The structural budget deficit to the Education and General fund was the main topic at the first University of Oregon board of trustees meeting of the fall Sept. 15-16.
Trustees heard from Chief Financial Officer Jamie Moffit and Provost Christopher P. Long on Day 1 about the $29.2 million in budget reductions, detailing the steps taken and the E&G fund long-term projections, followed by fielding a robust round of questions from trustees.
“I want to be really clear with people, this was an incredibly hard process,” Moffitt said to trustees. “These layoffs end up impacting people who lose their jobs, they end up really impacting colleagues who work with people who lose their jobs and they end up impacting the whole community that suddenly doesn’t have the same level of service and support. This was really more than just about numbers.”
Net tuition revenue accounts for almost 76.5 percent of all E&G fund revenue, but it is projected to grow by only 2.7 percent. In contrast, compensation costs — 79.1 percent of E&G fund expenses — are increasing at 6.9 percent.
Some of the factors contributing to this situation include:
- Non-resident enrollment is falling short of targets, affecting tuition revenue.
- State support is increasing only modestly (2.6 percent), far below the rate of cost growth.
- Costs tied to compensation and retirement programs continue to rise.
- Federal executive actions have created uncertainty around international student enrollment.
At the end of Day 2, the board approved the university’s budget and expenditure authority for the 2026 fiscal year.
Read more about the UO’s financial future at strengtheninguo.uoregon.edu.
New Vice President for Enrollment Management Derek Kindle gave an in-depth look at the UO’s enrollment management and also answered questions from the board about how recruitment may change moving forward.
During the reports section of the meeting, the board listened to public comment and reports from the Officers of Administration Council, UO Student Workers, Service Employees International Union, Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation and United Academics. Provost Long, Associated Students of the University of Oregon President Mariam Hassan and University Senate President Alison Schmitke all gave reports.
The board also held an executive session to discuss President Scholz’s annual review, collective bargaining and to hear an audit on identity and access management. The agenda, materials and recordings of the meeting are available on the board website.
—Ben Schorzman, University Communications