Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon


The Trustees of the University of Oregon make up the institutional governing board of the University of Oregon. The board took effect on July 1, 2014.

Background

In 2010, the newly installed UO president, Richard Lariviere, proposed establishing a new governance and funding model for UO. The New Partnership, as it became to be known, sought to establish an independent board and large endowment to fund the university into the future. Funding had become too low and unpredictable for UO officials, and the new model would provide the university with a consistent stream of funding and the legal freedom to borrow money for large capital projects. Lariviere's proposal called for $800 million in state bonds and "an equal amount" of private gifts. The new funds would provide a large boost to UO's then modest endowment.
In a 2010 interview, UO booster Phil Knight discussed the New Partnership. Knight explained that Lariviere's plan would allow UO greater control and possibly allow it to set its own tuition for in-state students.
Ultimately, the New Partnership failed. Lariviere was fired in late-2011. Neither the governance proposal or funding model was established during his presidency.
On March 31, 2012, a Political Action Committee called Oregonians For Higher Education Excellence was formed by Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle. As of May 23, 2012, the organization has raised over $320,000. Notable contributors to the PAC include, Phil Knight, Patrick Kilkenny, and Tim Boyle. According to Boyle, the PAC's stated goal was to help facilitate an increase in autonomy at the University of Oregon.

Board Activity

On April 14, 2015, it was announced that Michael H. Schill would become the next president of the university. This was the board's first major move since the previous president resigned.

Fundraising history

UO has initiated three capital campaigns in the last 25 years. The first campaign of this era was launched with a goal of $150 million. It ended up raising a total of $250 million between 1992-1998. The next campaign commenced its quiet phase in 2000. Campaign Oregon, as it was known, raised $853 million, far surpassing the initial goal of $600 million. The most recent campaign's quiet-phase began in 2010, and raised $700 million during this period. This campaign officially launched in November 2014, with a goal of $2 billion.

Trustees

Current members