President Scholz sent the following message to faculty, staff, and student employees on Monday, July 20, 2026
To the University of Oregon community,
I am writing to provide an update on our work to address our $65 million structural budget deficit.
All vice presidents and academic deans are working with their leadership teams to consider a variety of possibilities and gather data to inform eventual decision-making. This includes modeling general fund budget reductions of 5%, 10%, and 15% across all administrative and academic portfolios, phased over one or more years, as appropriate for each unit. These scenarios are intended to support discussion. They are not final decisions. We will also be exploring savings opportunities in business and administrative functions, as well as areas where we can generate new revenue.
In June, the University Senate established the Academic Modifications Advisory Committee (AMAC). The AMAC will provide a path for faculty, staff, and student representatives to inform and participate in the process. This committee is meeting throughout the summer, working alongside the provost’s office to discuss the data and indicators that will be used to assess potential academic program changes. The provost’s council is developing budget proposals to be reviewed and discussed by AMAC. Led by the provost, the council includes the UO’s eight deans and other key academic leaders. The council, too, is scheduled to meet regularly throughout the summer.
In August, we will launch a public website that will host information and serve as a reference throughout this process about the teams and people involved, the process steps, and the timeline. The information will be coordinated with updates made by the Senate, the provost’s office, and other groups involved, with the goal of ensuring that we keep the community connected and informed.
Universities across the country are working through many of the same challenges right now, though we have our own uniquely Oregon circumstances. We will be working with the campus community to gather academic and administrative input. This effort will support better decisions that will position the university to be more focused and more resilient. While we have hard decisions ahead, I am committed to continuing our investments in areas of academic and research strength and ensuring that we provide a high-quality student experience that can make us a destination of choice for more students.
I want to acknowledge the uncertainty and anxiety we all feel. Exploring possible solutions and taking input necessarily means final budget decisions will remain unknown until late into the fall. I am also confident in our ability to meet this challenge together and am grateful for the hard work of everyone involved in this process, which will help secure a strong foundation for our shared future.
Sincerely,
Karl Scholz
President