “this program is available to undocumented/DACA students to be considered for in-state tuition.” ²

The university claims to have won five national awards for equity and inclusion. The school operates an “Office of Institutional Diversity,” that is dedicated to advancing “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Moreover, the university’s college of business operates a “Center for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Business,” including training on how to be “ally to women in the workplace (designed especially for men)” and “recognizing and addressing bias.” ^{2 3}

People

As of 2026, Shawn Scoville was the president and CEO of Oregon State University, a position which he began in 2020. He began working for the university in 2005. Previously, Scoville worked at Georgetown University, where his roles included being the associate vice president of Main Campus Development for the Office of Alumni and University Relations. He has held many roles on the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, including chairing the National Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations from 2018 to 2019. ⁶

As of 2026, Scott Vignos was the vice president of Mission and Impact at Oregon State University; his role includes leading the “Office of Institutional Diversity, Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Office, and Office of Mission Initiatives.” Previously, he was a vice president and chief diversity officer at the university from 2022 to 2025. Vignos was previously an associate director of admission and outreach at University of California, Davis where his work included “increasing enrollment, retention, and long-term success of underrepresented students,” as well as having been an attorney at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. ⁷

1. “About.” Oregon State University. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://oregonstate.edu/about.
2. “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.” Default. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.fororegonstate.org/get-involved/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging.
3. “Introduction to DEI in the Workplace.” College Of Business. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://business.oregonstate.edu/center-for-advancing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-business/dei-in-the-workplace
4. “Encampment Demonstration.” Leadership, October 2, 2024. https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/encampment-demonstration.
5. “Solidarity Statements.” Coalition of Graduate Employees AFT 6069, May 20, 2024. https://www.cge6069.org/palestine-solidarity/
6. Shawn L. Scoville – Oregon state university foundation | linkedin. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnscoville/
7. Scott Anand Vignos – vice president for mission and impact at Oregon State University | LinkedIn. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-anand-vignos-56ab9116/.