The University of Oregon Board of Trustees approved two capital projects and heard a report about the university’s strategic plan in their Sept. 16-17 meeting on the Eugene campus.
UO President Karl Scholz and four groups of university leaders presented to the board about “Oregon Rising,” the UO’s strategic plan. Scholz presented to the board the vision and process of the year-long work and then turned it over to groups that spoke to each of the four goals of the plan:
- Enhancing pathways to timely graduation;
- Becoming a leader in career preparation;
- Creating a flourishing community; and
- Accelerating the UO’s impact on the world through scholarship.
“Our strategic plan defines our goals, strategies and measures of success,” Scholz said. “It reflects both our aspirations and the principles we will employ to achieve them.”
Responding to a question about how the university was getting the word out about strategic plan priorities, Scholz also announced the launch of a new weekly digital publication called OregonNews. The email will be focused on stories that reflect the university’s people, scholarship and larger aspirations and will reach 250,000 faculty, staff, students, civic leaders, alumni and parents.
The board heard a summary of the 4.1-acre Romania Development and its changes since initially approving a term sheet in June 2020. After the pandemic, the term sheet was revised and approved again in 2023 and reimagined to focus mainly on new housing developments. Since then, lending rates have increased requiring a reassessment of the proposal. The board passed the new project proposal term sheet for proposed ground lease terms and conditions, with the developer Project^ out of Portland. The focus for the site will now be a mix of housing, a hotel, retail services and parking, keeping the showroom intact.
In another project, the board authorized a budget of $16.43 million to cover the full cost of repairing the Kalapuya Ilihi residence hall. The project is currently in the construction phase with completion anticipated in the spring of 2025 and students returning to the building in fall 2025.
Trustees received quarterly financial and treasury reports, which showed the university ended the last fiscal year on target. There were also presentations on strategic fiscal stewardship and a presentation about the university’s long-term financial projections based on current and projected enrollment numbers.
During two executive sessions the board discussed the annual review of President Scholz and collective bargaining.
At non-board meeting gatherings, trustees had lunch with Associated Students of the University of Oregon leadership and breakfast with academic advisors from various schools and colleges around the university. They also had three breakout campus innovation sessions to learn about exciting work being done on campus.
During the reports section of the two-day meeting, the board listened to public comment and to a report from United Academics. ASUO President Mariam Hassan and University Senate President Alison Schmitke both gave reports, as did Provost Chris Long in his first board meeting.
Scholz, in his board update, expressed his excitement for the upcoming school year and welcomed new additions to his leadership team, including Provost Long, Vice President for Student Life Angela Chong, University Secretary and Advisor to the President Kody Kelleher and Chief Auditor Anta Coulibaly.
He also expressed his gratitude for Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management Jim Brooks and said a search would begin this fall to fill the position permanently.
Scholz called special attention to three events that happened on campus in the last month:
- National Science Foundation President Sethuraman Panchanathan’s visit on Aug. 26.
- The inaugural conference of the Global Sport University Network Summit.
- The fall meeting of the university’s Native American Advisory Council.
The agenda, materials and recordings of the meeting are available on the board website.
—Ben Schorzman, University Communications