President approves strategic investments to fund selected initiatives

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University of Oregon President Karl Scholz has approved funding for a set of strategic initiatives following a detailed review of the university’s budget, the long-term Education and General fund  projections, and the Budget Advisory Group’s recommendations.

Last spring, the university deferred making decisions on the current recommendations from the Budget Advisory Group for strategic investments due to budget concerns. Although concerns continue, the president decided to move forward by investing $1.3 million rather than the $2 million allocated in previous years. 

These investments will help address food insecurity for students, enhance digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, and improve digital accessibility among other important initiatives critical to the UO mission.  

Recurring funding was approved for the following strategic initiatives: 

  • Wireless network services, $200,000 (plus $250,000 one-time) 
  • University Testing Center staff, $85,000 
  • Student food pantry, $185,000 
  • Cybersecurity, $115,000 (plus $92,000 one-time) 
  • Continuity of operations planner, $191,360 
  • Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance intake and resource coordinator, $33,681 
  • Paid family medical leave specialist, $100,000 
  • Government and Community Relations – communications, $187,505 
  • Funding to add Consortia content licenses through Big Ten Library Alliance, $10,000 
  • Digital accessibility, $160,000 
  • Low-cost encrypted research data storage, $35,000 (plus $120,000 one-time) 

The Student Academy to Inspire Learning pre-college program was approved to receive $160,000 in one-time funding. 

The university plans to run the strategic investment process again next year. Due to budget concerns and the need to reserve funds for the university’s new strategic priorities, the total funding level for other critical university investments will be set at $1 million instead of the historical $2 million. 

For more information about the UO’s approach to strategic investments and the Budget Advisory Group process, visit the president’s website.