Board to get update on strategic plans, consider tuition

The Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon next week is expected to vote on a tuition and fee plan for the coming academic year and receive updates on strategic initiatives, financial outlooks and key hiring efforts designed to strengthen the university’s core research and academic mission.

During committee meetings on Thursday, March 4, and the full board meeting on Friday, March 5, trustees will consider a tuition and fee proposal from President Michael H. Schill, along with reports on resource alignment efforts, the university’s strategic framework, the campus visioning project and pending capital planning projects, information technology strategic planning, ongoing leadership searches and the status of the $2 billion fundraising campaign.

“We are focused on maintaining and building excellence at the University of Oregon. All of the issues on the board’s upcoming agenda are interrelated and critical to helping us advance that goal long-term,” Schill said. “This tuition plan ensures that a high-quality education from the UO remains an excellent value for Oregon students and families. At the same time, we are increasing financial aid, investing in programs to help all students save money by graduating faster, and aligning scarce resources to our highest priorities.”

Trustees will consider a proposed tuition increase of $9 per credit hour — or $405 per year — for in-state undergraduate students. Out-of-state students would see an increase of $30 per-credit-hour — or $1,350 per year. This equates to a 4.76 percent increase for in-state students and a 4.46 percent increase for out-of-state students.

The proposal was made available for public comment before moving forward to the board.

“I understand that tuition increases are never popular, but it is unavoidable when viewed in the context of building and maintaining quality in the face of a long-term trend of public disinvestment in higher education,” Schill said. “We owe it to the students of this university and the state of Oregon to do what is necessary to maintain and grow the academic and research stature of this school.”

That growth will be guided by a strategic plan, which the president will share with trustees during the full meeting on Friday. During Thursday’s Finance and Facilities Committee meeting, they will also get a report on the Framework Vision Project and a capital planning overview, designed to inform for years to come decision making in developing campus growth strategies and other capital planning.

Also on Thursday, Scott Coltrane, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will update the board on ongoing dean searches and the search for a vice president for research and innovation.

Complete agendas and support materials are available on the board website.

By Tobin J. Klinger, University Communications