Letter from UO President Frohnmayer to the UO CommunityJanuary 10, 2006

January 10, 2006

Dear Colleagues:

The pace of the fall (but unfortunately not its weather) accelerates as we move into an already busy winter term. To my delight, but not to my surprise, Dr. Linda Brady has already begun a very ambitious and busy schedule of briefings and planned visits prior to her official arrival as our new Provost this summer. This appointment represents a time of renewal for us all, and I intend to participate at every possible juncture in Dr. Brady's ambitious transition agenda. I know from the search process that the campus welcomes Dr. Brady's strategic thinking and seemingly boundless energy. I know each of you will welcome her and share you own goals and ambitions for this university's future.

The diversity executive working group has continued to work through the entire fall term and vacation holidays to assimilate the many thoughtful critiques of earlier drafts into a further refined plan. I hope that all members of the campus community can devote the same sincerity of purpose and courage to embrace opposing views that this working group has demonstrated. We expect the plan to be distributed for broader comment within the next few weeks. I also commend the School of Journalism and Communication for having undertaken and concluded its own plan early in fall term.

If diversity issues were easy issues we would already have resolved them without rancor. But because they are difficult, we need to continue our work in good spirit. To that end, persons representing a variety of views will meet for a campus conversation on the topic of "cultural competency" this week on January 12-13. I will open this conference with remarks reflecting the difficulties we sometimes face in the language we use communicating with people of widely different backgrounds and experiences. I hope each member of the campus community makes an effort to be part of this conversation, both this week and into the future.

As you doubtless are aware, our intention to sell the Westmoreland Housing Complex to generate resources for vitally needed student residence hall renovation and construction as well as for property acquisition has been the subject of considerable discussion within the university community. Our own Faculty Senate Committee on Student Housing concluded in 2002 that we have an imminent crisis that will impact our ability to attract and retain top students. The present proposal is directly responsive to this need. I made an interim progress report to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education on January 6 and a request for proposals to purchase Westmoreland will be issued soon. We are currently surveying Westmoreland residents for precise information on how best to address their individual circumstances and will be developing plans for any needed mitigation related to financial need or provision of child care. Obviously, until the nature and expectations of a buyer are known, we cannot be sure what, if any, mitigation will be required. But we pledge to keep the interests of our students clearly in mind as we go forward.

Our strong enrollment has remained stable through the fall term and the state budget continues to be predictable for this fiscal year, other than a significant financial shortfall relating to the state's Department of Human Services. We are also pleased that our Campaign Oregon efforts have continued to be ahead of target and that we have now raised in excess of $385 million toward our $600 million goal. At an extended meeting of the Council of Deans, we discussed how all of us Ð faculty and staff Ð who are devoted to the university's future can participate in the campaign. Since the campaign began, 21 percent of our faculty and staff have contributed. I am very grateful to each of you.

The university's research mission is integrally entwined with the opportunity to secure federal funding for basic and applied research projects that have enormous and positive human consequences. We have continued to receive strong support from Oregon's Congressional delegation for several interdisciplinary and collaborative research initiatives, including Department of Defense sponsorship of our neuroscience and nanoscience programs. These appropriations will advance our cognitive neuroscience and brain biology research and expand our programs associated with the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI). Some in the university community have questioned the nature of Department of Defense support of academic research. In response, the University Senate will sponsor a forum on this topic in the coming months. I believe that we have fully honored academic principles in securing research funding, all of which is for non-classified purposes. I hope that the forum will provide an opportunity for us all to become better informed about our policies on sponsored research and the associated contributions of Department of Defense-sponsored projects in advancing the university's research mission.

I have been heartened by the energy that so many of our faculty and staff have devoted to a China/East Asia initiative that brings together the talents and efforts of literally scores of scholars and teachers on this campus and beyond. The success of the university in the future internationally depends in significant part on how well we take advantage of our position as a major research university located on the Pacific Rim.

I particularly enjoy winter term, not because of invariably good weather or warm temperatures, but because it allows me to return to the classroom with several dozen freshman students in my seminar on "theories of leadership." I am reminded each year that our students do more than try to keep us young; they invigorate our world with their energy, enthusiasm, and their willingness to respond to challenges. I look forward to this term again with excitement. I thank you all for your engagement with our community and as always, particularly invite your ideas, comments or concerns addressed to me personally at pres@uoregon.edu.

Warmest regards,

Dave Frohnmayer President