December 10, 2015

Dear Campus Community,

As the fall term and finals wrap up, I want to wish you all very happy holidays and a safe winter break. My first full academic term as your president leaves me inspired, invigorated, and impressed by the commitment and talent of our community of scholars.

I am so proud of our students. You are the brightest, most well-rounded cohort in our history and it shows in your passion, both in the classroom and out. I have enjoyed my many interactions with students on issues related to diversity, tuition, leadership, and graduation rates. You have stood up for what you believed in and respectfully engaged with the university in ways that will improve our community. We have much work to do in the new year and I am excited about the prospect of working with you.

My admiration for our faculty grows every day. The awards you win, the innovations you generate, the knowledge you create, and the way you challenge our students is breathtaking. Plus, hardly a day goes by when I don’t receive a new and interesting book from one of you! I am proud to be one of you, and am excited about working with you in January to propel our school forward.

And I am grateful for our administrators and staff who make this university tick. I am so fortunate to be surrounded by an excellent team that has helped me quickly learn what it means to be a Duck and begin achieving our objectives for the University of Oregon. Again, those objectives are to build our academic programs and research, support access and affordability, and enhance the student experience.

Although many of our thoughts turn now to spending some free time with our family and friends, I am already thinking about 2016 and what we can accomplish together. Our mission is of the utmost importance—teaching our students, creating knowledge, making discoveries, serving our community, and working to secure the University of Oregon’s place as a preeminent public research university.

See you in January.

Warm regards,

Michael H. Schill
President and Professor of Law