House Bill 2823:

Honorary degrees for Oregon students interned during WWII

On May 31, 2007, Governor Kulongoski signed House Bill 2823 that allows state institutions of higher education to award honorary post-secondary degrees to an individual ordered "evacuated by Presidential Executive Order 9066" to an internment camp during the Second World War. Individuals who in 1942 were registered as students at the Oregon College of Education (as Western Oregon University was then known) and also satisfy the qualifications described in the law (see below) are invited to contact the Registrar’s Office to ask questions and/or begin the process of possibly obtaining an honorary degree.

To contact the Registrar please:

• call (503) 838-8327
• e-mail: registrar@wou.edu
• mail:
  WOU Registrar's Office
  345 North Monmouth Ave.
  Monmouth, OR 97361
• Or drop by our office in person

Please note:

You will need to be prepared to give us your name as it was when you attended the university in 1942, along with your current contact information (address, phone number and e-mail address).

Resource:

The following text is from the Oregon State Legislature Web site relating to

House Bill 2823 html | pdf

74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session

Enrolled

House Bill 2823

Sponsored by Representatives CLEM, KOTEK; Representatives BUCKLEY, GREENLICK, HUNT

CHAPTER.................................................

AN ACT

Relating to internment camps.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1.(1) As used in this section, “internment camp” means a relocation center to which persons were ordered evacuated by Presidential Executive Order 9066, signed on February 19, 1942.

(2) A person who meets the requirements of subsection (4) of this section may request a state institution of higher education listed in ORS 352.002 to award the person an honorary post-secondary degree.

(3) A representative of a deceased person who meets the requirements of subsection (4)of this section may request a state institution of higher education listed in ORS 352.002 to award an honorary post-secondary degree on behalf of the deceased person.

(4) Notwithstanding the requirements for a post-secondary degree established by a state institution of higher education or by the State Board of Higher Education, a state institution of higher education that receives a request under subsection (2) or (3) of this section may award an honorary post-secondary degree to a person, or on behalf of a deceased person, who:

(a) Was a student at the state institution of higher education in 1942; and

(b) Did not graduate from the institution because the person was ordered to an internment camp.

Enrolled House Bill 2823 (HB 2823-A)

Passed by House April 2, 2007

............................................................................. Chief Clerk of House

............................................................................. Speaker of House

Passed by Senate May 4, 2007

............................................................................. President of Senate

Received by Governor:

........................M.,........................................................., 2007

Approved:

........................M.,........................................................., 2007

............................................................................. Governor

Filed in Office of Secretary of State:

........................M.,........................................................., 2007

............................................................................. Secretary of State

University Registrar Western Oregon University
345 N. Monmouth Ave.,
Monmouth, OR 97361
ph: (503) 838-8327; fax: (503) 838-9696
e-mail: registrar@wou.edu