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Interim Pres and Provost apologize to graduating students for screwing up their commencement

Dear University of Oregon community members,

As the 2022–23 academic year comes to a close, we have much to celebrate. Foremost, we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students. Your education has been marked by extraordinary resilience. Completing your degree, creating impact in our community, and graduating from the University of Oregon are already impressive accomplishments, but your experience included the disruptive challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. You overcame, persevered, and excelled. We are proud of you and your many accomplishments. Congratulations!

To our faculty, administrators, and staff: We experienced an atypical degree of change this year, and through it all, you continued to make new discoveries, produce world-class knowledge, art and expression; provide exceptional instruction and support for the success of our students; and serve the state of Oregon with our many programs and initiatives. We are deeply appreciative of all your work in support of our institution and community.

In a few short weeks, incoming President Karl Scholz will begin his tenure, and we share in his excitement to lead the UO into its next ambitious era. He has already demonstrated his vision, care, and commitment to excellence during his spring visits to Eugene and Portland, and we are excited about his arrival in July.

As we punctuate this academic year, we hope you enter the summer months with pride and a sense of accomplishment. We have much to celebrate, and we are grateful to each of you. May you have both a productive and restorative summer.

Sincerely,

Jamie Moffitt
Interim President

Janet Woodruff-Borden 
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President

Actually, I don’t see an apology in here. Must have been an editing error. Here’s Chat GPT’s version:


[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Position] [University/Organization Name] [Address] [City, State, ZIP]

Subject: Apology for Date Change of University of Oregon Commencement

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to offer my sincere apologies for the recent change in the date of the University of Oregon Commencement ceremony. I understand that this decision has caused inconvenience and disappointment among the students, faculty, and staff, and I deeply regret any distress caused by this change.

Allow me to provide you with some context regarding the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation. As you are aware, the University of Oregon has always strived to provide exceptional opportunities and experiences to its students, promoting both academic excellence and overall growth. We have consistently aimed to maintain a harmonious balance between academic pursuits and extracurricular activities, ensuring that our students have a well-rounded education.

In this context, it was brought to our attention that a track meet, organized by the renowned philanthropist and esteemed alumnus of the University of Oregon, Mr. Phil Knight, was scheduled to take place on the same day as our previously planned commencement ceremony. Given the significant impact that Mr. Knight has had on both the university and the field of athletics, we felt it was imperative to address this scheduling conflict respectfully and thoughtfully.

We understand that this decision has caused a disruption to the plans and expectations of many individuals. However, after careful consideration, we concluded that rescheduling the commencement ceremony was the most appropriate course of action to ensure that our students could benefit from both events. We firmly believe that the track meet organized by Mr. Knight offers unique opportunities for our students to witness and learn from the best athletes in the world, potentially inspiring their own future achievements.

Please be assured that this decision was not made lightly, and we fully acknowledge the importance of the commencement ceremony for our graduates and their families. We deeply regret any inconvenience, disappointment, or frustration caused by this rescheduling, and we understand the significance of this event in celebrating the achievements of our students.

In light of the situation, we have taken immediate steps to mitigate the impact of this change. We have worked diligently to secure an alternative date for the commencement ceremony, which will now be held on [New Date]. We have also expanded the capacity of the venue to accommodate any additional guests who may wish to attend due to this date change. Our primary focus is to ensure that our graduates have a memorable and rewarding experience during their commencement.

Once again, I extend my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience and disappointment caused by the date change of the University of Oregon Commencement. We remain committed to providing our students with the best possible opportunities for growth and learning, and we deeply value your understanding and support during this time.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are more than willing to provide any further information or assistance that you may require. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Position] [University/Organization Name]

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