A new governing board, a new provost, a new scholarship house and a new faculty hiring initiative are just a few of successes UO President Michael Gottfredson is celebrating in his academic year-in-review message.

Gottfredson congratulated the graduating class of 2014 and called the 2013-14 academic year “one of the most important transformations of the university since its inception” in a message to campus shared on his website. The president also sent the message to alumni, legislators and friends of the university.

The UO helped champion the passage of the law that created independent governing boards for Oregon’s public universities. That led to the creation of the UO’s new Board of Trustees. The trustees officially take the reins July 1. Gottfredson said the board will help the UO better serve students and the state by supporting top-notch programs, research, faculty and facilities.

In his message, Gottfredson also praised faculty and student achievement, the record-breaking freshman class, new diversity and equity initiatives, research innovation, economic development efforts, athletic success and the physical transformation of campus.

Read the full message here.

―By Jennifer Winters, Public Affairs Communications