Health & Well Being - June 25, 2022

Dear faculty, staff, and students,

Yesterday morning, in a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold Dobbs v. Jackson, a case challenging the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi state law restricting abortion rights, and in doing so, also overturned Roe v. Wade, the 50-year-old case that was the basis for legal abortion across the United States.

In the wake of this ruling, we must recognize that Oregon Tech values diversity of thoughts and perspectives, and we are committed to our mission of fostering a culture of educational innovation, scholarship, and applied research. Oregon Tech is most successful when our students are successful. To this end, we are committed to supporting every member of our university community.

In 2017, Oregon codified abortion access in House Bill 3391, the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which requires Oregon private health insurance plans to cover abortions with no out-of-pocket costs, including being covered by the Oregon Health Plan. While the ruling may not significantly impact students, staff, and faculty residing in Oregon, we understand that many in our university community have family and other loved ones in other U.S. states and international countries.

Oregon Tech’s Integrated Student Health Center is here to support you. The center can provide counseling and other tools and resources for self-care, including physical and emotional wellness. If you have questions or concerns about your health and well-being, students at all campuses can contact the Integrated Student Health Center at 541-885-1800.

Please consider speaking with a counselor if you or someone you care about is affected by this ruling.

Sincerely,
+++++++++++++++
Nagi G. Naganathan, Ph.D., ASME Fellow
President
Oregon Institute of Technology