Dear Raider Family,
Now that we have received the options put forward by the Deloitte consultants, it is up to us – the campus community – to determine our next steps. For those who were unable to view yesterday’s live webinar, a recording of it is located on the SOU President’s website, which can be accessed at the link here. We understand the difficult nature of the higher education landscape, particularly for public regional institutions.
Tonight, our Board of Trustees will hold a listening session to hear comments, including those from shared governance and union leaders, about our environment and recommendations for consideration of implementation initiatives. We know the task ahead of us, and the challenges we face, are difficult and sobering. We are confronted with an existential challenge, to be sure, but one we can overcome. We need to commit to a future SOU that is positioned to thrive and provide unparalleled value and service to our students – both current and future – from a position of strength, resilience and durability.
On Friday, the Board of Trustees will consider adoption of a resolution which transitions from the consultant recommendations to a strategic implementation plan that belongs to us – the campus community. We know the work will be hard, but we also know that we have an opportunity not just to preserve this university, but to position it for long-term strategic advantage, particularly given the headwinds facing all of us in higher education.
On the other side of this transformation, SOU will be a leader in the new landscape of public higher education. We commit to a focused, regionally responsive, vibrant and resilient university that is centered on key cornerstones of academic excellence. While we adapt to meet the dynamic needs of a new economy, we remain anchored in foundational elements that have defined SOU for over 150 years: deep mentorship, transformational relationships and a culture of universal belonging. We are committed to providing unparalleled student service and an educational experience that is inseparable from the magnificent landscapes of the place we call home. Through this transformation, SOU will emerge as a trailblazer – an innovative university of choice that provides an invaluable service to our region and the state of Oregon.
We owe it to our current students, faculty and staff, and the tens of thousands of outstanding humans who have come before us. We owe it to our community and our state. And we owe it to the countless generations of students, faculty, staff and community members who will come after us. We need to give them an opportunity to benefit from a healthy, vibrant and resilient institution. We are confident that we can forge this path but also know that it must be done together as a united campus community, committed to a strong future for the university we all love. We CAN do this, everyone. The moment is ours now – let’s chart that path together with courage, conviction and commitment.
With love and respect
Sheila Clough, SOU Board of Trustees Chair
Rick Bailey, SOU President
