Gottfredson on "Establishing an Institutional Board for the UO"

8/3/2013: From the comments, a petition to keep Frohnmayer and Knight off the UO Board: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/keep-phil-knight-and.fb28?source=s.icn.fb&r_by=1874212

8/2/2013: Sounds like he got chewed out by Kitzhaber’s office, over the process UO used to select nominees for the board. Other than that his email is the usual drivel. If you want substance watch Ed Ray, here.

Dear Colleagues,  

In July, the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill 270, which establishes an institutional governing board structure for the University of Oregon and other Oregon universities.  

A local board dedicated to our campus and our students—with a focus on the University of Oregon’s role in the state’s vision for higher education—will create new efficiencies in our operations, leverage new support for innovation and research, and open the doors to new philanthropic opportunities. With the support of a board focused on the individual mission of our university and intimately connected to our campus, we will work together to provide Oregon students with access to a top-tier education at one of the nation’s premier public research universities.  

The legislation establishes institutional governing boards for the UO and Portland State University and provides Oregon State University with the option of establishing a board, which it has elected to do. It also lays out a process for the state’s other four universities to establish boards in the future. This structure supports the distinct mission of each university and enhances our ability to provide Oregonians with a diverse range of quality higher education opportunities.  

The UO’s 11- to 15-member public board will be appointed by Governor Kitzhaber later this month and confirmed by the Oregon Senate in September. The board will be installed and invested with authorities involving the management of the university in July 2014.  

The Governor’s Office has sought suggestions for board nominees from the university, the student government president, the University Senate president, the Oregon Student Association, and others. Earlier this week, the Governor’s Office released a list of names submitted thus far. As the governor has requested, I encourage members of our campus community to provide additional suggestions. All who are interested may review the application requirements and process on the governor’s website.  

I am confident that a robust list of applicants will result in a Board of Trustees for the University of Oregon that includes the skills, talents, and expertise to guide our public mission and financial future, and represents the diversity of our state. I look forward to working together with you and with the new board to strengthen our university and higher education in the state of Oregon.
Regards,
Michael Gottfredson
President