SOU Ashland's Liz DeFranco receives a lollipop

“Lollipop Moments” celebrate faculty & staff

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SOU’s student government has partnered with President Rick Bailey and the Dean of Students office to demonstrate the power of a sucker. The collaboration – called “Lollipop Moments” – offers students an opportunity to acknowledge the good work and thoughtful deeds of SOU faculty and staff members.

The program is part of President Bailey’s Project Architect initiative to increase enrollment and retention at SOU by encouraging employees to cultivate helpful and caring relationships with students. The actions of faculty and staff members can be recognized by students with the presentation of a lollipop – which can be found at the housing, library or Stevenson Union welcome desks, or at the offices of the Associated Students of SOU or the Dean of Students.

“Lollipop Moments” can be recorded by going online or scanning a QR code found on the backs of the specially-made suckers. Students who are unable to deliver a lollipop in person can fill out a form to have an ASSOU member make the presentation.

The project was launched on February 2, and in just its first week a total of six students made their own Lollipop Moment presentations and another 38 sent their lollipops via ASSOU. Student leaders said that “countless other” lollipops were given but not logged.

A lollipop for SOU Ashland's Robert GrettaRobert Gretta, an assistant professor in SOU’s Theatre Department, scored three lollipops in just the first week of the program.

“Robert helped me gain confidence in my abilities and skills as a stage manager, and as a student in general,” one student said on the online submission form. “I’ve faced a lot of difficulties this year, deciding if theatre was the right path for me or not, but I’ve been able to keep chasing my dream thanks to his help.”

Another student had nothing but praise for Liz DeFranco, an advisor in the Success at Southern TRIO Student Support Services program.

“If I come to Liz with a problem, she will immediately get on to how to answer my questions and get me to the right resources,” said the student – one of two who awarded lollipops to DeFranco. “She’s someone I can talk to and just have listen to whatever is going on. Liz recommended that I apply for a scholarship I would not have heard of otherwise, and I won it. Thanks to Liz, I am able to afford my tuition.”

William Greene, a professor in the School of Education, was credited with helping his students cope with school – and with life.

“His commitment to his craft, students and faculty has genuinely saved lives,” a student said on the submission form. “I speak for multiple people when I say that Dr. Greene has showed up for us when we need it most. As an advisor, professor and mentor, he has continued to provide us with quality support and genuine love.”

And others have been celebrated for more general reasons.

“Tom is a cool dude,” a student said in recognizing Tom Fagerholm, an assistant professor in the Theatre Department.

SOU’s “Lollipop Moments” initiative was inspired by the “Everyday Leadership: The Lollipop Moment” Ted Talk by Canadian speaker, author and educator Drew Dudley, who suggests that leadership can take the form of everyday behaviors that have positive impacts on others. Dudley’s Ted Talk has been viewed more than 6.5 million times.

New trustees appointed to SOU Ashland board

Six trustees appointed and confirmed to SOU Board

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(Ashland, Ore.) – Two new and four continuing members have been appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek and confirmed today by the Oregon Senate to serve on the Board of Trustees of Southern Oregon University.

The new trustees are former Oregon State Rep. Peter Buckley and Christopher Geryak, an SOU junior and former student body vice president.

“The Board of Trustees is excited to welcome these dedicated individuals to SOU,” said Sheila Clough, the board’s chair. “Peter’s extensive legislative and community leadership, both locally and in the state, paired with Christopher’s proven commitment to students and leadership at SOU, will provide valuable insight as we navigate the future of higher education in our region.

“We appreciate Gov. Kotek’s appointment and the legislature’s confirmation of these leaders,” Clough said. “Their service ensures that SOU remains deeply connected to the needs of our students and the southern Oregon community.”

Returning to serve their second four-year terms as trustees are Debra F.J. Lee, Christina (Medina) Kruger and Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby. Their renewed terms will begin July 1 and run through June 30, 2030. Hala Schepmann, a professor of Chemistry, has been reappointed and confirmed to a two-year term as a faculty trustee, ending June 30, 2028. Trustees are limited to serving two consecutive full terms.

“SOU is vital to the success of our region,” said new trustee Peter Buckley. “I look forward to helping in any way I can to support our students, staff, faculty and fellow board members as we work for a brighter future.”

Student trustee Christopher Geryak echoed the sentiment of service. “I am pleased to join SOU’s Board of Trustees and provide my insight and knowledge to help SOU thrive and succeed,” Geryak said.

The new trustees’ terms will begin February 20. Buckley was appointed to a partial term and then a full term that will end June 30, 2030, and Geryak’s term runs through June 30, 2027.

Trustees are gubernatorial appointees, subject to confirmation by the Oregon Senate. The board consists of as many as 11 at-large trustees serving four-year terms, with additional positions reserved for up to three SOU students – two undergraduates (one voting, one non-voting), a faculty member and a non-faculty staff member, each serving two-year terms. The university president serves in a non-voting, ex officio capacity on the board, bringing total membership to 17.

New trustees

Peter Buckley
Buckley served for 12 years in the Oregon House of Representatives (2005-17), representing south Jackson County. During his tenure, he served for eight years as House Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, the legislature’s budget-writing committee. After leaving the legislature, Peter was hired to lead Southern Oregon Success, a collaboration of all levels of education, health care, human services, public safety and workforce development in Jackson and Josephine counties, dedicated to working across all sectors to help children, families and communities thrive. Prior to his legislative service, Peter worked for 22 years as a director, actor, writer, producer, administrator and teacher for west coast regional theatres, including six years as the director of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.

Christopher Geryak
Geryak is a junior at Southern Oregon University, majoring in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in education. Following his service as SOU’s student body vice president, Christopher expanded his academic focus to include education, reinforcing his commitment to student advocacy and the importance of higher education across Oregon. During his time at SOU, he has held seven volunteer and employment positions and has been actively involved in numerous student organizations. His experiences in student government, student life and campus services have provided him with a well-rounded understanding of the university and its impact on students.

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The Farm at SOU Ashland

Winter workshops: student-led learning at The Farm

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While crops rest in winter, student farmers at The Farm at SOU are tackling personal research projects that build research and leadership skills. Each student collaborates with farm leadership to develop assessments, manuals and guides on topics ranging from agricultural techniques to harvest protocols to pest management.

Why dedicate an entire term to these projects? What makes them so valuable for student development? Even when winter slows outdoor operations, continual professional development is an important aspect of the undergraduate experience. As a student-led farm, it’s important to research agricultural best practices, synthesize information and share knowledge with one another before planting season begins.

Regularly evaluating and improving organizational processes is a part of every successful organization, especially for building a culture of continuous learning and adaptability in southern Oregon’s changing agricultural landscape. Shifting climate patterns and evolving market demands require farms like SOU’s to stay flexible and innovative in operations. Students take ownership of operations, addressing genuine needs and exploring their career interests.

By spring, students will have tangible portfolios showing what they’ve accomplished: field guides they designed, training videos they produced and schedules they created. More important, they’re gaining transferable skills in research, teaching and problem-solving. Their personal research projects represent professional development through real responsibility. Students leave with more than agricultural knowledge, by gaining confidence in their ability to lead, create and solve complex problems in any field they choose.

Curious about how you can support southern Oregon’ s agricultural legacy through hands-on learning? Consider buying local from the Summer CSA program at The Farm, at SOU. To learn more about the CSA, check out the farm’s website at farm.sou.edu.

Story by Sundar Archana, graduate assistant and education coordinator at The Farm at SOU

Civics course by SOU Ashland's Prakash Chenjeri

SOU civics course included on select national list

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(Ashland, Ore.) — A Southern Oregon University Course – “Civicus: Advancing Civic Education” – has been recognized as a national resource and included on a select list of such classes by the Hoover Institution’s Alliance for Civics in the Academy at Stanford University.

The Civicus course at SOU – created and taught by Philosophy professor Prakash Chenjeri – explores how citizenship evolved and how it is practiced as a commitment to the common good. Students study democracy’s philosophical roots and development, along with contemporary challenges.

Current students in the class are enthusiastic about its takeaways.

“Civicus, like no other class, has made me realize the lack of engagement I’ve put into my community and has motivated me to try to change that within myself and my peers,” student Drew Wright said.
“This class has given students like me the opportunity to learn how to understand our democracy, be a part of political discussions, and argue with reason,” said Kloie Watkins-Simpkins. “The impact that I feel I can have on our society and nation has grown immensely since taking this class, I will forever push to have it be a part of our education system.”

The term “civicus” derives from the Latin word “civis,” whose present-day meaning is “citizen.” The Latin term signified both membership in a political community and the duties, privileges and shared outcomes associated with that community.

“Reclaiming this root for our own time reminds us that citizenship is not a passive condition but an active practice of engagement, deliberation and care for the common good,” says a syllabus of the SOU course on the Alliance for Civics in the Academy (ACA) website.

“In the 21st century, the idea of Cīvicus takes on renewed urgency,” it says. “Democracies today face strains from polarization, erosion of trust and disruptive technologies that challenge our ability to discern truth and act collectively. Against this backdrop, Cīvicus calls us back to the essence of citizenship: to be stewards of democratic life through informed participation, critical reasoning and meaningful dialogue.”

SOU’s Civicus is one of 39 courses at universities and other institutions nationwide ­– and the only one in Oregon – that are listed on the Alliance for Civics in the Academy website. The SOU course is supported in part by gifts to the Cīvicus Project Fund of the SOU Foundation. Donations help pay for guest lecturers, instructional materials and opportunities for students to study, observe and engage in civic processes and civil discourse.

The ACA is a part of the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank located at Stanford University and Washington, D.C., and led by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. The Hoover Institution furthers ideas that promote economic opportunity while safeguarding peace.

“Civicus made me realize that civic education is essential now—not just at the university level, but across all stages of education,” SOU student Vanessa Salazar said. “By critically examining my beliefs and learning to engage respectfully with diverse viewpoints, this course strengthened my skills as a thoughtful, informed, and responsible citizen in ways I didn’t know I was capable of.”

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SOU Ashland's Dennis Slattery

SOU’s Slattery receives community service award

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Ashland Mayor Tonya Graham presented the city’s highest community service honor to Southern Oregon University professor Dennis Slattery during a town hall and state-of-the-city address late last month at Ashland High School’s Mountain Avenue Theatre.

Slattery, an associate professor of business at SOU, a former member of the university’s Board of Trustees and a former Ashland city councilor, received the Alan C. Bates Public Service Award. About 100 people attended the address.

In her remarks, Graham praised Slattery’s long record of civic involvement, noting his work with the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, his four years of service on the SOU Board of Trustees, and his current role as Faculty Senate chair. She also highlighted his involvement in Ashland’s annual Festival of Lights.

“Dennis has a real heart for young people,” Graham said.

Slattery said he was overwhelmed by the recognition, particularly because of his friendship with the late state Sen. Alan Bates, for whom the award is named. He said he first came to Ashland after serving in the Navy, planning to stay for six months, but remained as his involvement in the community grew.

He also recalled childhood hunting trips in Alaska with his father and Indigenous elders, who taught him the importance of stewardship.

“My father and the elders told us the most important job is to leave the campground better than you find it,” Slattery said. “I left my campground — my community — a little better than I found it.”

SOU Ashland limits spending

SOU enacts spending restrictions amid cash-flow concerns

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey enacted immediate spending restrictions today and asked all faculty and staff members to focus on savings, following an often difficult discussion with the SOU Board of Trustees on Monday about a cash-flow shortage that is expected to exist until downsizing measures adopted as part of last summer’s Resiliency Plan take full effect in about two years.

President Bailey and other SOU leaders are exploring all options to keep the university in a healthy fiscal position beyond the summer of 2026, and into 2027, when Resiliency Plan measures and a potential statewide reevaluation of higher education funding may provide relief. The president is in Salem today to meet with lawmakers ahead of this month’s short session of the Oregon Legislature, signaling to state leaders that in addition to everything the university is engaged in to play its role, state support will likely be required in the latter part of the 2025-2027 biennium.

“Even as we move through the SOU Resiliency Plan, and fight together to lean into our future, cash flow challenges will put us in a precarious position later this fiscal year and into next year,” President Bailey said in a message to employees. “We ask you to help us in the short term to be ever more vigilant regarding expenses.”

Immediate spending restrictions at the university include:

  • A hiring freeze, with approval by the supervising vice president required for any exceptions;
  • Travel restrictions, with approval of exceptions required by each employee’s supervising vice president;
  • Cuts to expenditures for services and supplies, with a supervisor’s pre-approval needed for any spending over $1,000;
  • Reductions in continuing education and professional development allowances, where possible.

The gap in cash flow became apparent in the university’s latest financial modeling and was discussed in a series of leader meetings over the past several days, culminating in President Bailey bringing the issue to the Board of Trustees yesterday. SOU is the first of Oregon’s seven public universities to be faced with a cash-flow shortfall, but all are on a similar trajectory due to persistent underfunding from the state. A recent analysis from the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission said that the cash balances for all seven universities will be in the red by 2030.

Oregon currently spends $8,600 per student to support public higher education at the state’s universities and community colleges. That ranks 37th in the nation and is $3,000 per student below the national average. Oregon’s per-student support for just its universities ranks 46th in the nation.

President Bailey also pointed out that SOU is already “far, far more efficient” than the national average for public universities, regarding student-to-staff and student-to-faculty ratios, following its SOU Forward and Resiliency Plan cost-cutting and restructuring initiatives of 2023 and 2025. All of Oregon’s public universities have undertaken some reorganizational or austerity measures in recent years.

“Oregon’s universities have done so much that we are strained to the breaking point,” President Bailey said.  But he also shared with the campus community that they will continue to fight for the university that we all love and deserve.

The president will be available to answer questions during a news conference at 2:15 p.m. today on Zoom.

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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.