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CORVALLIS - Oregon's economic downturn has put the financial squeeze on many college students, prompting the Oregon State University faculty and concerned alums to take action.

Earlier this month, the OSU Faculty Senate approved the creation of an emergency fund that will help students offset a surcharge required by the university to help fill a budget gap created by recent reductions in state appropriations. Full-time students received a bill for $157 in February and a similar charge will be assessed during spring term.

To further energize faculty to contribute, the OSU Foundation has announced that it will match faculty gifts 2-for-1, backed in part by a surprise gift from OSU Foundation board member Joan Austin.

The funding plan is the brainchild of P. Shing Ho, professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Kevin Ahern, a senior instructor in the department. Both professors have seen how the state's economic quagmire has created a hardship for low-income college students.

"Something had to be done," Ho said. "When we started talking to faculty about this idea, we found it had broad support."

Little did they know, but the idea also had support off campus. Newberg's Austin, co-owner of Austin Dental Equipment Company (A-dec), heard about the financial burden on low-income students through the OSU Foundation and was moved to help out.

Tim White, president of the university, said he was discussing Oregon State's efforts to establish the fund at a meeting of the OSU Foundation Board of Governors when Austin, a member of the board, wrote a substantial check on the spot to motivate the campus community to donate to the fund.

"It was an absolutely terrific moment," he said. "I was very moved by her generosity and heart."

Following Austin's direction, James Reinmuth, interim president of the OSU Foundation, later announced that the foundation would provide $2 for every dollar donated by faculty. He also said that the standard fee for gifts will be waived specifically for this fund to guarantee that every dollar donated goes directly to students.

Faculty can contribute to the fund by writing a check to the OSU Foundation and specifying that it is for the Faculty Senate Emergency Fund for Students. OSU employees can also give through payroll deductions or credit cards. Details are available at the OSU Foundation home page (http://www.osufoundation.org/).

The OSU Alumni Association has stepped up as well, giving $6,280 or the equivalent of winter semester surcharges for 40 students.

Ho said he expects the fund to be a success because faculty, staff and administrators at the university interact daily with students who are trying to make ends meet while paying rising tuition bills.

"It's fair to say there is general concern on campus for how the tuition surcharges will affect the ability of some of our students to continue their education at OSU, and the proposed emergency fund for student access is one very visible and coordinated effort to address that issue," Ho said.

Students interested in applying for the awards can contact the OSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 541-737-2241.