Letter from UO President Frohnmayer to the UO Community April 2, 2003

April 2, 2003

Dear Colleagues:

I send you my warmest greetings, now a tradition for this time of year Ñ a time ordinarily marked by a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. For obvious reasons, that sense seems harder to recognize at this moment.

I have just returned from a working trip to Asia where I visited Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Our entourage of admissions, advancement, and international program colleagues was just ahead of the serious SARS epidemic outbreak, and our visit coincided with the onset of hostilities in the Middle East. Nonetheless, in speaking to prospective international students, I sensed their excitement about attending the University of Oregon. We provide, for them, a unique chance to attain an education in a secure and beautiful location at an academic institution of high rank and with a culture that is truly international in scope and outlook. From the alumni with whom I met I retain three enduring impressions. The first is their continuing deep affection for the University of Oregon and the transformative impact it has made on their lives. The second is the genuine pride they feel in the University, especially when informed of our progress and our high international standing as evidenced by membership in the AAU and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. The third is their eagerness to accept bold visions for the University's future, as evidenced by our comprehensive campaign. This enthusiasm from afar provides my own sense of renewal as we face the days and months ahead.

No one can safely predict the course of hostilities upon which this nation is now embarked. There are many passionate voices and views among us that compel respect by the sincerity and deep conviction that drive them. The spirit of civility that has marked our discourse up to this point is inspiring. Yet with the sharpening of conflict and the daily barrage of news reports, we would do well to remind ourselves of our own thoughtfully considered Affirmation of Community Standards and trust that it will guide, indeed govern, our behaviors throughout the balance of the academic year.

On a different front, I watch and participate in the state legislative process with personal engagement and a level of concern appropriate to the seriousness of the decisions that this very difficult budgetary time will deliver for us. As you read this letter, I will be preparing to testify in Salem at our budget hearings with a major assignment to explain the disruptions that would occur at each successive level of possible budget cuts. We have already shared proposals with our students about the range of tuition increases they may expect. We hope the general fund allotment will permit us to begin the next fall at tuition levels only slightly higher than the surcharge levels of this winter and spring. Nonetheless, we must all be acutely aware of the hardship that this will represent for many students and their families.

On a preliminary but positive note, Senate Bill 437, which embodies key elements of our carefully developed New Partnership With Oregon, has passed its first committee hurdle in the senate and will next be reviewed by the Ways and Means Committee. As I have mentioned in earlier letters, this proposal attempts to secure greater flexibility for us to operate more efficiently and with more freedom from certain state government restraints. Its passage will also, I hope, signal the desirability of greater autonomy at the campus level to chart our own path.

As I write this letter, the Supreme Court of the United States is hearing argument on two cases attacking variants of the University of Michigan's affirmative action policies. Even the most attentive legal scholar finds it impossible to predict the precise outcome of these cases. Our best estimate at the moment is that our admissions policies are sufficiently different from those of the University of Michigan that we will be able to continue our current efforts to have a broadly diverse and representative student body. But we will keep a close eye on legal developments.

Finally, I am pleased to report that the initial reactions by our external constituents have been very positive toward our efforts to develop themes for the comprehensive campaign. I wish again to thank every person who participated in helping to develop proposals for the campaign and will be writing to you soon with more information on our progress and the next steps.

I thank you all for your allegiance to the University during these times and to the broader mission we all continue to serve: the advancement of knowledge in the continuing effort to improve human lives. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please write me at pres@oregon.uoregon.edu.

Warmest regards,

Dave Frohnmayer President