So many wonderful things have happened this past month and I thank all of you in helping make the University of Oregon the great place it is today. Below are a some things that have happened recently among our division that are making waves.
SSEM Awards Scholarships at the MLK Skanner Breakfast
The University of Oregon was once again proud to be a premier sponsor at the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr.
Skanner Breakfast in Portland. The UO joined a crowd in celebrating The Skanner mission of “challenging people to share a better future now.” The university has been partners with The Skanner—a news organization based in Portland—for many years. This year we were particularly delighted to celebrate scholarship award winners Makayla Agnew, Hiermon Medhanie, and Melissa Torres-Duran. They represent The Skanner mission and the values we hold true within Student Services and Enrollment Management and at the UO. Congrats to these terrific students.
Construction Updates
The University Health, Counseling, and Testing Center project is moving along with lots of exciting work happening. Decking installation continues into the roof area and welders are adhering the third floor decking in place. Rebar additions to the second and third floor decks will be placed in anticipation of the concrete pours for those levels later this month. The brick selection process is also underway.
The Hamilton and Walton residence halls and the new student recruitment visitors center project is moving from the conceptual and programming phase to schematic design, with many focus groups and design work sessions happening over the next four months. It’s anticipated that the project will include 1,800 residence hall beds. Phase 1 is expected to open fall 2021 and Phase 2 in fall 2023.
Haigerwaite receives IDEAL Institutionalization Award
Rebecca Haigerwaite, University Health Center nurse practitioner, was awarded the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. IDEAL Institutionalization Award for her work with diversity and inclusion at the health center. She’s worked diligently to put together a multicultural toolkit for staff and her efforts have changed how the health center approaches multicultural competence. She also serves as chairperson for the Diversity Action Committee at the health center. She is highly regarded by her peers and was nominated enthusiastically by them for this award.
Gospel Concert Choir Workshop Draws High School Students
In January, the Higher Heights, Deeper Love Gospel Music concert provided an evening of celebration in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Before all the music, though, 70 Oregon High School students participated in three choir workshops led by renowned vocalist Callie Day and UO School of Music and Dance (SOMD) faculty. Students were welcomed by deans Sabrina Madison-Cannon (SOMD) and Gabe Paquette (Clark Honors College) as well as assistant director for multicultural recruitment, Luis Renteria. This event was a collaborative effort among SOMD, Division of Equity and Inclusion, SSEM, and many others.
Stamps Scholarships Update
Finalists for the UO Stamps Scholarship from Oregon and across the country have now been recommended to the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation to receive the UO’s most prestigious scholarship. Selection for this special scholarship program would not have been possible without the efforts of many dedicated university faculty and staff who contributed by reviewing the 940 applications received, interviewing each of the semi-finalists, helping execute the semi-finalist dinner and weekend, and so much more. Thank you to everyone who played a role in the UO Stamps Scholarship efforts this year and in bringing ten of the country’s most promising freshmen to our campus this coming fall.
Tuition and Fee Advisory Board Update
Each fall, the university begins conversations around tuition and fees for the next school year. The Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO along with the Vice President for Student Life, are the co-chairs of the Tuition and Fee Advisory Board (TFAB) for the 2018-2019 school year. This board is staffed with ASUO representatives, student representatives, faculty, administrators, including our own SSEM Associate Vice President Jim Brooks. The group has conversations around topics that might impact the cost of tuition. This includes the university’s budget and financial concerns at the state level. The board is currently hearing from some departments who are proposing changes to fees or other charges that would impact students for FY20. While the university has followed this type of process for years, HB4141 which passed in 2018 requires each public university to establish an advisory body to advise the university president on recommendations to governing boards regarding resident tuition and mandatory enrollment fees.
The other big difference this year is that the president will not propose a resident tuition increase to the Board of Trustees until early summer. Due to the pressures of the state budget, the president has decided to wait to see what fall 2019 enrollment numbers and state funding before recommending the FY20 resident, undergraduate tuition rate. Once the president has those figures, he will propose the FY20 resident, undergraduate tuition to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will vote on non-resident tuition at its March meeting.
For additional information on the TFAB process and meetings, check out the information on the TFAB website at
ir.uoregon.edu/tuition_fee_board.
Sincerely,
Roger J. Thompson
Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management
