has emerged as a major state economic powerhouse with nearly a $2 billion impact on the state in direct spending and economic ripple effects,

aid in Portland today.

In his annual state of the university address during a luncheon to about 300 alumni and community leaders at the

Wednesday, Ray painted a rosy portrait of a 25,000-student university flourishing despite a weak economy

The university, he said, "is not just sound but exceptional and getting more so with each passing day."

University presidents across the country are whining about the lack of appreciation and financial support for their universities, he said.

"I don't believe leaders have a right to whine."

Ray focused on the university's economic impact as calculated by

a Portland economic consultant. The study showed "our total economic footprint now exceeds $2.06 billion," he said, $1.9 billion of which is in Oregon.

"This overall figure comprises OSU's gross statewide economic contributions and societal contributions of OSU research that extend around the world," he said.

That economic contribution includes $32 million in spending from 535,000 visitors to campus athletic and cultural events, $133 million in capital spending, $250 million in student spending, $194 million in purchases for goods and services and a $461 million payroll for 15,000 workers, 6,600 of them fulltime.

Ray said OSU is drawing more of Oregon's top high school graduates than any of the state's other six universities, and won $262 million last year for research, more than all of the other public universities combined.

He announced OSU is seeking accreditation for its new College of Public Health and Human Sciences and is joining forces with

in Salem to produce a three-plus-three program. The law program will allow bright students to zoom through OSU in three years and enter the three-year private Willamette law school, earning their law degree in six years.

OSU also raised $112 million in donations last year for its Campaign for OSU. That brings the fund to $785 million and within striking distance of the $850 million goal.

Ray said the university in the coming year will become more involved in public health and research, provide more education across the state through its

, share its knowledge through community presentations and form partnerships with industry and government, particularly in Portland.

"Together with our partners in higher education," he said, "we continue to strive to create a virtual mega-university for Oregon that can match the ability of any state system of higher education in this country to be an engine of economic development and social progress."