September 26, 2005 - Today's Other News Items

9/20 - Update: UO Katrina Aid Efforts

Statement from Dave Frohnmayer, president of the University of Oregon: UO continues work to help students, faculty displaced by Hurricane Katrina

The hearts of all within the University of Oregon community go out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The university is working to assist students and faculty who have been displaced by the hurricane's effects.

We are currently doing everything we can to admit these students on a provisional basis through the fall term. The university will work with students individually to address specific needs, including admission, academic and personal advising, course placement, computer and book access (the university's School of Law has arranged for loans of laptop computers to displaced students), and housing and financial aid. We are waiving tuition and fees for students who have paid tuition and fees to their home institutions. We have received inquiries from more than 80 undergraduate students and as of September 19, have admitted 30 of those students to the university. We expect six additional students to be admitted before school starts.

Some 12 to 15 additional students have requested information from our law school and we know that at least one of those students intends to enroll at the law school. As well, queries have been received by some five graduate students and at least one is planning to attend the university.

With regard to faculty, we are accepting requests for courtesy appointments and trying to accommodate the needs of these individuals as space permits. We also are pleased to announce that Lorry Lokey, CEO of Business Wire and University of Oregon Foundation trustee, has agreed to provide financial assistance to the university in order to support a number of displaced students. Mr. Lokey's support of the university has been tremendous and we are especially grateful for his offer to help these students.

In addition, the university is participating in the Sloan Consortium, which is working with the Southern Regional Education Board and the Sloan Foundation. The consortium is working on the Sloan Semester, a project that will bring free online courses to students displaced from hurricane-affected colleges and universities.

As well, the University of Oregon Bookstore is collecting donations for the American Red Cross.

For updated information: http://waddle.uoregon.edu/?id=419