Ed Battistella, SOU Ashland emeritus professor

Battistella’s new book available next month

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Emeritus SOU professor Edwin Battistella has written a new literary biography that weaves a discussion of Dorothy B. Hughes’ literary output with the story of her life. “Dorothy B. Hughes: A Poet Turns to Crime,” examines her work as a poet, journalist, novelist, screenwriter and critic, as well as her family and personal relationships.

Hughes (1904-1995) is best known as a crime fiction author and was hailed by critics and fans as “The Queen of Noir” and “a prescient feminist.” She challenged the conventions of the crime fiction genre by exploring race, class and social justice across her 14 novels, which were written in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Hughes lived for many years in Santa Fe and Hollywood before moving to Ashland in 1988. Hughes was an award-winning poet, one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of American and later served on the board of the Screen Writers Guild during the McCarthy era.

Her most famous works, “The Fallen Sparrow,” “Ride the Pink Horse” and “In a Lonely Place,” were made into Hollywood films, the last one featuring Humphrey Bogart as an angry Hollywood writer past his prime.

“She had a fascinating life, and he writing was before its time in the noir genre and in the publishing world,” Battistella said.

His new biography of Hughes, published by the University of Missouri Press, will be available at bookstores in December.

Theodore Martin, of the University of California, called the book “a valuable and long-overdue project” and writer Nancy Pickard says that the book “not only does her justice but plants her in the honored spot where she has long deserved to be.”

Battistella is the author of several previous books, including “Bad Language,” “Sorry About That” and “Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels.” He is a two-time Oregon Book Award finalist.

He taught linguistics and writing at SOU for nearly 22 years before his retirement four years ago. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers College and his master’s degree and doctorate in linguistics from the City University of New York.

Resilience summit with SOU Ashland presentation

SOU showcases living laboratory at resilience summit

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Southern Oregon University joined resilience leaders, practitioners and community partners from across Oregon for the three-day Oregon Resilience Summit in Sunriver, featuring presentations and discussions on building stronger, more resilient communities.

A talk by SOU’s Bret Anderson, Jamie Trammell and Becs Walker – “The University as a Living Laboratory for Resilience” – made the case for regional public universities like SOU to serve as anchor institutions for community resilience. Their presentation was framed around three interconnected strengths:

  1. Campus energy infrastructure that supports resilience both on campus and in the wider community.
  2. Deep relationships with community partners, co-creating solutions to real-world challenges.
  3. A curriculum built around mentorship and experiential learning, opening new career pathways for students.

The presentation highlighted work supported by a $2 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant, including initiatives to advance energy resilience at SOU and across the region, and the Community Resilience and Leadership (CRL) Student Fellows Program.

Also representing for SOU were Kira Welch, Fawn Carnady and Community Resilience and Leadership student fellows Abby Lubin and Daphne Hawkins.

“I thought the real value of our time at the conference was the networking,” said Anderson, an Economics professor at SOU and the faculty and academic director for the university’s Institute for Applied Sustainability.

“The students met dozens of potential employers,” he said. “The Institute for Applied Sustainability team also had several conversations with future partners that we wouldn’t otherwise have had. I came away with a notebook full of ideas for the coming year.”

Throughout the three days, the summit featured inspiring examples of community resilience in action. SOU brought a distinctive higher education perspective that generated considerable interest and enthusiasm, particularly around workforce development and the role universities can play in strengthening communities.

SOU’s approach demonstrates how universities can contribute to resilience not only through research and education, but also through their physical infrastructure, community partnerships and opportunities for students to learn by doing.

“One of my biggest takeaways from the summit was that resilience in Oregon is being built from the ground up,” said Walker, SOU’s sustainability director. “Communities are finding their own solutions, building strong partnerships and drawing on their unique strengths.

“It really reinforced for me the important role Southern Oregon University can play, not just as a place of learning, but as a community partner and resource, connecting students, people and infrastructure to help build a more resilient region.”

The summit reinforced the exciting opportunity for SOU to serve as a regional hub for energy resilience, workforce development and community collaboration.

SOU’s contingent at the summit expressed their appreciation for support and investment in SOU’s energy resilience initiatives from the Oregon Department of Energy, the offices of U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the U.S. Department of Energy and Lithia Motors and Driveway. That ongoing support is helping turn SOU’s ambitious ideas into real-world projects, creating opportunities for students, strengthening regional partnerships and building a more resilient future for southern Oregon.

Thrive fundraising campaign underway at SOU Ashland

SOU launches largest-ever fundraising campaign with $100 million goal

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University launched the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in its history on Wednesday, with a goal of raising $100 million to transform SOU into the country’s defining model of what a regional public university can be – small by choice and distinctive by design. The university’s THRIVE campaign, which began its silent phase in 2021 and has already raised $71.4 million, is built around the pillars of Community, Resiliency, Innovation and Discovery.

“The philanthropic support that SOU has received, and will continue to receive, is an absolute game-changer for this university,” SOU President Rick Bailey said. “Our traditional funding pipelines – appropriations from the state and tuition revenue from our students – are what we rely upon for our day-to-day operations. But it is the generosity of our donors – and more than 9,200 have already contributed to this campaign – that truly enables us to be unique, exceptional and innovative.”

Thrive fundraising campaign underway at SOU AshlandThe university’s THRIVE campaign is expected to reach its $100 million goal over the next three years – an extraordinary feat for an institution such as SOU. Campaigns launched by small, public regional universities around the country typically have goals ranging from $10 million to $50 million, with timelines of five to seven years.

Launched amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the THRIVE campaign has regularly surpassed its initial year-by-year fundraising projections and has strong momentum heading into its public phase.

Donations have come from alumni and individuals, businesses, foundations and other organizations. Their support reflects a broad commitment to SOU and its role in southern Oregon – from local community members to corporations that recruit graduates and national foundations.

SOU’s new academic model – the heart of its Vitality Plan for long-term fiscal stability and regional distinction – relies on a shift toward multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary learning, streamlined pathways to degree completion, experiential learning opportunities and a continued commitment to student success. To transition its curriculum and remain competitive, SOU must have resources to attract and retain top-tier educators while offering programs that evolve to meet the changing needs of the workforce, students and their families. Philanthropic support from the THRIVE campaign amplifies state funding, enriches existing programs and creates opportunities for learning and growth.

“Most donors designate their gifts, so when the university’s priorities match donor passion, there is magic that happens,” said Janet Fratella, SOU’s Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the SOU Foundation.

“Gifts are funding new academic programs, supporting our faculty and students, and allowing us to construct new facilities needed by our programs,” she said. “Commitments from our donors are providing a level of excellence above what we could otherwise provide.”

The campaign’s priorities center on connecting students with their communities, strengthening support systems, fostering innovation and expanding opportunities for discovery. Together, those pillars are intended to help students graduate with practical experience, professional mentors and the skills to contribute to their communities and careers.

The Community pillar emphasizes regional partnerships, inclusive gathering spaces and experiences that broaden students’ horizons. Priorities include supporting student participation in professional conferences and building connections with local businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, health care providers and Tribal organizations. The pillar has a $5 million fundraising goal, with $1 million raised to date.

Resiliency, also with a $5 million goal, focuses on mentorship, student wellness and basic needs. Initiatives include the Bridge Program for underrepresented first-year students, expanded coaching and mentoring, emergency assistance through the SOU Cares Program and support for the student food pantry. The pillar has raised $3.65 million.

The Innovation pillar is intended to prepare students to address real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship. Plans include a collaborative learning hub, student business competitions and opportunities to develop solutions to regional economic needs. The pillar has a $5 million goal, with $1.4 million raised.

Discovery supports experiential learning, international exchanges and civic engagement. Scholarships will help students afford field studies, research and regional internships, while expanded global programs and a Center for Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse will broaden students’ perspectives. The pillar has raised $860,000 toward its $5 million goal.

Connecting Learning, the campaign’s broader academic focus, carries an $80 million fundraising goal: $20 million for scholarships, $25 million for faculty support and $35 million for academic programs. The initiative reflects SOU’s plan to use the Rogue Valley as a living laboratory, connecting classroom learning with regional industries, environmental research, arts and community needs.

Donor support is already producing tangible results. Nearly 3,500 scholarships have provided about $9.4 million in direct student assistance over five years, averaging $3,017 per award. Laurel Park, home to SOU’s national championship softball program, opened in 2026 and was funded entirely by donors. Philanthropy also has supported new music facilities, faculty fellowships, academic exchange programs in Mexico and Ghana, and sustainability projects through a partnership with Lithia Motors & Driveway.

New endowments have strengthened programs in coaching and mentoring, choral and vocal studies, entrepreneurship and student emergency assistance, among others.

SOU’s THRIVE campaign aims to expand opportunities for students while strengthening the university’s academic programs and regional partnerships. Continued philanthropic investment will enable SOU to develop new programs, recruit and retain faculty, and respond to emerging needs.

Comprehensive fundraising campaigns are historically rare and challenging for small, public regional universities compared to larger flagship institutions. Those comprehensive campaigns – which bundle capital projects, annual giving and endowment needs – are increasingly being embraced by small universities across the country due to declining state appropriations.

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Survey seeks input from SOU Ashland

Survey seeks input on higher ed future in Oregon

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The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission is seeking input from the SOU campus community, the state’s other six public universities and the general public on what the future of public higher education in Oregon may hold. The HECC’s lead consultant for its House Bill 4124 higher education revitalization study, EY-Parthenon, has launched a four-question, open-ended public survey to gather feedback.

The survey, which is open through Dec. 4, 2026, invites students, faculty, staff, employers, legislators, community members and other interested parties to share their perspectives. It is available online here.

The survey asks respondents to answer four questions related to the study and describe their connection to or affiliation with higher education. Responses will help identify challenges, opportunities and priorities for Oregon’s public postsecondary education system and will be considered along with other research and public engagement as recommendations are developed.

EY-Parthenon is serving as an independent, evidence-based technical adviser to the commission for the study, which is part of the implementation process for House Bill 4124.

HB 4124 was passed by the Oregon Legislature last spring, and directs the HECC to conduct a comprehensive, systemwide study and develop recommendations to restructure, stabilize and improve Oregon’s public postsecondary education system. The bill, introduced by Ashland State Rep. Pam Marsh, is intended to address issues including financial management, declining enrollment, rising personnel and operating costs and potential for collaboration among the state’s public universities and community colleges. It required the HECC to submit a preliminary report on Oct. 1, and a final report with detailed legislative recommendations by April 1 of 2027.

The HECC has established several avenues for public engagement and collaboration, including an advisory group, regional meetings, a student voices group, faculty and staff focus groups, a legislative roundtable, and an academic and fiscal leadership table. Additional analysis and consultation are underway as the commission works toward the higher education revitalization study required by the legislation.

Information about the study’s background and process, along with a link to the survey, is available on the commission’s House Bill 4124 implementation webpage.

Participation is open to anyone interested in the future of public higher education in Oregon. Organizers encourage colleges and universities statewide to share the survey widely.

SOU Ashland in wellbeing collaborative

SOU to participate in exclusive wellbeing collaborative

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Southern Oregon University will be one of just four campuses in the U.S. to participate over the next year in the 2026-27 NIRSA Wellbeing Collaborative, a high-impact initiative that helps campus recreation departments to move past siloed programs and embed proactive, systemic wellbeing into their culture and operations.

The NIRSA Wellbeing Collaborative was launched in October 2025 by NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation in partnership with Wellfleet, (formerly Consolidated Health Plans) an accident and health insurance provider. NIRSA was founded in 1950 at Dillard University as the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association as a professional organization for recreation, fitness and wellness in higher education. It is currently headquartered in Corvallis.

The Wellbeing Collaborative’s first cohort, for the 2025-26 academic year, consisted of the University of Utah, Towson University, Radford University and Western Michigan University. The three other universities that will join SOU Campus Recreation in this year’s cohort have not yet been announced.

Participating campuses in the collaborative use NIRSA’s Recreation for Wellbeing online course as a foundation, receiving individualized coaching from members of the NIRSA Health & Wellbeing Advisory Group. That guidance is intended to help teams navigate the complexities of translating theory into campus-specific action. Real-time progress and strategies are shared through the NIRSA Promising Practices model.

While NIRSA’s online course provides the foundation for understanding systems-level change, the collaborative also creates a structured environment for applied learning. Campus teams can become active practitioners by immediately put concepts into action test new ideas, and learn from one another in real time. Participants are equipped to design, implement and refine strategies to embed wellbeing practices throughout their operations.

One of the collaborative’s central elements is a learning community – a focused, four-campus cohort that learns together and promotes shared accountability and collective problem-solving. Participants will have opportunities to reflect, share insights, and adapt strategies as they test new approaches.

The NIRSA program is based on beliefs that exercise and recreation are powerful tools to improve health and wellbeing, and that affecting student outcomes requires campuses to go beyond programs or facilities to address the overall student experience. The program is intended to enable recreation leaders to act as catalysts for change, aligning recreation with student success, belonging and health.

First Citizen Dee Anne Everson of SOU Board of Trustees

SOU Board member Everson named First Citizen

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Dee Anne Everson, an SOU Board of Trustees member and the CEO and executive director of United Way of Jackson County, received the prestigious First Citizen Award at last week’s Excellence in Business Awards ceremony by the Chamber of Medford and Jackson County.

Everson was recognized for her long-standing work in support of local families, nonprofits and community development. Eli Matthews, the Chamber’s CEO and president, described Everson as “a leader amongst leaders” in the local business community.

“Everybody respects her, everybody listens to her,” Matthews said.

The First Citizen Award award honors community members who show exceptional service, leadership and dedication to Jackson County. Last year’s First Citizen was Al Densmore, a former Oregon state legislator, Medford mayor and Medford city councilor. Bill Thorndike and Lyn Hennion, both late members of the SOU Board of Trustees, are among previous winners of the award.

Everson, who has led the United Way of Jackson County since 1997, has announced that she will retire from that role next March. The organization has launched programs including Day of Caring, Women Living Leadership, the Meth Task Force and the suicide prevention effort In This Together under her leadership. She previously spent 13 years in the corporate financial sector, then transitioned to nonprofits as economist and research manager for the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Prior honors for Everson including the Chamber’s Nonprofit Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award. She has also been named one of Oregon’s 50 great leaders by Oregon Business Magazine and received the Social Empowerment Award from the Black Alliance for Social Empowerment (BASE).

Everson joined the SOU Board of Trustees in November 2025.

The Chamber’s Excellence in Business Awards ceremony is an annual opportunity to recognize standout businesses and individuals, honoring innovators, community advocates and outstanding leaders. Honorees share the value of social responsibility and a passion for economic growth.

Emergency Board releases allocation to SOU Ashland

Legislative Emergency Board approves SOU allocation

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(Ashland, Ore.) — The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Emergency Board voted Thursday to release the second half of a $15 million allocation to Southern Oregon University, signaling lawmakers’ satisfaction that the university is on track to meet agreed-upon milestones for implementation of its Vitality Plan for long-term financial stability and operational innovation.

The 20-member E-Board approved the allocation “without objections” – the equivalent of a unanimous vote – and after a robust and thoughtful discussion. The $7.5 million is the second installment of a $15 million emergency funding package approved by the legislature this spring to maintain SOU’s financial viability through June 2027 and beyond. The funding was contingent on SOU’s development and successful implementation of a plan for long-term fiscal sustainability.

“This is the turning of a corner for Southern Oregon University,” President Rick Bailey said following the vote. “Our short-term financial security is assured, and we are proceeding full-speed ahead with our plan to transform SOU’s academic and operational model for the long term. There is a bright future for SOU and its students, as we shift toward multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary learning, streamlined pathways to completion, experiential learning opportunities and a continued commitment to student success.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to legislators from both political parties for keeping faith with SOU over the past several months as the university has acted with alacrity to resolve its financial issues and build a sustainable model for the future.”

The SOU Board of Trustees approved the final version of the Vitality Plan in July, satisfying one of the conditions set by the legislature. Many legislators offered specific praise today for SOU’s efforts in rethinking its academic and operations models. In particular, Rep. Mark Owens – who voted against the release of the first $7.5 million in June – voted “yes” this morning, citing the university’s financial reporting and stronger forecasting of future conditions in developing the plan and ensuring fiscal stability through June 2029.

Moving forward, Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission will track SOU’s adherence to specific benchmarks in executing the Vitality Plan. SOU is submitting monthly reports on its progress, adhering to measurable implementation yardsticks and offering clear communication with the campus community, state officials and the public.

The Vitality Plan reduces SOU’s $100 million budget by more than $20 million while avoiding impacts on students wherever possible. It preserves pathways to degree completion and leverages resources throughout the Rogue Valley for relevant capstones, internships, mentorships and research projects that combine academic theory with hands-on experience.

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Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey and SOU Ashland President Rick Bailey

Oregon House Speaker tours SOU campus

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Southern Oregon University welcomed Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey to campus on August 25 for a tour highlighting the SOU Vitality Plan and the university’s work to transform the institution, recent physical improvements, student life and the SOU’s role in serving the region.

Speaker Fahey was joined by SOU President Rick Bailey and student guide Regan Mitchell, who led her through several areas of campus and provided an up-close look at university facilities and programs. The visit offered an opportunity to showcase both the student experience and investments that have helped strengthen SOU’s infrastructure – and to talk about the work underway with the implementation of the Vitality Plan and the university’s goals for the future.

Among the stops on the tour were SOU’s athletic facilities and stadium, where university leaders highlighted the importance of athletics in student engagement and campus life. Fahey also visited student housing, gaining a firsthand look at residential spaces designed to support student success and create a vibrant campus community.

The tour included a walk past Central Hall, which was recently renovated with the help of legislative-directed bonding. University officials pointed to those projects as examples of state investments that have enhanced learning environments, modernized facilities and improved the overall experience for students, faculty and staff.

Fahey’s visit concluded with a tour of Jefferson Public Radio’s studios, where she learned more about the public radio network’s service to southern Oregon and northern California. University leaders said the visit provided an important opportunity to highlight SOU’s educational mission, recent accomplishments and the value of continued partnerships between the university and state lawmakers.

“It’s always great when legislators can see and experience SOU in person, instead of just reading news reports or legislative briefs,” said Marc Overbeck, SOU’s Director of Government Relations. “It’s even more important when it’s a House Speaker. We appreciate Speaker Fahey’s interest in and attention to SOU – which is the only public university along the I-5 corridor between Eugene and Chico, California.

“Speaker Fahey understands the important role SOU plays for southern Oregon and we are grateful for her commitment to our students and the region.”

President Rick Bailey, excited about SOU Ashland's future

SOU’s future is something to be excited about

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The following is a guest commentary from President Bailey that appeared recently in the Rogue Valley Times:

If Southern Oregon University is a canary in the coal mine for public regional universities in Oregon and across the country, here’s an update: the bird is alive and singing.

We have confronted an outdated, out-of-balance financial structure for higher education in Oregon and a long-anticipated demographic cliff – fewer students coming through our high schools. We have examined each of our programs from every angle, laid out a plan to bring costs into alignment with revenue for the long term and thoughtfully conceived a strategy to position SOU as a leader in the evolving national landscape of public higher education.

That’s cause for excitement – not just the recognition we’re receiving for creative problem-solving, but the fact that we are using a financial predicament as a pivot point that will transform SOU into something sustainable, responsive and, honestly, better.

Our students should be excited by our focus on the Rogue Valley – its natural resources, businesses, organizations and people – as a living laboratory where relevant capstones, internships, mentorships and research projects bring together academic theory and hands-on experience. They should be excited about an interdisciplinary approach that promotes the sharing of relevant coursework across majors, and streamlined pathways to completion of their bachelor’s and graduate degrees.

Our partners throughout southern Oregon should be excited about our emphasis on regional values and new opportunities to enlist SOU students, applying their fresh and inquisitive minds to the everyday routines of our businesses, schools and organizations. They should be enthusiastic about their role in the shaping of our region’s future workforce – its professionals, leaders and innovators.

A new study of Oregon’s three regional public universities showed that SOU has a total annual economic impact of $730 million statewide and $532.5 million in southern Oregon alone. Everyone from Bandon to Brookings, from Prospect to Provolt and from Redding to Roseburg should be excited about the prospects of our university’s continued influence in every aspect of life in the Rogue Valley and beyond.

Much has been published about SOU’s fiscal challenges over the past several months – and rightly so. But today, our attention is focused on the future. We are reimagining the role of a regional public university for a new era – a role that honors our history while embracing the realities of a changing higher education landscape. Our focus is on building a university that is rooted in its region, connected to community needs, responsive to workforce opportunities and committed to student success. This is more than a recovery. It is a deliberate effort to create a different kind of university for the future.

Our task over the past several months has been to guarantee SOU’s future by reducing expenses by at least $20 million per year – about a fifth of our overall budget – and to preserve our students’ pathways to success, in the process. We did better than that by committing to tearing down a siloed and inefficient departmental structure and replacing it with an interdisciplinary system of academic cornerstones that promote coursework coordination among our students’ majors. We will leverage faculty expertise to provide our students the broadest possible set of academic options, and will make experiential learning – research published, performances staged, films completed, communities served, children taught or watersheds restored – an essential part of each graduate’s portfolio.

Reductions have a human face and disrupt the lives of valued friends and colleagues, and those decisions are not made lightly. But by rethinking our approach and transforming our academic delivery model we will achieve our savings target and maintain all but one of our undergraduate programs.

Our pioneering approach is designed to be disciplined, accountable and achievable – and it creates the best opportunities possible for our students and community members. We have taken an approach that is less about cost-savings and more about redesigning our brand of higher education.

Under our new model, this region is the laboratory where our students will explore, discover and create. SOU’s interdisciplinary academic design and fast-track options will allow flexibility, and our students will graduate human-connected and technologically aware.

Your regional public university is ready to serve, with a ground-breaking academic and operational structure, and strengthened long-term financial foundation. We are excited for our future and invite you to be a part of something unique in an era of disruption and uncertainty. We welcome your thoughts and input as we build a better university – and a better community – that benefits us all, well into the future.

SOU Ashland Vitality Plan addresses long-term sustainability

SOU finalizes Vitality Plan for institutional transformation

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has released the final version of its Vitality Plan, a strategic outline that addresses financial challenges and prepares the university for long-term sustainability and student opportunities.

The final version includes a variety of modifications based on suggestions from faculty, staff and students that were submitted after a provisional version of the Vitality Plan was announced June 15.

The new version holds firm to the university’s objective of at least $20 million in overall budget savings – through combined SOU Resiliency and SOU Vitality Plan efforts – in the fiscal year that ends next June 30, but does so while maintaining all but one of its current academic offerings. The plan calls for a sunset of the Music Industry and Production degree but will maintain the overall Music program, which is possible by committing the institution to a revolutionary change in course delivery and design.

“The Vitality Plan was constructed in such a way as to keep as many pathways as possible open to students,” SOU President Rick Bailey said in a message to campus Tuesday night. “We’ve done just that. But we still need a robust student body to thrive, and we’ll need all of us working together to keep students on the path toward the graduation stage and the fulfillment of their educational goals.”

The final version of the plan was released at the conclusion of a deliberation period that was required by the university’s contract with its faculty union, the Associated Professors of Southern Oregon University, and consultation with the Service Employees International Union. It is a revision of the initial plan that was drafted following months of analysis, discussion and engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community stakeholders. Those interactions led to important improvements that will serve the institution and the community during the implementation process and beyond.

The plan prioritizes reducing impacts on students wherever possible, preserving pathways to degree completion and strengthening SOU’s long-term financial and operational foundation.

“Our new proposed mission centers on educating students for resilient, meaningful lives by making the Rogue Valley our classroom, mentorship our method and practical, experiential work our curriculum,” an introduction to the plan says. “Moving away from the outdated model of a generic regional institution, the Vitality Plan adopts a ‘Living Laboratory’ operating system that unifies the university’s academic offerings and prioritizes the cultivation of essential human capacities that no machine can replicate.”

The Vitality Plan is intended to connect SOU to the communities it serves through a bioregional approach; provide streamlined pathways to degree completion in every academic discipline; offer flexible options for students through innovative, interdisciplinary academic design models; and incorporate a human-connected approach to education that is cognizant of the rapid pace of emerging technologies.

The final version of the Vitality Plan will result in the elimination of a total of 60.6 faculty and staff positions over the coming year. That is about five fewer than those identified in the provisional version of the plan, but the overall expected savings for the year of $20,028,030 remains above the $20 million threshold set by the university’s Board of Trustees.

President Bailey acknowledged in Tuesday night’s campus message that all reductions in the plan will be difficult and come at a human price.

“Our goal during this process is to respect the dignity of all our employees and their contributions to our students and our university,” he said.

You can review the full Vitality Plan, revisions and more here.

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