The investiture of University of Oregon President Michael Gottfredson may still be nearly six weeks away, but some deadlines are fast approaching for those wishing to attend and/or participate in the May 30 event.
RSVPs should be made by May 10 for those who plan on attending the 2 p.m. event at Matthew Knight Arena and a reception that will follow at the Ford Alumni Center. The entire community is invited.
UO faculty and staff are also encouraged to wear full academic regalia and participate in a processional that will precede the investiture. The deadline is May 1 for reserving regalia.
The president's investiture – a Latin term that means "in dress" or "in robe" – is a formal ceremony that will mark his installation as the UO's 17th president.
Most universities and many other long-standing institutions use the events to commemorate a transfer of authority associated with a high office from one person to another. For instance, new justices on the U.S. Supreme Court are invested with their office.
Several student groups from the School of Music and Dance are expected to perform during the UO ceremony and reception, but the specific groups have not yet been confirmed.
It is not unusual for investiture ceremonies to take place several months after a new president takes office. Gottfredson began work at the UO last August, succeeding Bob Berdahl, who served in the role as an interim for about eight months. Berdahl was the university's eighth interim president.
Of the UO's previous 16 permanent presidents, Prince Lucien Campbell served the longest – 23 years, from 1902 to 1925. The others served between 2 ½ and 17 years.
- from the UO Office of Strategic Communications